Wellsted map of Oman
Wellsted map of Oman! 1838, The first detailed map of Oman in the Book Travels in Arabia
BOOKS & MAPS

This Books section contains some of the most important books and maps in our collection relating to Oman and Zanzibar,  including several illustrations.

For a complete list of our book collection  relating to Oman and Zanzibar see the References section in the Top Bar of the website. 

The  earliest  publications by Omani princess Emily Ruete in our collection are discussed in a separate "Emily Ruete" section in this website. 

Highlights in this section are:

  • A Handwritten letter from 1840 by the British Explorer James Baillie Fraser regarding a portrait he made of Sultan Said bin Sultan after he visited him in 1825. Also a handwritten emotional letter by him regarding his Khorossan trip and the death of a fellow passenger, to the father of the person that died. 
  • A handwritten note in Arabic by Sultan Said bin Sultan, the father of princess Emily Ruete.
  • The book Persia and the Persian question with hand-painted Persian  lacquer boards. This book belonged to Sir Percy Cox who was consul and explorer  in Oman and the book was given  as a present by the daughter of Lord Curzon who wrote the book. She gave the book because Curzon defended her father in a meeting of the Geographical society (Curzon was accused of vandalism: Curzon had put his signature on famous monuments in Persepolis next to those of Niebuhr and other famous explorers) Percy Cox was chairman of the RGS.
  • A miniature Koran that was "found" by a British soldier in the ruined palace in Zanzibar after the British bombardment in 1896  
  • Wellsted´s Travels in Arabia (In English 1838 and German 1842) and other publications by him on Oman
  • Some very  rare early editions of large sea charts made during the 19th century of the coasts of Oman and Socotra on behalf of the Indian Navy and surveyed by people like Wellsted, Haines and Stiffe.
  • The rare Persian Gulf Pilot  1924, with descriptions of the villages / harbours along the Omani coast and the Persian Gulf. The book is also an index to sea charts of the area.
  • The works  on Arabia (including the  first dedicated map of Oman)  Niebuhr.
  • The autobiography of Tippu Tip the Omani plantation owner, explorer, governor, diplomat, ivory trader  and most of all slave-trader.The first version  (in a scientific magazine) was published parallel in Swahili and German followed later by the full version in German. The German translation work in both cases was by Heinrich Brode. Later an English translation was also published.

Bookplate of Sir Percy Cox consul in Muscat

Book plate of Sir Percy Cox, political agent and explorer in Oman, also chairman of the Royal Geographic Society.  The book plate shows himself on the left in British Costume and on the right dressed as an Arab, thereby clearly reflecting his affinity with Arabia where he worked so many years!

Manuscript Letter sent by Said Bin Sultan ruler of Oman and Zanzibar not long before his death in 1856 from Muscat.

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Letter Said bin Sultan 1855.
 Translating these calligraphic Arabic letters is always a challenge. The letter is translated as:
 
Top right, the name of the Sender: Said Bin Sultan
Top left: Name person to who the letter is addressed: al-Sayfi Asul ?
 
May God also protect him from evil and the conspiracies of licentious people, storms of ……. and reptiles of danger [Amin]. Your kind letter was received and your beloved understood what you stated therein and pleased for your safety. On expressing the thanks towards the son Majid, it actually shows the love of you, and we assume that after 2 months in sha allah we will be coming to you. This is for you to know and if there is anything that you may want before the meeting, please let us know. Salaam. Done on the 28th of Mahram 1272

 

Said Bin Sultan died a year after this letter. On the back of the letter is the stamp/ Tughra of Said bin Sultan. The three wax seals on the envelope also contain his Thugra. Date given in Arabic on the bottom letter is 1272 AH while on the address in a  European language is written 1855. "13 Dacle "55" on the address may possibly  refer to the 13-th day of the 11  month of the Islamic calender (Dhu-al-qada), but not sure. The letter confirms that a letter was received and wishes the recipient Peace and happiness. The recipient of the letter could not yet be identified.

Thugra Said Bin Sultan

Tughra of Said Bin Sultan

 The main parts of the empire of Said Bin Sultan were Oman and East Africa. After the "merchant Sultan" had moved his capital from Oman to Zanzibar, he went every 3 or 4 years to Oman to ensure control. The Sultan's eldest son was caretaker of Oman when he was not present. The Sultan's family was also spread between Oman and Zanzibar. According to his daughter Bibi Salme in her memoirs, the family members in the poorer Oman had a much more modest life style compared to the more glamorous lifestyle of the family members on Zanzibar, however the Omani family members considered themselves superior to their African relatives. The Sultan's children on Zanzibar were from Suri 's (slave wives) from Circassia and Ethiopia. After the death of Said bin Sultan his eldest sons could not agree on his succession and with help of the British the prosperous Zanzibar and poorer Oman became separate Sultanates, starting a gradual decline of the prosperity of Oman until 1970. See the above slide-show for a photo of the address on the letter. The Sultan died at sea in 1856

The rare Biography of Said Bin Sultan was written by his grandson Rudolph Said Ruete, the son of Bibi Salme / Emily Ruete.

The book Memoirs of an Arabian Princess by his daughter Bibi Salme contains unique information about life at the Sultan's court in Zanzibar.

In the export section we have a plate that was given as part of the contents of the ship Prince Regent by the King of England to Said Bin Sultan. The ship was a return present by the King, as Said bin Sultan had previously given the ship Liverpool to the King.

Have requested assistance for the proper translation of the letter and it's address.

The letter from Said bin Sultan

The envelope

Lacquer seals with the Sultan's Tughra impressed

References: 

  1. Said bin Sultan (1791-1856) Ruler of Oman and Zanzibar. His place in history of Arabia and East Africa by Rudolph Said-Ruete , London Alexander Ousely 1929  After page 128 you find an  facsimile of a letter by Said bin Sultan
  2. Bibi Salme / Emily Ruete, Memoiren einer Arabischen Prinzessin 1886
  3. Joseph B.F. Osgood Notes of Travel or recollections of Majunga, Zanzibar, muscat, Aden, Mocha and other Eastern ports Salem 1854 page 60 describes the sultan as follows: "His general appearance is made prepossessing by a tall and erect figure, bright and piercing eyes, and an attractive smile, which frequently lights up his truly Arab countenance, to which a long white beard gives a venerable look. Though he is one of the handsomest men living, the several artists who at different times have visited Zanzibar have in vain solicited him to sit for his portrait. The Koran forbits him to encourage the making of images and pictures representing living beings, and he strictly complies with this precept, as well as another too commonly disregarded, that men should not wear jewellery of gold and silver. He therefore wears no jewelry upon his person, and a prudent economy is observable in his dress, which differs none from that of a high class Arab, except in the color of his check turban, which he wears in the fashionable mode of Soliman etc."
  4. News form the West letters form Oman to Batavia 1798-1806. Published on the occasion of the visit to Leiden University Library by H.E. the minister of Awqaf and religious Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Shaikh Abdallah bin Mohammed bin Abdullah al Salimi on Friday 11 July 2013 Presented by Jan Just Witkam

1872 Miniature holy Koran published in 1872 and "found" in the ruins of the Palace in Zanzibar after the British bombardment in 1896

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Octagonal lithographed Miniature koran

Octagonal lithographed Miniature Koran published in 1872 and was "found" in the ruins of the Palace in Zanzibar after the British bombardment in 1896" by a British soldier who wrote in pencil his name and where and when  he found the book.   Rare early lithographed miniature Koran (printed part is only 4 cm wide) ! This holy Koran was probably printed in Iraq or in India.

