The Empty Quarter Being a description of the Great South Desert of Arabia known as Rub' al Khali.
London: Constable & Company, 1933. First edition. Hardcover. Harry St. John Bridger Philby (1885 - 1960), also known as Sheikh Abdullah, was a British Arabist, writer, colonial office intelligence officer, and father of Kim Philby, the spy and double agent for the Soviet Union, who defected in 1963. Philby was obsessed with crossing the desert, an area without rainfall for 30 years; he explored southern Arabia, became a special advisor to the Saudi king, and converted to Islam. Contents include: Jafura and Jabrin; Al Rimal; and Rub' al Khali. Thick 8vo, xxiv, 433pp, printed b&w photographic ills, color folding maps at rear. Publishers green gilt cloth neatly rebacked retaining the original spine. Internally, bright and clean with the original owner's signature and stamp (Ursula Corning, New York, NY) on the front free endpaper.
Ursula Corning was the first female member of the British Alpinists Society and climbed with her father all the important peaks in Europe. According to her obituary published in the NY Times, she provide anonymous support for many years to some of the leading conservationists of the day including Fairfield Osborn, author in 1947 of "Our Plundered Planet'' and founder of The Conservation Foundation, which later merged with World Wildlife Fund. Very good overall. Item #20475
Price: $425.00