Persia Past and Present. A Book of Travel and Research [INSCRIBED]

New York: Macmillan Company, 1906. First edition. Hardcover. Goo to very good condition. Inscribed "To Mr. William Naumburg With kind regards and a Happy New Year from his friend and neighbor, the author A. V. Williams Jackson New Year 1907" on front free endpaper. Quarto. xxxi, 471 (2)pp., 112 plates, incl. frontispiece, 1 large folding map bound in at rear. Original blue cloth with gilt-stamped, framed illustration on cover, gilt-stamped lettering and ruling on spine, protected by modern mylar. Frontispiece with printed tissue guard. Publisher's device on title page.

An extensive report on travels in Persia by Jackson, a Professor of Indo-European languages at Columbia University. The main purpose of his 1903 voyage was the study of the customs and religion of the Zoroastrian people. Jackson had been presented with a valuable collection of Zoroastrian manuscripts as a donation to Columbia University in recognition for his lectures on the ancient manuscripts during a stay in India and Ceylon in 1901.

The report is richly illustrated with one hundred and eighty four spectacular b/w photographs, maps and reproductions of artwork on 112 plates and some in-text illustrations. The volume includes a large folding map of Persia and Afghanistan in color at rear. Contains list of illustrations, bibliography and abbreviations used at front as well as indices at rear. With Macmillan advertisement of Jackson's title Zoroaster and some related Macmillan titles at rear.

Laid in a short 1947 New York Times article on the Zoroastrian faith. Binding with light wear along edges with very light fraying at head and tail of spine. Some offsetting from laid in article on inside front cover and front endpaper. Binding in overall good, interior in very good condition.