An Account of an Embassy to the Court of the Teshoo Lama in Tibet; Containing a Narrative of a Journey Through Bootan and Part of Tibet

4to [30 x 24 cm]; xxviii, 473 pp, 13 fine engraved plates including double-page, plus folding engraved map by J. Walker dated Feb 12th, 1800 (short tear in margin), other illus. later calf-backed binding, gilt rules & devises, gilt title lettering on leather spine label, expert repair to verso title & folding plate, a few small light stains in margins, small signature on title, else a clean near fine copy with nice wide margins. Cordier 2909. Yakushi T140. Cox I, 346: "This is without comparison the most valuable work that has yet appeared on Thibet." 'Sprightly narrative' (MacGregor in Tibet, who devotes a full chapter on Turner and reproduces many of the plates). The author, who was an officer in the East India service, provides an early travel account in Tibet, which both before and after strictly limited foreigners from entering. He travelled in 1783-85 from Bhutan to Gyantse and Shigatse, Chumbe Valley, Tang La, etc. Robert Saunders provided the botanical, mineralogical and medical observations and Samuel Davis provided the fine plates, mostly of scenery, an early plate of the Yak, buildings, palaces, dwellings, a double-page plate of Tibetan writing, etc. The views were drawn on the spot by Lieutenant Samuel Davis and with botanical, mineralogical and medical observations by Robert Saunders. This is regarded as the earliest and best description of Tibet of the period.