PHILLIPS, Wendell. Qataban and Sheba. Exploring Ancient Kingdoms on the Biblical Spice Routes of Arabia. London: Gollancz. 1955.
8vo. Original boards with illustrated dust-wrappers, colour-printed map endpapers; pp. 335, plates from photographs; apart from minimal wear to wrappers a very good copy.
First English edition, first impression, of the account of the large-scale archaeological expedition through Yemen and Dhofar, which resulted in spectacular finds of monuments and inscriptions dating back over 3000 years. In 1951 Phillips became a friend of the Sultan of Oman, who was impressed by his sales skills. Oman then exploited the mineral wealth which in turn made Phillips immensely rich when he returned to the US in 1975.
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