4o. 294, (1) pp., final blank page. With a full-page map of Palestine not included in pagination, 2 full-page plans of Jerusalem included in pagination, and several small print illustrations in the text. Contemporary half calf over marbled boards with giltstamped spine and spine-title. Marbled endpapers. Fourth edition of this description of a journey through Palestine by the French painter and writer Bazelaire (1857-1926), first published in 1889. In April 1888 she boarded a ship with a group of pilgrims, which, after a stop in Civitavecchia, from where she visited Rome, dropped anchor in Haifa. Accompanied by her brother Maurice (1840-1909) and her sister Isabelle (1847-89) she departed on horseback to tour the country for a month. Her emotional account describes the places they visited, including Mount Carmel, Nazareth, Tibériade, Jerusalem ("Am I really in Jerusalem, or is it but a dream about to fade away?", p. 129), Mount Olivet, Jericho, the Dead Sea, Bethlehem, Hebron, and the Valley of Josaphat. Among other adventures, a night spent locked in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre near Jesus's empty tomb inspired a particular sense of awe: "It is a night as long as a century, and as short as all joys in the world! [...] All those who have seen Jerusalem know and understand these things, I invoke all pilgrims!" (pp. 253f.). - The initials and illustrations accompanying the text were created by Bazelaire herself. The plans show the old and new towns of Jerusalem. - Extremities insignificantly rubbed; small flaw to spine. Paper somewhat browned and brownstained throughout. A pressed palm leaf is inserted between pp. 124 and 125. Hage Chahine, Guide du livre orientaliste 359. OCLC 1083265900. Cf. Ueckmann, Frauen und Orientalismus 359 (1899 ed.). Kuhn, Orientalische Bibliographie VI, 4225 (1892 ed.). Not in Weber, Cox, Graesse.
