An illustrated account of Henry Salt's travels in Ethiopia from 1809-11, acquired by George IV when Prince Regent.

Henry Salt was an artist, diplomat and early Egyptologist. Training under Joseph Farington and later John Hoppner, Salt’s skills were in topographical drawing, a useful ability to have as a traveller. In 1805, Salt travelled from India, where he was working under George Annesley, Viscount Valentia, to Ethiopia to meet with Wolde Selassie, the regent of the country, in order to open up trade with Britain.

In 1809, Salt returned to Ethiopia as part of another mission to open the country up to trade and to develop diplomatic relations with the emperor, Egwale Seyon. Due to instability in Ethiopia, Salt was unable to meet the emperor right away so took it upon himself to travel the country. His main aim was to correct James Bruce of Kinnaird's account of his 1770 expedition to the source of the Blue Nile.

While travelling, Salt made several important observations about Ethiopian society and collected a great variety of natural history specimens that he brought back to Britain on his return in 1811. He published this book describing his travels in 1814. It contains several aquatints from watercolours made by Salt while in Ethiopia. The lavishly bound copy in the Royal Library was acquired by George IV when Prince Regent.