Antique Miniature koran Zanzibar

Antique miniature holy Koran picked up in the ruins of the bombed palace in Zanzibar.  A miniature Koran like this would be worn in a silver or golden box, bound around the upper arm of a person as an amulet.

Antique Miniature koran

Antique miniature Koran

Antique Miniature koran lithographed

 Antique miniature Koran

antique miniature koran zanzibarAntique miniature koran

Antique miniature Koran "found" in palace Zanzibar

Printed by Muhammad Jawad? Location: al-matba'al Haydariyah (al-Matba' al-Haydari or al-Matba'ah al-Haydariyah) ? 1872 / 1873. (Place of publication can be Hyderabad in India. Oman  and Zanzibar had Hyderabadi merchant communities  for several centuries. However it may also have been printed in Iraq, see below ) Let us Know If anyone knows more about the background of this very rare miniature Koran

A true miniature book has both a height and width less than 3 inches (approx. 7 cm) Octagonal shaped miniature Koran lithographed in Arabic with in manuscript English the notation by a British naval person that he "found it" in the palace of the sultan of Zanzibar immediately after the bombardment by British ships: See manuscript inscription  by the soldier in the slide-show! The miniature Koran is octagonal and it is 5 by 6 cm and the printed part is only 4 cm!  An early printed Arabic Koran printed by lithography in the Middle East (extremely rare: so far no information found on this holy Koran)

The Koran may originally have been put in a golden or silver box that was wrapped around the upper arm of travellers or soldiers as an amulet, see next item. In the past standard-bearers (sancakdār) also attached them as talisman to military flags / standards, that is why these miniature Korans are sometimes referred to as Sancak.

Comments by Yale university to this miniature Koran:

Possibly printed in Iraq or India, It was printed in 1289 /1290 of the Islamic calendar which corresponds to the year 1872/1873. Comments Yale university: The first image in the slide-show has the last chapter in the Koran (Surah 114: Surat al-Nas) with the colophon which says in transliteration "Qad hasal al-faragh min hadha al-Quran al-Majid wa-[al-]Furqan al-Hamid min yad aqall al-kuttab Muhammad Jawad fi al-Matba' al-Haydariyah fi sanat 1290" which translates: "[ The copying] of this Glorious Koran and Honorable Furqan [i.e. Koran] was concluded by the hand of the least of scribes Muhammad Jawad in al-Matba' al-Haydariyah in the year 1290 [H. i.e. 1873/1874]" However, the fourth image gives the date as the year 1289 [i.e. 1872/1873].

The name of the printing house which is given as "al-Matba' al-Haydariyah" is a bit problematic because grammatically it is not correct; it should have read either al-Matba' al-Haydari or al-Matba'ah al-Haydariyah. This is important to determine where the book was printed. If the name of the printing press is al-Matba' al-Haydari (which I believe it is) - the scribe Muhammad Jawad, judging from the colophon, doesn't seem to be all that versed in using grammatically correct Arabic - then the printing house should have been somewhere in India (Lucknow, Bombay or Hyderabad) because lithographic books were produced by the these printing houses from around the middle of the 19th century. On the other hand, if the printing house is al-Matba'ah al-Haydariyah, then this printing house was in al-Najaf, Iraq but I could not see any books printed in it in the 19th century. There are some lithographed books printed in it from around the first quarter of the 20th century onward. As for the third image it is the first and second chapters of the Koran (Surat al-Fatihah and the beginning of Surat al-Baqarah). The fourth image which has the date 1289, has a phrase which translates: "It should not be touched except by the purified ones.

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Colophon: On  abudervish.blogspot.nl  there is a revised description of another copy of the same mini Koran: "On the colophone page of my Quran here, it was written: قد حصل الفراغ هذا القران المجيد وفرقان الحميد من يد اقل الكتاب محمد جواد في المطبع الحيدرية في سنه ٠ ٩ ٢ ١   "The copying of this Quran Al Majid and Furqan Al Hamid in the hand of Muhammad Jawad produced in Hyderiah Printing House in the year 1290 "  I was not aware of who was this copyist Muhammad Jawad and where was this Printing House identified as Hyderiah.  In the OmaniSilver website, similar Quran was commented by expert from Yale University believing it was a product of Iraq or India.  From a book " Al Quran The Sacred Art of Revelation" published by The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, it has a similar Quran with the same copyist but in a longer name and printed  in 1293 AH publication. See below the snapshot of this book.  The full name of the copyist given as Muhammad Jawad Ibn Mulla Muhammad Musa Kashmiri which I believe the same copyist of the Quran in this entry. The title Kashmiri indicated the copyist originally from Kashmir. The printer house was mentioned as Hyderiah however The IAMM identified it Hyderabad"

Silver Octagonal Koran-box (probably Persian)

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Silver Octagonal Koran-box (probably Persian)

 

Scarce silver octagonal Koran-box (probably Persian) Will have originally  contained a miniature Koran in octagonal shape. A Koran box like this was typically strapped to the upper arm with cords. It was intended as a protective amulet.

 

 

 Octagonal koran box

Octogonal koran box

Octogonal koranbox

Name: Silver Octagonal Koran-box (probably Persian)

Period: 1800-1900

Origin: Probably Persia

References:

1680 Naukeurige beschrijving van Asie by Dapper

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Dapper view Muscat 1680

Naukeurige beschrijving van Asie: behelsende de gewesten Mesopotamie, Babylonie, Assyrie, Anatolie of Klein Asie: beneffens eene volkome beschrijving van gansch gelukkigh, woest en petreesch of Steenigh Arabie. Na 't leven getekent en in koper gesneden. Author / publisher: Olfert Dapper / Jacob Meurs Amsterdam 1680

Book details:

Rare book. Amsterdam, Jacob van Meurs, 1680.  Two parts in one. Folio. 2 leaves, 357 pages, 1 l, 324 pp, 2 leaves, one engraved frontispiece,  22 text engravings and a couple of double page prints. Contemporary full calf.. One of the finest Dappers ever published. Dr .Olfert Dapper (1636-1689) physician, geographical and historical scholar, was the author of a series of works dealing with Africa, America, and Asia. The present work described the Middle East with in the first part the countries of the ancient Mesopotamia and Assyria as Iraq. The second part is entirely devoted to Arabia. His works are of special importance because of the fine plates, which includes maps, plans and beautiful views and costumes.

