Palestine Exploration Fund, 1914. the Wilderness of Zin (Archeological Report)
Hardcover, London: Palestine Exploration Fund, 1914. First Edition. Very Good. T. E. Lawrence's first published book. First published appearance of The Wilderness of Zin. The Wilderness of Zin appeared for the first time in the Palestine Exploration Fund Annual 1914-1915 Double Volume. The 1914-1915 Double Volume has nothing in it from 1915, The Wilderness of Zin from 1914 is the entirety of its contents. As 1914 began, the British knew World War I was approaching (it would start in August) and Lord Kitchener ordered Lawrence and Woolley to secretly map the Negev region of the Sinai Peninsula. The Sinai was under the control of the Turks who would be Britain's enemy in the coming war. Lawrence and Woolley were to pretend to be archeologists (they both actually had real experience as archeologists) on the mission and Kitchener ordered them to write an archeological report for the Palestine Exploration Fund to ensure their cover would hold up. In publisher's original binding. All corners rubbed with loss of cloth. Both ends of spine rubbed with loss of cloth, worse at head. Previous owner bookplate on front pastedown. Occasional pencil marks in the text. Complete with a large section of black and white photographs and illustrations, two maps, and a fold-out plan. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 154 pages. [Item #82562]
Price: $750.00