Ainsworth, William Francis

FIRST EDITION, 2 volumes, 8vo, (vol.1) xiv, [ii], 448pp., 32pp. adverts; (vol.2.) viii, 492pp., half-titles, folding map, original blue cloth, slipcase

Ghani p.7; Wilson p.4; not in Atabey

"In 1835 Ainsworth was appointed surgeon and geologist to the expedition to the Euphrates under Francis Rawdon Chesney to examine the feasibility of opening up the Mesopotamian rivers to steam navigation as a new route to India, as well as asserting British political presence in the area, promoting British commercial ties, and gathering scientific and archaeological data. Ainsworth constructed geological sections across northern Syria and the Taurus Mountains, discovered several deposits of commercially important minerals in Mesopotamia and Anatolia, and explored a substantial part of south-east Persia" (ODNB).