The author, St. John B. Philby (1885-1960), was a notable Arabist and British secret agent in the Middle East. The books are the record of the travel he undertook while he was in charge of the British Political Mission to Central Arabia (1917-18). During these journeys he crossed Arabia by camel from Uqayr to Jedda, exploring a large area of south-central Arabia, and he was the first European to visit the southern province of the Najd. Illustrated with 47 black and white photographs, a plan of Riyadh and two folding maps of South Najd and of Central Arabia. Scarce early writing by Philby. An important first edition. One of the maps in Vol. e got trimmed and missing a corner.