BAKER, Samuel White. Cyprus as I saw it. London, Macmillan, 1879.
8vo. Original illustrated cloth; pp. xx, 501, [2, advertisements], 40 (publisher's catalogue), wood-engraved frontispiece after photograph with tissue guard; light darkening to spine and lower cover, a little offsetting from endpapers, otherwise very good; contemporary Rugby School Library bookplate.
Very uncommon first edition. Following the British occupation of the island in 1878 Baker spent most of 1879 in Cyprus. Travelling in a gypsy van he describes his adventures and provides geographical and topographical descriptions, comments on the coexistence of Christians and Muslims and on the political situation. His writing is full of humorous remarks and detailed observations. Baker, who did not travel as a British official, like so many, but as a curious tourist was enchanted by the welcoming friendlyness of the inhabitants.
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