(London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1855).

A RARE AND VERY ATTRACTIVE SET OF THE FIRST EDITION OF THIS MONUMENTAL AND ICONIC WORK. According to Penzer, and to countless readers since, this is "one of the greatest works of travel ever published." Burton was one of the first westerners to enter the Arab holy cities and to accomplish this he had to assume the character and costume of a Persian Mirza, a wandering Dervish, and a "Pathan." Mrs. Burton said of his feat that  It meant ...living for nine months in the hottest and most unhealthy climate, upon repulsive food; it meant complete and absolute isolation from everything that makes life tolerable, from all civilization, from all his natural habits; the brain at high tension, but the mind never wavering from the role he had adopted; but he liked it, he was happy in it, he felt at home in it, and in this book he tells you how he did it, and what he saw.
Richard Burton was one of the foremost linguists of his time, an explorer, poet, translator, ethnologist, and archaeologist, among other things. He spent much of his childhood in Italy and France and was educated eclectically. In 1840, he began studies at Trinity College, Oxford and distinguished himself through his eccentric behavior. Two years later, he joined the 18th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry at Baroda, in order to study  Oriental life and languages. He had already studied some Arabic in London and learned Gujarati, Marathi, Hindustani, Persian and Arabic while in India. He eventually took on a position that allowed him to mix more freely with the indigenous peoples, especially the lower classes, and began to dress like them. Burton s seven years in India allowed him to become familiar with the languages, customs and geography of the East. This preparation paved the way for his famous trip to Mecca.
At this time, there were areas of the Middle East that were still unknown to Westerners and thus, represented gray areas on the world map. Rumor and second hand information about the inner workings and holy sites of one of the largest religions in the world was all that was available to European scholars. Burton s decision to go to Mecca was approved by the Royal Geographical Society in order to fill this void. He passed himself off as an Indian Pathan and was required to know the rituals of a pilgrimage as well as the exigencies of manners and etiquette. Discovery of his deception would all but certainly have met with execution, this alone should indicate the importance both Burton and the R.G.S. placed on this mission. His publication of the journey--the Pilgrimage to Al-Medinah and Meccah--allowed European readers to experience new cultures, traditions and history. Burton s writing was accessible to the general reader and provided an intimate and well-documented portrayal of the Middle East.
First editions of this book are scarce. Item #31244

3 volumes. First Edition. Illustrated with a 13 lithographic plates, 8 of which are tinted and 5 in colour, 4 maps or plans, 3 of which are folding and several illustrations within the text. 8vo, very attractively bound to style many years ago in three-quarter honey-brown polished calf over marbled paper covered boards, the spines with raised bands double gilt ruled,, gilt lettered in two of the compartments on contrasting red and green morocco labels, all edges untrimmed. The volumes now housed in a fine slipcase. xv, 338, 24 ads; iv, 426; xii, 448 pp. A very handsome and attractive set, the bindings in fine condition, the text-blocks very well preserved with some mellowing as is typical.