An Eastern Odyssey: The Third Expedition of Haardt and Audion-Dubreuil. Preface by André Citroën. Introduction by L. Audion-Dubreuil. Translated and Adapted by Major-General Sir E. D. Swinton K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O. (Ole Luk-Oie).

The First UK printing published by Victor Gollancz, London in 1935. The BOOK is in Very Good++ or better condition. Publisher's original green cloth with the spine lettered in gilt and map endpapers. Frontispiece, fold out map and the 39 black and white plates are all present. Light pushing at the spine tips. Some mild spotting to the prelims and page edges. Light toning and spotting to the text-block. Free from inscriptions. The WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good++ or better condition. Light age related markings and edge-wear. The wrapper looks striking in the removable Brodart archival cover. An excellent copy in the scarce wrapper. First published in Paris under the title 'La Croisière jaune: expédition Citroën Centre-Asie, troisième mission' in 1933. The Third Citroën Expedition, the legendary Croisiere Jaune, was organized by Georges-Marie Haardt, Director General of Citroën, to promote the company's 'Autochenilles,' half-tracks fitted with Kergresse's tracks at the rear and a road-roller attachment at the front. The 'Pamir' party with Haardt and French explorer Audouin-Dubreuil set out from Beirut with the intention of following the Silk Road to Peking; the 'Chine' group were to meet them having departed from Tientsin. Russia withdrew permission to cross Turkmenistan at the last minute, so two of the vehicles were manhandled north into the Karakoram, crossing the close-to 14,000 ft Burzil Pass to Mishgar where they were finally halted by the terrain. The party proceeded on camels and horses to Kashgar. They met the others and despite arrest, bandits, rebels, and crashing through ice at a river crossing, went on to Peking in the 'Chine' group vehicles, arriving in February 1932. The success of the expedition was marred by Haardt's death from pneumonia at Hong Kong the following month. A very scarce title with such attributes. More images available on request. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.