A very RARE and fascinating book ..."Discoveries In The Ruins Of Nineveh And Babylon; With Travels In Armenia, Kurdistan And The Desert: Being The Result Of A Second Expedition Undertaken For The Trustees Of The British Museum" published in 1853 by John Murray. First edition of this account of Layard's second archaeological expedition to the Middle East, during which he excavated parts of a number of major sites, including Nineveh, Nimrud and Babylon, and was able to add much to his earlier book, Nineveh and its Remains, published in 1849, thanks to the efforts in the interim of linguists such as Henry Rawlinson in deciphering the cuneiform inscriptions. Contains folding frontispiece, (xxiii), errata leaf, 686 pp with 5 folding maps and plans, 11 lithographed plates (2 folding, 8 tinted) and over 200 wood-engravings throughout. Ex library book , externally rebacked by library, very good condition. Inside scattered stamps, stickers on ffe and front pastedown-see photos as part of description. Inside book complete with all maps and plates in overall fair to good condition, a few pages and maps with ancient repair- see photos. Light stains on pages. Rarity.