Holy Places of Mesopotamia.

[IRAQ.] & [BRITISH AUTHORITIES IN IRAQ.]

Holy Places of Mesopotamia.

THE TOMBS, SHRINES & MOSQUES OF IRAQ

First edition. 25 photographic illustrations to text (3 in colour). Text in English, Arabic and Farsi. Small folio. Publisher’s reddish-brown cloth, front board lettered in gilt; hinges professionally repaired, gilt dimmed, a little light water-staining to back cover, otherwise very good. Pencil ownership inscription of ‘Private S.A. Dolloway’ to front pastedown. 36pp. Basrah, Printed by the Superintendent, Government Press, 1920.

£2,500.00

An uncommon tri-lingual guide to the principal tombs, shrines and mosques of Iraq. It is one of the few larger-format cloth-bound books issued by the Government Press in Basra, and follows a similar design to the better-known ’Iraq in War-Time.

The preface gives a sense of the diverse audience for the book, with Iraqis and British (and British-Indian) soldiers among the potential readership: “We present to the public an illustrated book on the Shrines of Mesopotamia which we hope will serve as a memorial of the country both to those for whom Iraq is a Holy Land and to those who fought in its defence. Advantage has been taken of the latest developments of science and the pictures of the Shrines from the air have given results which could not up to now be achieved by photography” (p.3).

Scarce in commerce, with just one copy in auction records (Sotheby’s, 2020).

Stock No.

247198

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Holy Places of Mesopotamia.

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