Travels in the regions of the upper and lower Amoor and the Russian acquisitions on the confines of India and China. With adventures among the mountain Kirghis; and the Manjours, manyargs, Toungous, Touzemts, Goldi, and Gelyaks; the hunting and pastoral tribes

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1860. With full-page frontispiece plus 82 text engravings based upon the author’s own drawings, large folding map. Publisher’s cloth, title within gilt design on spine, head and foot worn; interior excellent. First American edition. Atkinson published his first work on Oriental and Western Siberia in 1858. This is a continuation of his travels to Siberia and the Russian orient. He states that this book (as opposed to his first one) provides information “of a more elevated character, intended to satisfy, in some respects at least, the wishes of the geologist, botanist, ethnologist, and other scientific scholars” (preface). He also gathers information that may be applicable to military interest, including geography, social customs of tribes, and details about commerce in the area. A fascinating, quite detailed account of a journey to a little-known area of the world for most westerners of the time.

Atkinson (1799-1861), formerly an architect and an accomplished artist, traveled over 40,000 miles in Eastern Europe and Asia during his life, accompanied by his wife. He brought back hundreds of sketches made during his travels, many of which were exhibited in London upon his return.