Central Asia and Tibet. Towards the Holy City of Lassa. Volumes I & II by Hedin, Sven - 1903

London & New York: Hurst & Blackett; Charles Scribners, 1903. First American edition. Hardcover. Very good overall. Account of Hedin's second expedition through Central Asia, mapping regions previously unexplored in Northern Tibet. Hedin was the first European scientific explorer to hire indigenous scientists and research assistants. He tried in vain to enter Lhasa, forbidden to Europeans, disguised as a pilgrim, but was turned away, and continued on to India. In two volumes complete with the 5 folding maps on 4 sheets. Large 8vo, 2 volumes. Volume I: xvii, 608 pp, frontispiece & 4 maps, illustrations throughout. Volume II: xiv, 664 pp, frontispiece and folding map, illustrations throughout. Top edges gilt. Original burgundy gilt pictorial gilt cloth, spines sunned, spine ends slightly rubbed; text and maps bright and clean. OCLC: 780282245.