The book also had a variety of other appealing qualities. Bayard Taylor himself was a notable traveler and writer of the day. He went with Commodore Matthew Perry to Japan and wrote about his own experiences in Lew Chew (Okinawa) as well. In fact one of Taylor’s own pieces about Lew Chew is included in the volume.
The frontis was also appealing: a steel engraving with a portrait of Alexander Humboldt in the center surrounded by four small medallion portraits of fellow explorers Richardson, Fremont, Huc and Burckhardt interspersed with intricate Victorian floral embellishments augmented by images of native peoples in various stages of undress. A camel packed for travel rounded out the theme of brave men headed for far away places.
The original boards though well worn each boasted an extremely nice and deeply embossed vignette of another bigger camel surrounded by armed semi-naked natives -- one on the front and one on the back. Whoever made the bas-relief mold for this nifty image knew their stuff. The sculptural quality of this antique three dimensional display is sure to make one or two camel lovers very happy.
Even better the book was laid out so that each section broke exactly, the back of the last page of each selection was always blank so there was no overlap between the end of one section and the beginning of the next. Thus each selection is complete unto itself.
I anticipate that if nicely photographed and properly described the actual total value of the parts when sold individually will be substantial. I am also of the opinion that real work is not in finding this book or one with equally interesting content, but in carefully taking it apart and accurately describing the sections.
