BARBER, ELIZABETH WAYLAND — The Mummies of Urumchi

New York: W W Norton & Co Inc, 1999. First Edition. First Printing; Hardcover. ISBN: 0393045218. B&W and Color; 7.5 X 1 X 9.75 inches; 240 pages; Hard cover is cream colored with burgundy spine with gold lettering. Light bumping to boards. DJ has slight rubbing; in a mylar cover. Some pages have light bumping to bottom corner. Pages are clean and tight; book appears as if unused. Illustated with 29 color plates and b/w drawings and maps. 'A fascinating exploration of the mysterious, perfectly preserved Caucasian mummies of western China. In the museums of Urumchi, the windswept regional capital of the Uyghur Autonomous Region in Western China-what we know as Chinese Turkestan-a collection of ancient mummies lay at the center of an enormous mystery. Some of Urumchi's mummies date back as far as 4,000 years-contemporary to the famous Egyptian mummies, but even more beautifully preserved, especially their clothing. Surprisingly, these prehistoric people are not Oriental but Caucasian-tall and large-nosed and blond with round eyes (probably blue). Where did they come from? What were these blonds doing in the foothills of the Himalayas? Few gifts are put into the graves of the dead, making it difficult for archaeologists to pinpoint any cultural connections from clues offered by their pottery and tools. But their clothing-woolens that rarely survive more than a few centuries-has been preserved as brightly hued as the day each was made.' Bibliography; index.. Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket .