Being a Short Historical account of That Province from the Earliest Times to the Present Day

By Barker, William Burckhardt

London: Ingram Cooke and Co, 1853. First Edition. 8vo – 22.2 cm, [xiv], 394pp. including Appendices A-E and Index. 20 woodcut plates plus illustrations in text, one fold-out map of Cilicia and the north of Syria. Contemporary full-calf, polished covers with gilt ruling, spine with densely ornate gilt and five raised bands, brown morocco label with gilt title. Hinges strong, pages clean, prior owner’s script inscription on second front free end leaf; all page edges marbled to match end front free end leaves. A very nice copy a classic account in the first edition.

William Barker was the first western traveller to draw attention to the Lares and Penates of the ancient and interesting city of Tarsus. During a residence of fifty years in Syria and Egypt, Barker never lost an opportunity to help people, so he was highly regarded and respected by the local and international population. Barker was also an orientalist and linguist who published several books, most notably on the Turkish language and grammar that were published prior to this work. While living at his father’s residence at Suediah, near the mouth of the Orontes River, his account of this little-known river being the first to be published in his “Notes” to the Geographical Society in 1836.

$400.00 -