78/ 915 [Arabia]. Philby, H.St.J.B. The Empty Quarter being a description of the Great South Desert of Arabia known as Rub' al Khali. London, Constable & Company, 1933, 1st ed., XXIV,433,(1)p., 3 fold. col. lithogr. maps/ plan, 32 photogr. plates, orig. giltlettered cl.

- A few scattered owner's stamps (i.a. on title and map). Binding sl. rubbed.

= Howgego P31. Philby was initially beaten in his endeavour to be the first European to cross the Rub' al Khali by Bertram Thomas, who had taken a more direct nort-south route. "Philby therefore decided that he would set out to explore over a much wider area and fill the immense gap on the map that still existed (...) His first attempt ended in disaster, the party having made the mistake of taking heavily laden pack animals." Philby eventually completed the journey, having travelled 2700 kilometers in 90 days" (Howgego).