London, Apr 29 : A rare collection of historic travel documents and photos, which includes a journal from the ship made famous by scientist Charles Darwin, are to go under the hammer at an auction in London.

One of the biggest highlights of the auction will be a set of photos dating back to the 1930s, which gives details of the first royal visit to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, undertaken by Princess Alice.

Other items for grabs include highly decorated 17th century globes and a collection of first hand travel accounts and voyages spanning the last 300 years.

The Beagle has been one of the most famous ships in maritime history as it was from this vessel that Darwin carried out some of his most important voyages, which eventually formed the background to his groundbreaking ideas on evolution.

Also, the auction will showcase a series of first hand travel accounts from the journal kept by a commanding officer on the ship, which even details the dramatic end of Beagle's first hydrographic surveying voyage to Patagonia.

The sale will offer some six separate works relating to explorer Captain James Cook, which include a printed account, written by one of his officers, of the captain''s second voyage around the world.

"The visually stunning and historically important album sheds light on a turning point in Anglo-Saudi relations," The Telegraph quoted Sotheby''s specialist Richard Fattorini as saying.

He added: "HRH Princess Alice''s trip was the first of its kind to the region and it coincided with the hugely important discovery of commercial quantities of oil in the region.

"In a sale with such exciting highlights as the spectacular pair of globes and the important and rare photographic albums, we are also very privileged to include a selection of first-hand travel accounts in their contemporary bindings - many of them exceptionally fine copies - the condition of which we have not been privileged to offer for sale in many years."

The Travel, Atlases, Maps and Natural History Auction will take place at Sotheby''s in central London on May 7. (ANI)