Antique print of Muscat by Dapper 1680

Antique map of Arabia by Dapper 1680

 References:

1774 Niebuhr Beschryving van Arabie Contains First antique Map of Oman

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1774 Niebuhr Beschryving van Arabie First antique Map of Oman

Title: Beschryving van Arabie, uit eigene waarnemingen en in 't land zelf verzamelde narigten. Uit het hoogduits vertaald, en Vermeerderd met een volledig register van 't geheele werk.

Author / Publisher: Carsten Niebuhr / van Schoonhoven Amsterdam 1774 

Antique Map Oman Niebuhr

 

Book Details:

Rare book. Half vellum. Perfect copy. Beschryving van Arabie:  XXXXI;408 pages ; 7 Bll. Engraved title; 24 (many folded) engravings and maps including the large map of Yemen. Includes the first map dedicated to Oman(! ) and the first detailed plan of Muscat (! ) as well as the first detailed map of the Persian Gulf. Half vellum binding with marbled boards. Some water-staining to the inner blank margin. In 1761, at the invitation of Frederick V, King of Denmark, Carsten Niebuhr (1733-1815) joined a Danish government-sponsored scientific expedition to explore the Arabian Peninsula, known as Arabia Felix. The five other members, who would die all during the expedition, were Peter Forrskal, a Swedish naturalist, Christian Kramer, a Danish physician and zoologist, George Baurenfeind, a German artist, Friedrich von Haven, a Danish linguist, and a former Swedish military man named Berggren. They disguised as Muslims, sailed on a ship carrying pilgrims to the Arabian port of Jidda. Niebuhr's account of his journey in Arabia and the Persian Gulf provided Europeans with the first comprehensive descriptions of the region; his map of Yemen was the first to detail scientifically and in detail that portion of the Arabian Peninsula. Most participants died due to diseases during the expedition

 References:
  1. Catalog of the Oman exhibition in the Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam 2009 page 37
  2. Tribute to Oman 24th National day Terrae Oman by Maria Wells page 76-82

1776 Niebuhr Reize naar Arabia Antique book about Oman Includes first map of Muscat Oman

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1776 Niebuhr Reize naar Arabia (incl townplan Muscat)

Reize naar Arabie en andere omliggende landen (and) Beschrijving van Arabie, uit eigene waarnemingen en in 't land zelf verzamelde narigten uit het hoogduits vertaald .

Author / Publisher:  Carsten Niebuhr / S.J. Baalde ; J. van Schoonhoven  1776 en vermeerderd 2 delen.

 

Book details:

Rare book. In 1761, at the invitation of Frederick V, King of Denmark, Carsten Niebuhr (1733-1815) joined a Danish government-sponsored scientific expedition to explore the Arabian Peninsula, known as Arabia Felix. The five other members, who would die all during the expedition, were Peter Forrskal, a Swedish naturalist, Christian Kramer, a Danish physician and zoologist, George Baurenfeind, a German artist, Friedrich von Haven, a Danish linguist, and a former Swedish military man named Berggren. They disguised as Muslims, sailed on a ship carrying pilgrims to the Arabian port of Jidda. Niebuhr's account of his journey in Arabia and the Persian Gulf provided Europeans with the first comprehensive descriptions of the region; his map of Yemen was the first to detail scientifically and in detail that portion of the Arabian Peninsula Reize in Arabie: Content: VIII p;3 leaves;484 p;1 leave; 7 leaves; 455 p. includes 2 engraved frontispieces;124 (many folded) engravings, maps and plans including a large map of Yemen Includes the first accurate map of Yemen. Half leather.

 References:
  1. Tribute to Oman 24th National day Terrae Oman by Maria Wells p 76-82

1825 Fraser Narrative Of A Journey Into Khorasan . Plus manuscript letters by James Baillie Fraser about Sultan (Imaum) of Oman and another one about a fellow traveller (Mr. Rich), who died in Shiraz. The book is according to the letter a presentation cop

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Journey Into Khorasan

Rare book. Presentation copy of Narrative Of A Journey Into Khorasan in The Years 1821 and 1822. Including Some Account Of The Countries To The North-East Of Persia; With Remarks Upon The National Character, Government, And Resources Of That Kingdom

Plus a very  important manuscript  letter by Fraser  sewn in the book addressed to the widow of Mr Rich and her father  Sir James Mackintosh. The death of Mr C.J. Rich when Fraser visited Shiraz is described in the Chapter titled "Letter IV" page 237-242. Mrs Rich would later publish years later herself two books based on the writings of her husband.

 The book also includes a loosely inserted letter describing a visit to the Sultan in Muscat and that he made a portrait of the Sultan (Said bin Sultan of Oman), discussed below as a separate item.

Author / Publisher :James Baillie Fraser / Longman Hurst Rees Orme Brown Green 1825

  James Baillie Fraser Letter

 

James Baillie Fraser Letter

 

Book details:

Rare book and with a unique manuscript letter by Fraser, concerning events during his journey,  bound in. First edition.

Contents: 4to, xv, 623 (624 is a blank),148 pp. Large paper copy. Large engraved folding map, errata slip.  Contemporary leather binding with on the front and back covers the gilt stamp of the " society of the writers of the signet" The fore-edge is finely marbled in different colours. An excellent copy.

Fraser's travel books are all informative and useful. - Ghani. Fraser, a traveler and man of letters, accompanied Dr Jukes on his mission to Persia, reaching Tehran on 29th November and afterwards, 27th December, set out in Persian costume with the intention of traveling through Khorasan to Central Asia. The first part of the narrative deals with Fraser's voyage up the Persian Gulf and the latter, and most considerable part, is occupied by the journey from Tehran to Mushed, and thence to Astrabad, visiting areas where no Europeans have been before. This vivid account includes accurate descriptions of the countries and the inhabitants.

Contains an original handwritten letter by James Baillie Fraser  on "Japanese paper" watermarked 1824. Addressed to Mary Rich regarding the death of her Husband during his travel to Baghdad (described in the book) . With integral address leaf (Mrs Rich , Sir James Mackintosh's, Lower Cadgogan Place, Sloane street) endorsed by the recipient. Presenting a copy of his first work to Mrs Rich. James Baillie Fraser (1783-1856) travelled in Persia and Kurdistan  in 1821-1822  and in 1825 published his first major work "narrative of a journey into Khorasan" This letter presents a copy of that book to mrs Rich , whose husband C.J. Rich had died in Baghdad  whilst Fraser's journey was being made, and asks for "a sincere & true critical opinion of Sir James Mackintosh (her father) and stresses that he only desires "a general notice which I am sure you can give me in small compass

So the book was presented to Mrs Rich.

