The Arabs.

London: Thornton Butterworth Ltd,, 17 May 1937. The first European to cross the empty quarter An advance proof copy of this famous monograph, which outlines the history, religion, and politics of the Arab people, with a chapter on the prophet Muhammad. Thomas's father was a master mariner and Bertram's (1892-1950) education at the the local village school "was supplemented by private tuition; at the age of sixteen he was accepted for employment in the Post Office and seemed set for a modest career in this or other branches of the home civil service" (ODNB). He joined the Somerset Light Infantry on the outbreak of war and was posted to Mesopotamia, where he was talent-spotted by Sir Arnold Wilson, the British civil commissioner in the Persian Gulf. Thomas "held a number of civilian posts under Wilson and distinguished himself as political officer at Shatra during the Iraqi uprising in 1920 … He became in 1924 financial adviser (and later first minister) in the sultanate of Muscat" (ibid.). It was at this time that developed the ambition to cross the Empty Quarter and made a number of preparatory reconnaissance trips, during which "he dressed as a Bedouin, eschewed tobacco and alcohol, and spoke only Arabic" (ibid.). Late in 1930, Thomas left Muscat on a passing British warship, arriving at Dhofar, on the Indian Ocean coast of Arabia, "from where he intended to commence his south-north crossing of the Empty Quarter. After waiting some months for his guides (who were involved in desert hostilities) he eventually set out with a small camel caravan but no promise of protection from the warring and predatory tribes of the interior. He emerged fifty-eight days later at Doha, on the Persian Gulf. The Royal Geographical Society in London promptly awarded him their founder's medal, and other learned societies around the world followed suit … He was admired by T. E. Lawrence and by his successor Wilfred Thesiger, who found twenty years later that Thomas was remembered by the Bedouin as an honourable, brave, and tolerant man" (ibid.). Thomas's was a significant journey in several ways: he discovered a raft of pre-Islamic monuments and inscriptions, produced a detailed map of the region, and documented two previously unknown peoples (the Harasis and the Bawtaharah) and their languages, in addition to those of the Mahri and Shahari tribes. The advance proof displays important differences with the first edition, which included a portrait frontispiece of the author, 15 plates and 4 maps. The probable publication date of 14th April, found on the rear wrapper, is crossed out in pencil. Octavo. Wire-stitched in the original light blue wrappers, "Advance Proof Copy" in ink on front wrapper. With 5 maps (of which 1 folding) and 2 illustrations. Wrappers with neat repairs, also with some foxing and soiling (this also to fore edge), corners and edges creased (wrappers and text block), front endpapers foxed, minor dampstaining to top edge at end. A good copy.