HEBER, Reginald. Narrative of a journey through the Upper provinces of India. London, John Murrae, Albemarle Street, 1828

2 volls in large 4to, 261x200 mm; quarter calf binding, gilt title and ornaments on spine. Pp. XLVIIl, [1], 631; VI, [2], 515. The first volume presents 5 plates on full page and 21 woodcut illustrations in the text, 1 colored map at the end; in the second volume 5 plates, including the frontispiece and 4 woodcuts illustrations in the text. Ex Libris of Luis de Caralt. Nice specimen.

First edition of the valuable travel journal of Reginald Heber, who was appointed bishop of Calcutta in 1823, at a time when the diocese included not only the whole of India but southern Africa and Australia too. Heber spent much of his time ministering to the Anglican communities scattered throughout the Indian subcontinent. His most notable journey, of a length and difficulty unprecedented for a Church of England bishop, was the one which he undertook across northern India – up the Gangetic plain, through the mountains of Kumaon and the deserts of Rajputana, and finally visiting Ceylon on his way back to Calcutta by sea. His journal was edited by his widow and published posthumously. The work was very popular. Contemporary and recent historians have praised the work, finding it of great interest in its description of the people and their culture and its observation of the great natural beauty of the rivers and mountains of India (Riddick 123). (Riddick 123). Heber's journal is valuable for his description of the rivers, mountains and people of India and observations on their culture. Lowndes (1858 ed.), Vol. II, pag. 1030. Ex Libris belonging to Luis de Caralt, politician and editor of Spain, councilor of the Barcelona City Council under the Franco’s dictatorship.