Irshad al Alibba ila Mahasin Auroppa (Guidance of the sensibles to the charming qualities of Europe)

Cairo: al- Muktataf press, 1892 Book. Very Good. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. 823 p. Early printed travel book to Europe in Arabic, al Muqtataf press 1892, written as a dedication to the Khedive Abbas Hilmi Pasha II, the Vice-roy of Egypt. Muhammad amin Pasha was accompanied by his father Abdullah Fikri Pasha (ex-minister of education and tutor of the Khedive's sons) who was headed the Egyptian delegation to Stockholm. The delegation also took in London, several parts in Europe and the exposition univeselle in Paris. The elder fikri died after returning, with only a dozen pages of his final report written. His son finished the report in tome running to 806 pages (pages 807 to 823 are for index). Landberg had personally persuaded Khedive Tevfik to send the Egyptian delegation and, as host, went out of his way to make them feel like colleague, not exotic exhibits. Abdullah Fikri declamed an ode in Arabic during his audience with the king of Sweden, and Landberg responded in Arabic with praise of Khedive Tawfiq. Amin Fikri who had collaborated in writing with Ali Mubarak presented the king an Arabic geography of Egypt, a single volume previewing the terrain Mubarak's al-Khitat would cover. Among the orientalists, the Egyptians met Goldziher who had studied at al-Azhar, was both hospitable and fluent in Arabic. Ottoman delegate Ahmed Midhat chaired a session, interpreting for Egyptians, and there was a Persian delegation as well. Waiters at a reception wore Egyptian attire, and the opera Aida, which Amin Fikri thought a particularly appropriate choice, enlivened the congress. (See: Donald Malcolm Reid; Whose pharaohs?: archaeology, museums, and Egyptian national identity from). Contemporary hard cover binding..