Central Asia and Tibet: Towards the Holy City of Lassa.

HEDIN, Sven.

Item Number: 111207

London: Hurst and Blackett, Limited, 1903.

First British edition of Swedish explorer Sven Hedin’s elaborately illustrated account of his 1899-1902 expedition through the Tarim Basin, Tibet and Kashmir to Calcutta. Quarto, two volumes, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, gilt decorations to the front panel, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of Hedin, illustrated with 420 illustrations by the author including eight full-page illustrations in color and five maps. From the library of James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with his bookplate to the pastedown. American businessman and record-setting aviator Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in 2002 in his 10-story high balloon Spirit of Freedom. He completed the 2002 trip in 13 days, 8 hours, and 33 minutes and set records for both the Longest Distance Flown Solo in a Balloon and Fastest Balloon Flight Around the World. Fossett was also one of sailing’s most prolific distance record holders set the Absolute World Speed Record for airships with a Zeppelin NT in 2004. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career including aviation’s highest award, the Gold Medal of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), which he was awarded in 2002. Fossett disappeared on September 3, 2007 while flying a light aircraft over the Great Basin Desert, between Nevada and California. In near fine condition.

Swedish explorer and geographer Sven Hedin made four major expeditionary trips to Asia, the second from 1899 to 1902 went through the Tarim Basin, Tibet and Kashmir to Calcutta, and during his travels in 1900 and 1901 he attempted in vain to reach the city of Lhasa, which was forbidden to Europeans at the time. The present volume details Hedin's travels, research and discoveries during this Second Expedition through Central Asia with over 400 illustrations by him.