Discoveries in the Ruins of Nineveh and Babylon.

London: John Murray,, 1853. Among the best written books of travel in the language First edition, by the Father of Assyriology. Layard's important second British Museum expedition (1849-51) "yielded further important trophies and discoveries, including the cuneiform library of Sennacherib's grandson Ashurbanipal, on which most modern knowledge of Assyrian culture is founded" (ODNB). Layard (1817-1894) was intended for a career in his uncle's solicitors' office in London, but found the work constraining. Another uncle, living in Ceylon, suggested that he join him there to practise as a barrister, and introduced him to Edward Mitford, who was also intending to go east. The pair travelled overland and left England in 1839 with a commission from the Royal Geographical Society to research the terrain. They visited Jerusalem, Mosul, and Baghdad before parting company, Layard spending some time among the tribes of the Bakhtiari mountains and becoming proficient in Arabic and Persian. He returned to Constantinople in 1842 and entered the employment of British ambassador Stratford Canning, whom he persuaded to support his excavations at the mount of Nimrud, near Mosul. After publication of his first book, Nineveh and its Remains (1849), he realized Nimrud was not the site of ancient Nineveh, but that Kouyunjik was. He travelled to Constantinople in 1849, and from then until 1851 undertook further excavations at Kouyunjik. "Apart from the archaeological value of his work in identifying Kouyunjik as the site of Nineveh, and in providing a great mass of materials for scholars to work upon... Layard's [accounts] are among the best written books of travel in the language" (Encyclopaedia Britannica). Octavo (215 x 133 mm). Contemporary dark red polished calf, spine with raised bands, gilt Egyptian motifs in compartments, dark brown label, covers with double gilt fillet border, marbled endpapers and edges. Engraved folding frontispiece and 4 similar plates (all but one folding) depicting plans and elevations, one plate of inscriptions, 8 tinted lithographic plates, 2 engraved folding maps to rear, profuse wood-engraved illustrations to the text, several full-page. Bookplate on front pastedown of Martin Dunn, a member of Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Bound without half-title, spine rubbed and toned, folding plate facing p. 114 with repaired tears with glue, two maps repaired with archival tape on verso, scattered foxing. A very good copy. Abbey, Travel 364; Atabey 687; Blackmer 969.