James Fraser and his brother William (1784-1835) were well known in their own day but have more recently become famous as patrons of Indian artists: the spectacular drawings and  paintings which they commissioned were rediscovered in modern times and dispersed at auction in 1980 for extremely high prices. )

References:

  1. Mildred Archery and Toby Falk India Revealed (1989) w.r.t. the famous Indian drawings.

1840 Manuscript letter dated 1840 by James Baillie Fraser regarding his portrait of the famous Sultan of Oman Said bin Sultan (this drawing has not been discovered yet)

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Manuscript letter from Fraser regarding portrait Omani Sultan

Manuscript letter by James Baillie Fraser to I.J.? Christian dated 16 Feb 1840 Moniack Inverness. Regarding his portrait of the famous Sultan of Oman Said bin Sultan (this drawing has not been discovered yet) The portrait was made during Fraser´s visit to the Sultan of Oman described in the book Narrative Of A Journey Into Khorasan.  Fraser made a copy of that portrait for Dr. Christian.

 

 

 

 

Manuscript details:

Unique manuscript letter. The letter consists of two pages and has a small tear.  Mr. James Baillie Fraser visited Muscat in 1821.  According to the letter he frequently met the Sultan and made partly from memory and partly on the spot (secretly) a sketch of the Sultan. Fraser was going to send a copy of the sketch to Christian. Neither of these sketches have been discovered so far. At this moment only a crude oil painting portrait is known of this famous Sultan.

References:

  1. Narrative Of A Journey Into Khorasan, In The Years 1821 And 1822.Published in 1825.

1835 Large map of Socotra by Wellsted and Haines (1867 edition)

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1835 map Sokotra Haines Wellsted Oman

 

Indian Ocean Sokotra surveyed by Lieutenants S.B. Haines and I.R. Wellsted I.N. Assisted by Lieut. P. Sanders & Mesrs Rennie, Cruttenden & Fleming Midn I.N. 1835 etc.  (I.N. stands for Indian Navy) Author: S.B. Haines and I.R. Wellsted. The original 1835 title was  A Trigonometrical survey of Socotra.

Map Socotra  by Wellsted and Haines

Map Socotra Wellsted Haines

 Map Sokotra Hines Wellsted

 

Map background and details:

Extremely rare and early detailed map of Sokotra. Size 61 by 97 cm. Published  by  James  Horsburg ,  hydrographer  to  the  Hon. East India Company ,  August  I st  1835 . Corrections  at  the Admiralty ,  April 1867.  Sold  by  J.D  Potter ,  Agent  for  the  Admiralty ,  31.  Poultry  and  II  King   St.  Tower  Hill engraved  by  R .  Bateman. As second lieutenant on the East India Company's survey brig Palinurus under Captain Robert Moresby, Wellsted took part in the detailed survey of the Gulf of 'Aqabah and the northern part of the Red Sea in 1830. He then returned to Bombay in 1833 and was reassigned under the command of Captain Stafford B. Haines to survey the southern coast of Arabia. In January 1834 the ship Palinurus crossed over to Socotra and Wellsted spent two months on the island. He published the results of his journey as Memoir on the island of Socotra. Capitan S.B. Haines of the East Indian Company Navy surveys Socotra as a commander of the survey ship "Palinurus". Lieutenant J. Wellsted of the surveying mission records 236 Socotri words - the first words of MSA languages recorded by Europeans.  The Sultan 'Amr ben Sa'ad refused to hand over his island to the British and the island was occupied by the East Indian Company forces. For a detailed and extensive description of the surveying of Sokotra by Haines and Wellsted see the book "South Arabia The Palinurus journals of Jessop Hulton" published by the Oleander Press 2003. Note that the surveying trips by Haines / Wellsted are shown on the chart by connecting straight lines, also key observations e.g. availability of water resources are indicated on the map.

The islands passed under the control of the Mahra sultans in 1511. In 1834 the United Kingdom stationed a garrison on the island. Plans were made to make it a coaling station for ships bound for India, but the climate was considered unsuitable and the British left in 1839. In January 1876 it became a British protectorate along with the remainder of the Mahra State of Qishn and Socotra. The P&O ship Aden sank after being wrecked on a reef near Socotra, in 1897, with the loss of 78 lives. In October 1967, the Mahra Sultanate was abolished. On 30 November 1967 Socotra became part of South Yemen. Since Yemeni unification in 1990, it has been part of the Republic of Yemen.The island is very isolated and a third of its plant life is found nowhere else on the planet. It has been described as "the most alien-looking place on Earth"

References:
  1. South Arabia The Palinurus journals of Jessop Hulton published by the Oleander Press 2003
  2. Wellsted. Memoir on the island of Socotra Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, Volume 5 1835 page 129-229
  3. Wellsted Travels to the City of the Caliphs 1840 (British edition) 1841 (American edition)
  4. Wellsted, Reisen nach der Stadt der Khalifen, die Ufer des Persischen Meerbusens und des Mittelländischen Meeres entlang. Mit Einschluß einer Reise nach der Küste von Arabien und der Insel Socotra. Dennig u. Finck Pforzheim 1841

1838 Travels in Arabia (Oman) by Wellsted

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1838 Travels in Arabia by Wellsted

 

1838 Travels in Arabia by Wellsted (First detailed description of the interior of Oman) First volume (describing Oman) only.

Author / Publisher J.R. Wellsted / John Murray

 

 

Antique map Oman wellsted 1838

 First 1838 detailed map of the interior of Oman,

 

Map Oman Wellsted 1838

including the route that Wellsted took

Book details:

The most important early book on Oman! Rare first edition. Only the first volume present. Original cloth stamped in blind ;  vol. I (only) : pps.XVI , 446 , 4 plates : 2 maps (one large folding map "Oman" , another folding "Map &c of Nakab el Hajar") and 2 views (Valley of Oman , Arab and Bishyrean Camel) ; The missing volume II : (pps. X , 472 , 8 plates : 3 maps (Peninsula of Sinai , Red Sea , Island of Dhalac) , 3 views (Mount Sinai , Jebel Narkous , Berenice) , 2 plates of inscriptions " ) As second lieutenant on the East India Company's ship Palinarus, under Captain Moresby, Wellsted took part in the detailed survey of the Gulf of 'Aqabah and the northern part of the Red Sea in 1830. He then returned to Bombay in 1833 and was reassigned under the command of Captain Haines to survey the southern coast of Arabia.

In January 1834 she crossed over to Socotra and Wellsted spent two months on the island. He published the results of his journey as Memoir on the island of Socotra. During his travels to the Red Sea and the Siyal Islands, Wellsted documented the existence of peoples known as the Huteimi. They are described by Wellsted to be "found on the Arabian and Nubian coasts" and that they are "cowardly in disposition, squalid and misshapen in form, and filthy in their habits" According to various accounts, they are further described as a race of fishermen, found in various parts of the Hejaz, with "large encampments near Leyt to the southward of Jiddah."

In November 1835 Wellsted gained permission from the Imam to travel in Oman with Lieutenant F Whitelock. The two reached areas previously unseen by Europeans and Wellsted published his early account of the journey in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society. The following winter he returned but succumbed to fever and 'in a fit of delirium he discharged both barrels of his gun into his mouth, but the balls passing upwards only inflicted two ghastly wounds in the upper jaw'. He was taken to Bombay and from there returned to London on leave.  He retired from the service in 1839, living part of the time on his navy pension in Blacklands House, a mental health facility of gentlemen. He died in 1842 at his family's home, 12/13 Molyneux Street, Marylebone.

