Narrative of a journey to Morocco, in 1864 and 1864

Hodgkin, Thomas (1978-1866). Narrative of a journey to Morocco, in 1863 and 1864. 8vo. [20], errata slip, xii, 183pp., plus 24pp. adverts. 7 lithographed plates, including frontispiece (4 hand-colored, 2 tinted), the hand-colored Moroccan scenes after Hodgkin's drawings. London: T. Cautley Newby, 1866. 268 x 182 mm. Original cloth, elaborate gilt arabesques on front cover, gilt edges, hinges cracked, moderate edgewear. Small rust stain from paper clip on last plate, but very good. Signature dated 1904 of John Hodgkin, most likely the grandson of Thomas's younger brother, on the front pastedown.

First and Only Edition. This copy bears the early 20th-century signature of John Hodgkin, most likely the grandson of Hodgkin's younger brother, John; Hodgkin himself had no children.

Hodgkin, who gave the classic description of lymphadenoma ("Hodgkin's lymphoma"), was a longtime friend and physician to Sir Moses Montefiore, the premier Jewish philanthropist of the mid-19th century, and accompanied him on several missions. Their Moroccan journey, spurred by a case of unjust accusation, imprisonment and torture of a 14-year-old Jewish youth, resulted in the granting of legal status to Jews and Christians alike by the Sultan. The receiving of the embassy by the Sultan is the subject of one of the plates, from Hodgkin's own drawing, and shows him, a small bearded figure, standing in a group of Westerners before the mounted figure of the ruler of Morocco.

Hodgkin died before completing editing his travel book, in the course of another mission with Sir Moses, this time to the Holy Land, where he is buried. The lavishly bound Morocco narrative was issued by subscription as a memorial to the pathology pioneer's lifelong involvement with humanitarian concerns, and is one of the best-known physician's travels. Rose, Curator of the Dead (1981), pp. 129-35. Spillane, Medical Travellers (1984), pp. 207-29. For the Hodgkin family tree see Wikipedia.