1870 Reconnoitring in Abyssinia: A Narrative of the Proceedings of the Reconnoitring Party, prior to the Arrival of the Main Body of the Expeditionary Field Force.

Description

Colour Plates, First Edition, Folding Maps, Illustrated, Rebound, Scarce

The scarce first edition Henry Wilkins St. Clair's account of his command of the Royal Engineers throughout the Abyssinian expedition of 1868, regarded as one of the British army's most ambitious and expensive campaigns, carried out against Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia, who had imprisoned missionaries and two British government representatives.

Collated; illustrated with ten tinted lithographic plates, finished by hand as issued. With the large folding map in the pocket to the rear of the work supplied in facsimile only.

Wilkins was mentioned in dispatches by Lord Napier of Magdala for his 'invaluable and important services', and was appointed aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria.

With the bookplate of Anglo-Swiss financier Clinton E. Geiser to the front pastedown. With the 1923 inscription of 'G [sic] Douglas to the recto of the frontispiece, and 'Thomas H. Clark' to the head of page 1.

A smart copy of this scarce first hand account of the 1868 Abyssinian expedition.