A.H. Layard | Nineveh and Its Remains [with] Early Adventures. London, 1849-87, 4 volumes, PRESENTATION COPIES

Austen Henry Layard

Two finely bound presentation copies, comprising:

Nineveh and Its Remains: with an account of a visit to the Chaldean Christians of Kurdistan, and the Yezidis, or Devil-Worshippers; and an enquiry into the manners and arts of the Ancient Assyrians. London: John Murray, 1849

FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed: "Ida Rate | With the affect[ionate] regards | and sincerest good wishes | f[rom] the author | A.H. Layard | Aug[ust] 1891", 2 volumes, 8vo (216 x 134mm.), half-titles, dedication leaf in volume, folding map and 26 plates, further in-text illustrations, nineteenth-century maroon crushed morocco gilt by J. Leighton, Brewer Street, edges gilt, marbled endpapers, some foxing, extremities slightly rubbed

Early Adventures in Persia, Susiana, and Babylonia. London: John Murray, 1887

FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY: "Ida Rate | With the affect[ionate] regards | & sincerest good wishes of | the author | Aug[ust] 1891" (dedication to prelims of volume one), 2 volumes, 8vo (196 x 126mm.), 3 folding maps, 4 plates (one coloured), nineteenth-century maroon crushed morocco gilt by J. Leighton, Brewer Street, spines with raised bands in five compartments, edges gilt, marbled endpapers, extremities slightly rubbed

A FINELY BOUND SET OF TWO FIRST EDITION PRESENTATION COPIES of two works by the Assyriologist, politician, and diplomat Austen Henry Layard (1817-1894), including his account of pioneering excavations of the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh, at one point in its history the largest city in the world.

LITERATURE:

Niveneh and Its Remains: Atabey 685; Blackmer 968; Early Adventures: Weber I, 891; Wilson, p.125

PROVENANCE:

William Duoro Hoare (husband of Ida Mary Lillian Rate, dedicatee of both works), armorial bookplates to front pastedowns