MANNERHEIM, Carl Gustav (1867-1951). Across Asia From West to East in 1906-1908. Helsinki, 1940. FIRST EDITION.
2 volumes, 4to (304 x 223 mm). Frontispiece portrait, 15 color-printed folding maps, numerous photographic illustrations and plans. List of subscribers loosely inserted. Publisher's white brown-lettered buckram.FIRST EDITION, describing Mannerheim's mission to "evaluate the state of China's military forces and the implementation of government reforms in Turkestan adjacent to Russia" following the Russo-Japanese War. He traveled from the terminus of the Turkestan railway at Andijan to Kalgan, outside Beijing. He crossed the Tien Shan from Kashgar three times, filling in gaps in Sven Hedin's maps (see lots 91-93), and crossed the notoriously difficult and strategically important Muzart Pass from Aksu on the Chinese-Kyrgyz-Kazakh border. Yakushi (1994): M157.
