Arabia Felix: Across the Empty Quarter of Arabia – Bertram Thomas (1932 First Edition)
Published by Jonathan Cape, London, 1932

This is a scarce first edition of Arabia Felix, Bertram Thomas’s classic account of his pioneering expedition across the Empty Quarter (Rub’ al Khali), one of the most inhospitable deserts on Earth. Thomas was the first Westerner to successfully cross this region, and his achievement was hailed as a landmark in Arabian exploration.

Book Details:

• Title: Arabia Felix: Across the Empty Quarter of Arabia

• Author: Bertram Thomas (OBE, formerly Wazir to the Sultan of Muscat and Oman)

• Publisher: Jonathan Cape, London

• Year: 1932 (First Edition)

• Foreword: By T.E. Lawrence (“Lawrence of Arabia”)

• Appendix: By Sir Arthur Keith, FRS

• Features: Maps, charts, diagrams, and photographic plates documenting the journey

Historical Significance:
This book is an essential work in the history of desert exploration, not only for its detailed geographic and ethnographic observations but also for its association with T.E. Lawrence, who contributed the foreword. The journey described within was groundbreaking at the time and remains a classic of travel and exploration literature.

Condition:

• Original brown cloth boards, gilt spine lettering faded but still traceable

• Cloth shows spine darkening, staining, and wear consistent with age

• Binding remains tight and square

• Pages clean overall, lightly toned with age

• Photographic plates and fold-out maps intact and clear

• A solid, complete copy of a rare desert exploration first edition

Collector’s Note:
First editions of Arabia Felix are increasingly scarce on the market, especially complete copies with all maps and plates. Its association with both Bertram Thomas and T.E. Lawrence makes it a cornerstone volume for collectors of Arabian travel, desert exploration, and interwar expeditionary literature.