The coast of incense. Autobiography 1933-1939.London, John Murray, 1953. 8vo. With 1 map of the Hadhramaut printed on green paper, 20 double-sided plates, 3 illustrations in the text on pp. 76, 77 and 85, a few small tail pieces throughout, and a green ornament on the title-page. Green cloth with gold lettering on spine.

XIII, [3], 286, [2] pp.Third part of Freya Stark's (1893-1993) autobiography, in which she describes her life and especially her travels she undertook between 1933 and 1939. During this time, her first 4 works were published, starting with The Valley of the Assassins in 1934. The present work mostly focuses on Stark's travels in South Arabia and is illustrated with images of photographs she took herself. It is a very personal account of her life in general and travel experiences, alongside significant historical, political, geographical and anthropological information about the places she visited. This writing style was quite unique and unusual for her time, but since she was one of the first European travellers in parts of Southern Arabia "unique and unusual" were, in a positive way, accurate descriptors.Edge at the head of the book is green and the edge at the foot is untrimmed. Small marking in blue ink on p. 79, lacking dust jacket, otherwise in very good condition.l Blackmer 1470; Howgego IV, S61; Shapero, The Islamic World (2003), 458. cf. "Freya Stark". Encyclopaedia Britannica.