The Road to Oxiana. by BYRON, Robert - 1937

London: Macmillan & Co. Ltd,, 1937. First edition, first impression, in the first issue binding of gilt-lettered royal blue cloth. "An enquiry into the origins of Islamic art presented in the form of one of the most entertaining travel books of modern times" (ODNB). In his introduction to the 1981 re-issue, Bruce Chatwin confessed to considering it "a work of genius" which he had elevated to the status of "sacred text". He stressed that it remained an important book, as in between the "bravura passages" Byron expounds a serious thesis about the significance of Afghan influence on Persian civilization. Octavo. Original blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt, top edge stained blue. With dust jacket. Frontispiece and 15 plates. A couple of small very pale spots to the spine, otherwise an excellent copy in slightly rubbed jacket, mildly chafed and with slightly crumpling and a few trivial splits head and tail of the spine.