The Arab War.

£750 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

Scarce work publishing for the first time several articles Gertrude Bell wrote for the Arab Bureau during the First World War. Issued 14 years after her death, this collection of reports shed new light on Iraq's neighbours (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, etc.) and the history of relations between the two. Perhaps the most interesting article is the description of Ibn Saud in 1917, during his rise in power and before the recapture of Mecca. The articles are: I. The basis of government in Turkish Arabia. II. Note on the tribal authority of the Sheikhs of Muhammerah and Kuweit in the occupied territories. III. The rebellion against the Sultan of Muscat. IV. Ibn Saud. V. Tribal fights in the Shamiyah. VI. Ismail Bey. VII. The situation in Hail. The publisher's note apologises for publishing and attributing article V. Tribal fights in Shamiyah to Gertrude Bell when it was actually written by Captain R. Marrs, an assistant political office in Zubeir in 1916. First edition, limited to 500 copies, this number 95; 4to (25.5 x 19.5 cm), binder's stamp on front pastedown, publisher's notice on brown paper pasted down on front free endpaper, ink signature from previous owner on title-page, some spotting on endpapers and on reverse of the front free preliminary page; original green quarter-morocco bound by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, cloth boards, gilt lettering to spine, top edge gilt, bottom corner a little bumped, spine a little faded; a very good copy; 50, [2] pp.

• Binding: Hardcover

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