Wellsted's papers were read at the Royal Geographical Society and he was immediately recognized by the scientific world. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society on 6 April 1837 and was also a fellow of the Astronomical Society. In particular his unbiased accounts of geography and culture in Oman, continue as a unique description of the area at that early date. English Heritage are currently considering the erection of a blue memorial plaque at his family home in Molyneux Street

 References:
  1. Gay 3603; Brunet 20587;
  2. Journal of the Royal Geographical Society,13 (1842) xliii
  3. The Times (12 November 1842)
  4. C R Markham, A Memoir on the Indian Surveys, 2nd edition(1878) 2nd series, 20 (1843)
  5. J B Kelly, Britain and the Persian Gulf, 1795 - 1880 (1968)
  6. Journal of the Royal Geographical Society (7, 1837, 102)
  7. Journal of the Royal Geographical Society (5, 1835, 129)
  8.  Travels to the City of the Caliphs along the shores of the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean (published 1840)
  9. Fred Scholz Reproduction J.R. Wellsted Travels in Arabia printed by Akademische druck u verlagsanstalt Graz Austria 1978;
  10. Howgego, II, W20

1838 Travels in Arabia by Wellsted

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Wellsted Travels in Arabia 1838,

 

 1838 Travels in Arabia by Wellsted (Rare detailed description of the interior of Oman) Both volumes present and complete and in the original binding. This rare book is the first detailed description of the interior of Oman including a fine large map!

Author / Publisher :J.R. Wellsted / John Murray 

 

 Antiuqe map Oman wellsted

Book details:

The most important book on Oman, containing the first detailed travel description including large parts of the interior. Rare and valuable first edition.The first large volume  dedicated to Oman! Original cloth stamped in blind ;  vol. I  : pps.XVI , 446 , 4 plates : 2 maps (one large folding map "Oman" , another folding "Map &c of Nakab el Hajar") and 2 views (Valley of Oman , Arab and Bishyrean Camel) ;Volume II : (pps. X , 472 , 8 plates : 3 maps (Peninsula of Sinai , Red Sea , Island of Dhalac) , 3 views (Mount Sinai , Jebel Narkous , Berenice) , 2 plates of inscriptions " ) As second lieutenant on the East India Company's ship Palinarus, under Captain Moresby, Wellsted took part in the detailed survey of the Gulf of 'Aqabah and the northern part of the Red Sea in 1830. He then returned to Bombay in 1833 and was reassigned under the command of Captain Haines to survey the southern coast of Arabia.  In January 1834 she crossed over to Socotra and Wellsted spent two months on the island. He published the results of his journey as Memoir on the island of Socotra. During his travels to the Red Sea and the Siyal Islands, Wellsted documented the existence of peoples known as the Huteimi. They are described by Wellsted to be "found on the Arabian and Nubian coasts," and that they are "cowardly in disposition, squalid and misshapen in form, and filthy in their habits." According to various accounts, they are further described as a race of fishermen, found in various parts of the Hejaz, with "large encampments near Leyt to the southward of Jiddah."

In November 1835 Wellsted gained permission from the Imam to travel in Oman with Lieutenant F Whitelock. The two reached areas previously unseen by Europeans and Wellsted published his early account of the journey in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society. The following winter he returned but succumbed to fever and 'in a fit of delirium he discharged both barrels of his gun into his mouth, but the balls passing upwards only inflicted two ghastly wounds in the upper jaw'. He was taken to Bombay and from there returned to London on leave.

He retired from the service in 1839, living part of the time on his navy pension in Blacklands House, a mental health facility of gentlemen. He died in 1842 at his family's home, 12/13 Molyneux Street, Marylebone.

Wellsted's papers were read at the Royal Geographical Society and he was immediately recognized by the scientific world. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society on 6 April 1837 and was also a fellow of the Astronomical Society. In particular his unbiased accounts of geography and culture in Oman, continue as a unique description of the area at that early date. English Heritage are currently considering the erection of a blue memorial plaque at his family home in Molyneux Street

 References:
  1. Gay 3603; Brunet 20587;
  2. Journal of the Royal Geographical Society,13 (1842) xliii;
  3. The Times (12 November 1842);
  4. C R Markham, A Memoir on the Indian Surveys, 2nd edn (1878) 2nd ser., 20 (1843);
  5. J B Kelly, Britain and the Persian Gulf, 1795 - 1880 (1968);
  6. Journal of the Royal Geographical Society (7, 1837, 102);
  7. Journal of the Royal Geographical Society (5, 1835, 129);
  8. Travels to the City of the Caliphs along the shores of the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean (published 1840);
  9. Fred Scholz Reproduction J.R. Wellsted Travels in Arabia printed by Akademische druck u verlagsanstalt Graz Austria 1978;
  10. Howgego, II, W20
  11. The National Museum of Oman Highlights published by Scala Arts & Heritage publishers in  2016 Has a brief description of the book on page 2.  The map of Oman shown on page 2, is not from the book but from the article Narrative of a Journey into the interior of Oman in 1835  by Wellsted in Journal of the Royal Geographic society  volume VII p 102-113 1837.

1841 Travels to the City of the Caliphs by Wellsted

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Wellsted Travels to the City of the Caliphs along the shores of the Persian Gulf. Author / Publisher: J.R. Wellsted / Lea & Blanchard Philadelphia USA

 

 

Wellsted Travels to the city of the caliphs 1841

Book details

The very rare American edition (there is also a less rare London edition) of a description of the Persian Gulf and the Omani Island of Socotra. 2 volumes.  1841 Edition of Travels to The City of Caliphs by J.R. Wellsted in two Volumes.

The first edition was in 1840 London (includes a map and 2 illustrations) No map and illustrations in this second American edition. The London edition is extremely valuable but no complete example of this American edition found on the Internet. First edition of this uncommon, and important account.

Secretary to Sir Charles Malcolm, superintendent of the Bombay marine, 1828-9, in 1830 Wellsted was appointed second-lieutenant of the East India Company’s ship Palinurus, then engaged, under Captain Moresby, in making a detailed survey of the Gulf of ‘Aqabah and the northern part of the Red Sea. She returned to Bombay early in 1833, and was then sent, under the command of Captain Haines, to survey the southern coast of Arabia, Wellsted being still her second-lieutenant.

In January 1834 she crossed over to Socotra, and on the 10th anchored in the Bay of Tamarida. Wellsted spent the following two months traveling in the island … In November 1835 Wellsted had permission to travel in Oman, and went to Muscat with Lieutenant F. Whitelock, also of the Indian navy. The imam gave them every assistance in his power, but their fever and the disturbed state of the country curtailed their plans. None the less, the two reached areas which no European had previously seen and which were not visited again by Europeans for another hundred years” Wellsted seems to have attempted another venture into Oman the next winter, but he arrived at Muscat “in an acute stage of fever. ‘In a fit of delirium he discharged both barrels of his gun into his mouth, but the balls, passing upwards, only inflicted two ghastly wounds in the upper jaw. He was carried to Bombay, and thence returned to Europe on leave.

