INNERMOST ASIA: Detailed Report of Explorations in Central Asia, Kan-su & Easter

London 1928, Oxford. Rose cloth, 4 vol. set: vol. 1-2 text, vol. 3 plates & plans, vol. 4 maps, bibliography, unclipped mended dust jackets in mylar protectors, 25.5 x 34 cm., brilliantly bright superb clean copy. FIRST & ONLY EDITION . *** **** *** . . FIRST & ONLY LIMITED EDITION OF 765 SETS . A monumental work, well-illustrated study on the trade route countries of Central Asia. Always a rare set when complete. . * "With descriptive lists of antiques by F.H. Andrews & F.M.G. Lorimer; & appendices by J. Allan et al." Volume 1, 2: text, 1159 pages, with text illustrations. Vol. 3: 137 plates, 59 plans. Vol. 4: 51 color folding maps in matching rose cloth case, with index tabs. . *** M. AUREL STEINS PERSONAL COPY: This is a very nice copy which was likely owned by the author as his personal letter was found used as a book mark in one of the volumes. The letter is 19 x 25.5 cm., plain toned white paper, written by Sir Aurel Stein using a very wide fountain pen and blue ink. The letter is in remarkable condition and has been folded twice, but now is quite flat and solid. . * WITH A VERY RARE HOLOGRAPHIC LETTER FROM AUREL STEIN: "At Highbroom, Ewhurst, Guilford: February 15, 1925 Dear Sirs, Thanks for your letter of the 9th inst. and the account rendered with it. I note in the account of entry of 10/6 charged for the Return of Income Tax for the years 1922-3 and 1923-4. As I was absent from the United Kingdom during the whole of these financial years, no Income Tax was due from the royalties received in these years on my behalf. I accordingly request the favour of an explanation as to how this charge arises against my account, and hope for a refund of the amount. Yours faithfully A. Stein" . * Perhaps Aurel Stein got his reply from the Income Tax office and or this was a copy of his letter. It was found lost as a "book mark" found in this set. A lovely insight to Stein, and his thoughts on how the British government had wrongly charged him Income Tax. A lovely holographic letter, written in pen and ink, in his usual and steady hand. Stein letters are rare and seldom found on the market. . *** FIRST & ONLY LIMITED EDITION OF 765 COPIES. We understand that this set was issued in a Limited Edition of only 765 complete copies, the balance of 250 sets were incomplete as they lacked 48 maps. . * THE MAPS AND MAP BOX VOLUME: The matching map box is also in bound in rose cloth, 25.5 x 34 cm., and is 5 cm. thick. There is some minor and usual wear to the upper and lower part of the hinged flap, with some old mends. The contents consist of 47 maps each with white index tabs, plus 4 other maps index tabs: "A,B,C,D," and the index, complete as issued. . *** CONDITION: . Bound in the publisher's cloth, as issued. . This is the brightest and freshest copy we have ever had in our 45 years of tenure. The cloth of the main three volumes is nearly flawless, with bright rose color, brilliant gold stamping on the spines and front covers. There is no scuffing whatsoever, and the head/tails of the spines are fresh with a few of the usual wrinkles expected. The joints are strong, tight and the book appears to be by and large unused. There are a few bumped corners: vol. 1: the front upper right corner has a very small bump; vol. 2: faint and very tiny hint of a bump on front lower right, else none; vol. 3: front right and left, and rear corners tiny bump, front lower right a larger bump, please see scans posted to our website for photographs. . * DUST JACKETS: The set of three volumes all have the original dust jackets each protected in Mylar covers. There was some of the usual wear to the unprotected dust jackets, and some restoration with matching paper was performed from the inside to stabilize the tears and small missing pieces. Overall the jackets are nice with some repairs to the upper and lower spine as well as corners and a few other spots here and there. Finding this set with the dust jacket is exceptionally rare and unusual. The set if ever found most always lacks the dust jackets. . *** . BIBLIOGRAPHY: . Stein 1862-1943. * Arntzen I 506. *.