Lettres du Tonkin et de Madagascar. (1894-1899).
Paris: Librairie Armand Colin, 1920. First edition. Two volumes. 8vo. (vi), x, 340; (iv), 304 pp. Publisher's blue cloth, faded to the brown on the spines, gilt lettering, ownership inscription of Mrs. Aubrey Le Blond to the front free endpapers, calling card of the author "La Maréchale Lyautey" inscribed by him "Tous mes merciments, chére Madame, pour votre ravissant envoi, reuillez croise à mes sentiments de bien vive sympathie" loosely inserted along with a folded piece of Lyautey's blank headed stationery ("Note de Service"), occasional marginal annotations relating to the editing of the work. 28 plates, 6 folding and 22 full page, and 13 maps, 10 folding and 3 full page, plus further illustrations in the text Further discolouration to the boards, some general toning tot he contents, else a decent set. Elizabeth Hawkins Whitshed was a mountaineer and photographer of mountain scenery, proving something of a pioneer in both fields. She was also a prolific traveller and writer, publishing works under her three married names - Mrs. Fred Burnaby, Mrs. Main and, as here, Mrs. Aubrey Le Blond. Her English translation of Lyautey's Tonkin letters was published by John Lane in 1932. Lyautey was a general in the French army and a senior colonial administrator, serving in Indochina (1894-97), Madagascar (1897-1902) and later, in several stints, Morocco. Item #30679
Price: £225.00