He retired from the service in 1839, ‘and dragged on a few years in shattered health and with impaired mental powers, chiefly residing in France’” (ODNB) He died in 1842. “Wellsted was an acute observer and not blinded by prejudice or ignorance in his description of the local people.  His accounts of the geography of Oman, particularly the irrigation systems and the way of life in remote mountain tracts, continue to be important as a unique description of the country at an early date”

References: Check

1841 Reisen nach der Stadt der Khalifen by Wellsted

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Wellsted Reisen nach der Stadt der Khalifen

 

Reisen nach der Stadt der Khalifen, die Ufer des Persischen Meerbusens und des Mittelländischen Meeres entlang. Mit Einschluß einer Reise nach der Küste von Arabien und der Insel Socotra.

 Author / Publisher: J.R. Wellsted / Dennig u. Finck Pforzheim 1841

 

 

 

 

 

Reisen nach stadt der Khalifen by Wellsted

Description:

Very rare German two volume edition (in one binding)  describing the Persian Gulf and the Omani Island of Socotra. Contents: VI , 1 , 474. First published in English with the title The City of Caliphs by J.R. Wellsted in two volumes.  The first edition was in 1840 London (includes a map and 2 illustrations) No map and illustrations in this German edition. The London edition is extremely valuable but no complete example of this German nor the American  edition found on the Internet. First edition of this uncommon, and important account.  Secretary to Sir Charles Malcolm, superintendent of the Bombay marine, 1828-9, in 1830 Wellsted “was appointed second-lieutenant of the East India Company’s ship Palinurus, then engaged, under Captain Moresby, in making a detailed survey of the Gulf of ‘Aqabah and the northern part of the Red Sea. She returned to Bombay early in 1833, and was then sent, under the command of Captain Haines, to survey the southern coast of Arabia, Wellsted being still her second-lieutenant.  In January 1834 she crossed over to Socotra, and on the 10th anchored in the Bay of Tamarida. Wellsted spent the following two months traveling in the island … In November 1835 Wellsted had permission to travel in Oman, and went to Muscat with Lieutenant F. Whitelock, also of the Indian navy. The imam gave them every assistance in his power, but their fever and the disturbed state of the country curtailed their plans. None the less, the two reached areas which no European had previously seen and which were not visited again by Europeans for another hundred years .” Wellsted seems to have attempted another venture into Oman the next winter, but he arrived at Muscat “in an acute stage of fever. ‘In a fit of delirium he discharged both barrels of his gun into his mouth, but the balls, passing upwards, only inflicted two ghastly wounds in the upper jaw’. He was carried to Bombay, and thence returned to Europe on leave. He retired from the service in 1839, ‘and dragged on a few years in shattered health and with impaired mental powers, chiefly residing in France’” (ODNB) He died in 1842. “Wellsted was an acute observer and not blinded by prejudice or ignorance in his description of the local people.  His accounts of the geography of Oman, particularly the irrigation systems and the way of life in remote mountain tracts, continue to be important as a unique description of the country at an early date.”

References:

  1. Engelmann I, 128; Vgl. Ibrahim-Hilmy II, 324

1842 Wellsted Reisen in Arabien

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Wellsted Reisen in Arabien 1842

 

Reisen in Arabien. Deutsche Bearbeitung herausgegeben mit berichtigenden und erläuternden Anmerkungen und einem Excurs über himjaritische Inschriften von E. Rödiger. (This book is the first detailed description of the interior of Oman translated into German, including a fine large map)

Author / Publisher :Wellsted (translator E. Rödiger) / Waisenhaus Halle 

 

 

 Wellsted Reisen in Arabien 1842

Map of Oman in the German edition of Travels in Arabia (Reisen in Arabien).

Description:

Extremely rare first German edition of Wellsted´s Travels in Arabia. Two volumes in one binding. With 2 folded lithographed maps, sketches and plans.  Contents: XIV, 311 pages, VI, 412 pages. Wellsted was the first western to travel through the interior of Oman and to write a detailed book about it. It also contains the first detailed map of Oman. Wellsted was not a romantic explorer or novelist. Wellsted wrote down quire accurately what he saw and that gives his work major scientific value. For this reason we frequently refer to his work in this website. 

References:
  1. Dinse 442 - Macro, Bibl. of the Arabian Peninsula 2281.
  2. Heinze V., S. 474ff.: "J.R. Wellsted (1805-1842) war der unternehmendste und fruchtbarste Arabien-Forscher seiner Zeit. Er war der erste wissenschaftliche Bereiser und und Beschreiber Omans. Er lernte als Teilnehmer der großen, von der Bomby-Reigerung veranstalteten Küstenaufnahme unter R. Moresby und S.B. Haines das arabische Gestadeland rundum zwischen der Sinai-Halbinsel und dem Persischen Golkf kennen sowie auf Teile der nubischen Küste ... Das unbestrittene Glanzstück von Wellsted's Forschertätigkeit bildete seine Bereisung Omans (1835-1836), von dem man zuvor nur den Küstenverlauf mit den Hauptsiedlungen, vornean das vielbesuchte Maskat, gekannt". - Die Tafeln mit Karte von Oman, Skizze von Nakab el Hadschar, Skizze der Insel Dahlak, Karte der Südküste von Arabien sowie Inschriften. - Wenige Seiten etw. braunfleckig, etw. gebräunt. - Sehr selten"

1846 Chart of the south east coast Arabia by Capt Haines (Indian Navy) Antique map of the coast of Oman.

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Chart of the south east coast Arabia

 

Chart of the south east coast Arabia compiled from Trigomertic surveys  Indian Navy Sheet II

Author / Publisher:  Comrs Haines and Sanders  and Lt Griev / Indian Navy Bombay 1850 1846

 

 

 

Chart Arabia Indian Navy

 Haines Chart of the south east coast Arabia

 

Description:

Extremely rare to find this valuable map in an early edition (for edition watch the small letters at e.g. the bottom of the map)! The main interest of European nations in Oman was as a place to take water and fresh fruit into there sailing vessels and to prevent pirates taking their ships on the important route to and from India. 

During the first quarter of the 19th century a lot of British ships were taken by Omani pirates (form Bani bu Ali) The English send a naval fleet and army to attack the pirate village/town. However on land the army got beaten by the pirates with their swords and ancient muskets. This was very embarrassing. and subsequently the British send a new expedition with the help of the sultan of Oman and this time the pirates were beaten. From then on the British took more interest in the Omani coast and by the 1830´s they started making detailed maps of the coast of Oman and the interior of Oman see e.g. the works by Wellsted and his ship the Palinurus. By the middle of the 19th century Oman became less important as steamships started to replace sailing vessels and gradually steamships could sail longer without taking in coal or fresh water. By the third quarter of the 19th century the British had dug the Suez canal. The route from India to Suez along the Omani coast became then crucial to the British and they wanted no disruptions e.g from pirates.  The British subsequently pushed  the split of the Omani empire into Zanzibar and the Oman mainland: Two Omani princes disputed the right to become the sultan after the death of their father, so the British encouraged a split of Oman and Zanzibar (divide and rule!)

