Diary of a Journey from Srinagar to Kashgar via Gilgit. Harding, H[arold] I[van]. Travel and Exploration

8vo (147 x 212 mm). (4), 80 pp. With one folding route map. Original green full cloth. First edition. Scarce account of the author's travels in Central Asia to take up his post in Kashgar as Vice Consul. Printed in a limited edition "for private circulation only", the present copy remaining unnumbered. - Harding had spent 20 years in the Chinese administration before being appointed Vice Consul at Kashgar under C. P. Skrine. The two men met up at Srinagar and determined to head for Kashgar in two parties, Skrine's taking the lead but, owing to the greater numbers, spending more time en route. Harding left five days later and arrived shortly before Skrine's party. The present record of his journey "is bound in a stuff of which clothes are made in Central Asia and it is the first book, if I may be forgiven for calling it a book, to be published in this part of the world in any European language" (text on presentation leaf). - Inscribed by Harding to George Forrest (1873-1932), the Scottish botanist who undertook many expeditions to western China and Tibet. A few pencilled marks to the margins are Forrest's, as is his suggested identification of some "yellow flowers" on p. 8. - Splits to joints neatly repaired, some browning to free endpapers, else a very good copy. - Presented by Harding to George Forrest, with the pre-printed presentation leaf completed in hand by the author to read "My dear Forrest" and dated Tengyuch, March 1925. - Yakushi (3rd ed.) H79. OCLC 1015018541.