A significant letter from Alexander Macmillan dated April 29th 1884 about Arabia Deserta manuscript, laid in, Travels in North Western Arabia and Nejd, Vol VII, July 1884 Macmillan, Alexander (ALS) Doughty, Charles Bibliography,Collecting,T E Lawrence

This is a fascinating and significant letter from Alexander Macmillan dated April 29th 1884 about the Arabia Deserta manuscript that had been submitted to his firm for publication. It appears that co-founder of the famous publishing company, was not too impressed, writing on the 24th April 1884 to Trelawney Saunders, who was an East India Company cartographer he was to state; 'Not once but many times have attempts been made to read Mr Doughty's MS by ourselves as well as by one of the ablest men we know. Upon no theory of scholarship is the style tolerable.' Macmillan goes on in the same missive, to quote from a letter written by a Rev. Dr. Percy Badger, ( this is George Percy Badger 1815-1888, missionary and orientalist) who amongst other things stated that the MS should be re-written. Macmillan added to this letter to Saunders; 'I like Mr Doughty exceedingly and should have been glad to publish his book, if it had been publishable'. An important letter about this work latter published by CUP who lost money on it. The letter is loosely laid into a copy of "Travels in North Western Arabia and Nejd". The first account of Doughty's travels. Bound in blue Holland paper covers, contained in a recent marbled paper slipcase with leather spine. Comprises pp. 365-428 of the Proceedings, complete with large paper map in very good clean condition. The map being the first accurate representation of the interior of Arabia.