The immediate stimulus for the survey of the Persian Gulf coasts begun by Captain Philip Maughan and Lieutenant John Guy of the Bombay Marine in 1820. It was the desire of the Bombay Government to combat the maritime warfare on the Arabian coast, where local sailors could outwit the East India Company´s ships with a detailed knowledge of the shallows and channels. Maughan and Guy retired in turn through ill-health in 1821 and 1825, after surveying part of the Arabian coast south-westward from the Strait of Hormuz. The direction of the survey, on board the East India Company ships Discovery and Psyche, was taken over by Lieutenant George Brucks assisted by Lieutenant Stafford Haines.

Brucks and Haines are the names to appear on the majority of the charts completed in the period 1823 to 1827. The whole of the Arabian coast had been completed by April 1825, and the survey of the Persian coast continued until April 1828. Engraved chart, including tidal information, compass roses, soundings, seabed notations, currents, sandbanks, shoals, lighthouses and beacons, inland elevations, detailing and buildings, inset charts of Bandarjissa, Sur Anchorage, Bandar Khairan, Madraka Anchorage, Khor Jarama and Dar Sait Anchorage.The survey was carried out by Commander Sanders and Lieutenant Grieve who were in the employ of the Indian Navy.  In 1840 the British had taken control of the port of Aden; a strategically important port along the trade route from England to India. From their base at Aden the British began to steadily grapple with the problem of piracy that had been plaguing much of British shipping. In order to achieve this they required the most up-to-date hydrographic information, hence the significant increase in the charting of the region by the likes of Sanders, Grieve, Carless, and Moresby. In fact by the middle of the nineteenth century the whole of the Arabian Peninsula had been surveyed.

The Indian Navy was the naval arm of the East India Company. It had been established by the Company as early as 1612 when it protected the their nascent commercial interests. In 1686 with most of the English commerce moving to Bombay the navy was renamed 'The Bombay Marine'. A name that it would keep for the next 144 years, until in 1830, it was renamed the 'Her Majesty's Indian Navy'. This title would, however, not be so long lived and in 1858, when the EIC was re-leaved of its administration of India the navy was brought under the control of the British State

 References: History of the Indian Navy Vol 2

1870 History of the Imams and Seyyids of Oman

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History of the Imams and Seyyids of Oman

 

History of the Imams and Seyyids of Oman by Salil-ibn-Razik, from A.D. 661-1856. Translated from the Original Arabic and Edited, with Notes, Appendices, and an Introduction, continuing the History down to 1870.

Author / Publisher: Salil Ibn Hazik. Translated by Badger / Hakluyt Society London 1871

 

 

History of the Imams and Seyyids of Oman

 History of the Imams and Seyyids of Oman

History of the Imams and Seyyids of Oman

Description:

Important, scarce  and valuable book. Contents: cxxviii (introduction) ;435 p. Original blue cloth stamped in blind, gilt vignette of ship on front board, spine ruled in blind, gilt titles, yellow end-papers (hardback) Illus. with 1 folding map. Translation of Shu`a` al-shai`bi-al-lama`an fi dhikr asma aimmat `Uman. "This work embraces the annals of 'Oman from the rise of Islam down to a very recent period, and is, I believe, unique in the continuity and fullness of its narrative. The native records from which the earlier portions are compiled, if they ever came within their reach, have never, to my knowledge, been utilized by foreign authors either in the East or West" (Intro). We have another original example of this book with beautiful dark blue covers (and ornamental  elements around the ship on the covers ). and heavily gilded edges but unfortunately with rather brittle paper, resulting in some damage.

References: No References

1875a Arabistan land of the Arabian Nights by Fogg Includes a description of Muscat and the souq by Perry Fogg in 1874

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Auctioning of an antique sword in the Muscat souq

 

Perry Fogg was a traveler / tourist from Cleveland. His vivid description of Muscat on page 160-167 is interesting.

Published by Perry Fogg  / Dustin Gilman Chicago Ill. Cincinnati, Ohio 1875

This is a luxury issue in red binding, with heavily gilded edges and printed on good quality paper.

 

Arabistan description Muscat

 

Oman Muscat souq

 

 

Omani sword auction

The 1875 edition is scarce. Most interesting is his description of the unusual auctioning process  of an antique sword in the souq. The same method of auctioning still happened in Nizwa in the 1980´s. He also mentions that in Oman arms were handed down as heirlooms, and will only be parted with in case of an emergency!  See attached photos for the relevant text.

References:

1888 Sea Chart of the North East coasts of Arabia from Maskat to Ras Sukra

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Sea Chart Oman

 

Chart of the North East coasts of Arabia from Maskat to Ras Sukra surveyed by comr sanders and Lt m. Grieve Indian navy (in very early edition) This very rare sea chart  was published by Sanders Greive /  John walker geographer to the east India company 1888

 

Antiuqe sea map Oman Sanders

 

Description:

Very rare and early naval map of the coast of Oman. 

In 1846 first published by John walker geographer to the east India company set 29 1854 corrected at the admiralty June 1865 Sold by j.d. Potter agent for the admiralty charts Large corrections Jan 1888.  Previous owner stamp: Vapor Jose Gallart.  Engraved chart, including tidal information, compass roses, soundings, seabed notations, currents, sandbanks, shoals, lighthouses and beacons, inland elevations, detailing and buildings, inset charts of Bandarjissa, Sur Anchorage, Bandar Khairan, Madraka Anchorage, Khor Jarama and Dar Sait Anchorage.

The survey was carried out by Commander Sanders and Lieutenant Grieve who were in the employ of the Indian Navy. In 1840 the British had taken control of the port of Aden; a strategically important port along the trade route from England to India. From their base at Aden the British began to steadily grapple with the problem of piracy that had been plaguing much of British shipping. In order to achieve this they required the most up-to-date hydro-graphic information, hence the significant increase in the charting of the region by the likes of Sanders, Grieve, Carless, and Moresby.  In fact by the middle of the nineteenth century the whole of the Arabian Peninsula had been surveyed.The Indian Navy was the naval arm of the East India Company. It had been established by the Company as early as 1612 when it protected the their nascent commercial interests. In 1686 with most of the English commerce moving to Bombay the navy was renamed 'The Bombay Marine'. A name that it would keep for the next 144 years, until in 1830, it was renamed the 'Her Majesty's Indian Navy'. This title would, however, not be so long lived and in 1858, when the EIC was released of its administration of India the navy was brought under the control of the British State

References: History of the Indian Navy Vol 2

1865 Sea Chart of the South East coasts of Arabia from Ras Sukra to Palinurus shoal. Antique map of the coast of Arabia.

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Sea Chart southern Oman

 

Sea Chart of the South East coasts of Arabia from Ras Sukra to Palinurus shoal compiled from trigometric surveys by  comrs Haines and sanders and Lt a.m. Grieve Indian navy  issued by Haines Grieve /  John Walker geographer to the east India company 1865.

