Gjennem Armenia. Nansen, Fridtjof. Arctic,Armenia,Signed

First edition. 8vo. pp. [iv], 247, [3, maps], [1, contents leaf]; frontis., photo. illusts.; very good in contemporary half morocco with original upper wrappers retained. A presentation copy, inscribed inside original front wrapper "Med hilsen fra Fridtjof Nansen", a typed letter signed by Nansen on Lysaker- headed paper to the book's recipient, Dr. Morgenstierne, tipped-in at front, and an earlier letter to the same recipient loosely inserted at front. Nansen (1861-1930) gained fame for his polar exploration, including his attempt to reach the North Pole by drifting aboard the ice-bound ship Fram in the years 1893-6. In his later years he became actively involved in the League of Nations, and under its aegis acted on behalf of displaced victims of the First World War; his so-called Nansen passport gave recognition to stateless persons in dozens of countries. From 1925 he became involved with the plight of Armenian refugees, and aimed to etsablish a national home for them within Soviet Armenia. His visit to the regions resulted in two books, the present work - which translates as Across Armenia - and Through the Caucasus to the Volga (1930). This copy was presented by Nansen to Georg Morgenstierne, a Norwegian professor of linguistics at the University of Oslo who worked on the languages of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indian and Iran.