The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt & Nubia, […] from drawings made on the spot by David Roberts, R.A., with historical descriptions by the Rev. George Croly, LL.D. / William Brockedon. London: Day & Son, 1855-1856. Six volumes. English. First quarto edition.
Six volumes containing 248 tinted lithographs after paintings by David Roberts and two engraved maps presenting the route of Roberts' travels throughout the Near East. The lithographs show structures, ruins, churches, mosques, towns, landscapes and sites holy to the different religions throughout Palestine, Syria and Lebanon, the Transjordan and Egypt. The descriptions in the first three volumes were written by George Croly; the rest – by William Brockedon.
Six volumes in half-leather bindings (with the title "Roberts' Sketches in the Holy Land" embossed on the spines).
Volume 1: [2] leaves, 35 pp, [23] leaves + 44 plates. Volume 2: [1] leaf, 3 pp, [22] leaves + 45-87 plates. Volume 3: [1] leaf, 3 pp, [19] leaves + 88-125 plates. Volume 4: [1] leaf, 9 pp, [22] leaves + 126-168 plates. Volume 5: [23] leaves + 169-212 plates. Volume 6: [20] leaves + 213-250 plates. 28.5 cm. Good overall condition. Stains. Tears, open tears and minor blemishes to margins of several leaves and plates. Wear and blemishes to bindings.

Memoirs of the Lady Hester Stanhope as Related by Herself in Conversations with her Physician. London: Henry Colburn, 1845. English. Three volumes. First edition.
A memoir by Lady Hester Stanhope, one of the first travelers to the Near East in the 19th century, considered the "first archaeologist" in Palestine. At the end of the first volume, seven handwritten letters have been bound: three from the author (from the years 1841-1842) and four sent in her name by her secretary (from the years 1818-1820). Preceding these letters are two bound leaves, typewritten (French), noting that the letters were sent to the grandmother of the book's owner, with a reference written by hand: "see reference to my grandmother on page 58" (French).
A few lines of text are marked on p. 58: "Should a little Jewish woman find you out, she will tell you she has seen me… Excellent little woman! - sweet-tempered and resigned in misfortune, and her star pleased me". According to a footnote printed on the same page, this refers to an English lady by the name of Messiah, who sold all her property to move with her husband to Jerusalem. Mrs. Messiah met the author in Sidon.
The letters are written in English and on most of them appear ink-stamps, wax seals and paper labels.
Each volume has a frontispiece; one of them (a print in color) portrays Stanhope riding astride a horse, dressed in men's garments.
Hester Lucy Stanhope (1776-1839) was a British socialite and adventurer. In 1810 she travelled throughout the Near East, riding astride, dressed in men's garments; she visited Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Lebanon – where she finally settled. When she came across an ancient manuscript with a treasure map, she turned to the Sultan asking him to excavate at the spot – the town of Ashkelon, and in 1815 she was the first person who excavated in Palestine looking for antiquities. Her excavation unearthed columns, pottery and even a large marble sculpture from the Roman period, but she never found the treasure. Since Stanhope was allowed to search for gold only, she considered her findings as a violation of her promise to the Sultan and she ordered to destroy the sculpture as a symbol of loyalty. Her book of memoirs was published shortly after her death, edited by the personal physician, Charles Lewis Marion, who accompanied her through all her travels.
Vol. I: XVII, [1], 394 pp + [1] plate and [1] folded plan. Vol. II: VI, 384, 8 pp + [1] plate. Vol. III: VII, 361, [1], 2, 8 pp + [1] plate, approx. 20 cm. Good overall condition. Stains, tears and open tears at margins (small). Bookplates and embossed stamps at the beginning of each of the volumes. Pieces of paper with printed text are pasted on glued to inside front binding of the first volume. Worn bindings, slightly damaged, with rubbings, tears and open tears (mostly at corners and spines). The letters are in fair condition, with folding marks, stains, blemishes, tears and open tears (some reinforced with adhesive tape).