There were six articles published from his 222-day world tour, including descriptions of his journey across America and the Pacific, travels in Japan and the South China Sea, a month-long trip across India and travels aboard a ship on the Red Sea.

But one article never made it to print, as it did not reach London until the Parliamentary Season, when it was impossible to find room in the paper.

An archivist at The Times wrote: "After holding it in type for a considerable time, The Times' Editor courteously sent a slip, accompanied by a note expressive of his regret that he had not been able to insert it."

Now the unpublished article has emerged in the archive at Thomas Cook, which has created a museum to mark the 200th anniversary of Thomas Cook's birth.

Multimedia

• Gallery: Thomas Cook posters and brochures through the years

Related Links

• The missing Thomas Cook dispatch from his first 222-day round the world tour

• Take a tour of the Thomas Cook museum

At the end of his epic journey around the globe - taken at the time Jules Verne was penning Around the World in 80 Days — Cook declares himself satisfied.

“My own purposes are realized in having made the acquaintance of countries, routes, means of conveyance, and all that pertains to the comfort of travellers round the world... I feel that I have mastered the anticipated difficulties of the route”.

He concludes: “After 32 years of almost incessant travelling, with the view of making travelling easy; cheap and safe for others, I ought to ‘rest and be thankful’ that no evil has befallen me.”

Read the missing dispatch, sent from the Red Sea in February, 1873

Thomas Cook's first round the world tour:
His letters as published in The Times

Jan 23, 1873: America
Feb 5, 1873: Pacific and Japan
Mar 12, 1873: China and the South Chinas Sea
Mar 24, 1873: India
May 27, 1873: Egypt and Palestine

Read Thomas Cook's letter to The Times in 1873 enquiring after the missing article

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