 

 

 Chart Map  Arabia Palinurus

 

 

 

Author / Publisher: Haines Grieve /  John Walker geographer to the east India company

Title:

Description:

Very rare and valuable map. Originally produced 1854, subsequently corrected at the admiralty June 1865.  Our version is the one from Jan 1888 (probably third edition) Previous owner stamp: Vapor Jose Gallart Barcelone. Engraved chart, including tidal information, compass roses, soundings, seabed notations, currents, sandbanks, shoals, lighthouses and beacons, inland elevations, detailing and buildings, inset charts of Bandarjissa, Sur Anchorage, Bandar Khairan, Madraka Anchorage, Khor Jarama and Dar Sait Anchorage

The survey was carried out by Commander Sanders, Grieve and Haines who were in the employ of the Indian Navy.  In 1840 the British had taken control of the port of Aden; a strategically important port along the trade route from England to India. From their base at Aden the British began to steadily grapple with the problem of piracy that had been plaguing much of British shipping. In order to achieve this they required the most up-to-date hydro-graphic information, hence the significant increase in the charting of the region by the likes of Haines, Sanders, Grieve, Carless, and Moresby.  In fact by the middle of the nineteenth century the whole of the Arabian Peninsula had been surveyed.

 The Indian Navy was the naval arm of the East India Company. It had been established by the Company as early as 1612 when it protected the their nascent commercial interests. In 1686 with most of the English commerce moving to Bombay the navy was renamed 'The Bombay Marine'. A name that it would keep for the next 144 years, until in 1830, it was renamed the 'Her Majesty's Indian Navy'. This title would, however, not be so long lived and in 1858, when the EIC was released of its administration of India the navy was brought under the control of the British State

References:

  1. History of the Indian Navy Vol 2

1892 Persia and the Persian Question by Curzon (book belonged to Percy Cox (previously British consul in Muscat) . Book contains also some information on Oman. The book has Persian hand-painted lacquer boards.

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Bookplate Percy Cox Previously consul in Oman

Important and scarce work with the title Persia and the Persian question written by Lord Curzon (viceroy of India) and published by Longmans, Green 1892. 

Both two  Volumes with old hand-painted Persian Lacquer boards! The Persian lacquer Boards potentially much older than the book.

Each volume with a bookplate / Ex Libris  of Sir Percy Cox, the right hand of Lord Curzon during his time in Persia. Percy Cox was known to the Arabs as "Cokkos"!

 

Antique Persian lacquered boards

Antique Persian Lacquered binding

 Bookplate Percy Cox
Bookplates Sir Percy Cox
 
Curzon Persia and the Persian Question 1892
 
RGS Sir Percy Cox and Lady Ravensdale Persepolis
 

RGS Sir percy Cox Lady Ravensdale Persepolis

RGS Sir Percy Cox and Lady Ravensdale

In a newspaper article about her travels in Iran, Lady Ravensdale the daughter of Curzon mentioned that she was horrified to discover her fathers name on one of the monuments (Gate of all Lands) in Persepolis. However, she could not image her father doing such a thing.... This trickered several letters in e.g. Times and discussions at the RGS

In the the newspaper article of Arthur Moore we read that also "C.J. Rich" left his signature at Persepolis. In our  book "Fraser Narrative Of A Journey Into Khorasan" is a manuscript letter inserted by Fraser in which he informs the family of C.J. Rich about the circumstances of his death.

 

Ex Libris Veth-Delprat Roalnd Holst

Very fine Dutch book-plate made in  1915 for Mrs Delprat-Veth and made by the Dutch well known artist Nicolaas Roland Holst. Mrs Delprat-Veth was the sister of the painter / historian Jan Pieter Veth. The Delprat-Veth family archive is kept in the Rijksmuseum (prentenkabinet).

 

Description:

Unique book because of the antique hand-painted (Persian Lacquer)  boards and provenance and history.

Very fine two-volume set previously owned by Sir Percy Cox, assistant to Lord Curzon.  The covers and spines of each volume have been replaced by fine hand-painted Persian lacquer covers!! The Persian  text on the covers has not been deciphered but they are probably from the 19th century or earlier.

The top edges have  been heavily gilded.

Each volume with the beautiful bookplate of Sir Percy Cox, showing him in traditional English costume and himself dressed as an Arab, clearly demonstrating his affinity with the Arab world!!  When Percy Cox was the head of the Geographic Society the North / South Pole areas and large parts of the  Arabian peninsula were at the main focus of the Explorers of the time.

Cox worked for Curzon and together with the famous Arabist / traveler Gertrude Bell he played a key role in the founding of Iraq as a modern state.

The book in its own right (without the hand-painted boards)  is already valuable and in mint condition, except for one of the boards being loose (because of the loose documents that had been inserted in the book)

This book was a present from Lady Ravensdale, the daughter of Curzon to Percy Cox. The occasion of the gift being a session of the Royal Geographic Society (of which Percy Cox was chairman)  during which Lord Curzon was heavily criticized for supposedly inscribing his name on some key Persian monuments (next the signatures of several ancient explorers such as Niebuhr) Percy Cox, however defended Curzon during the RGS meeting.  Ironically this whole debate had been tricked by an article by lady Ravensdale herself about her travels through Persia! When visiting the ruins of Persepolis she discovered the signature of her father Lord Curzon on one of the major monuments. However, in the article she said that she could not imagine her father doing such a thing..... This comment trickered several letters in the Times  and even the ambassador of Iran got involved.   

With the books belong some newspaper cuttings and a personal thank you note in a tiny envelope by Lady Ravensdale relating to the events in the RGS. (see photos above) The inserted papers have probably caused one of the boards to come loose.

Sir Percy Cox (1864-1937) to whom this copy belonged, was a soldier, administrator and diplomat active in the Persian Gulf, Persia, Iraq and Nejd (negotiating with Abdulaziz ibn Saud) He was also political agent in Oman and played an important role in defining many of the present days borders in the middle east.

References:
  1. Philip Graves life of Sir Percy Cox, Plymouth Mayflower press 1941

1905 Tippu Tip Lebensbild eines zentralafrikanischen Despoten 1905, in a green binding, proably a first book edition.

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Tippu Tip Lebensbild Brode

Rare book with the title "Tippu Tip Lebensbild eines zentralafrikanischen Despoten - Nach seinen eigenen Angaben dargestellt" translated by  Dr. Heinrich Brode and published by Wilhelm Baensch Berlin 1905.

This rare and extremely important autobiography was originally written in Swahili by Tippu Tip and subsequently translated into German by Heinrich Brode.  First issued in a scientific magazine and slightly later published in this rare book. 

 

Tippu Tip was a very important slave and ivory trader, explorer, diplomat, plantation owner, soldier etc. 

Description:

Rare book. Frontispiece followed by 167 numbered pages.  This very important autobiography was first written in Swahili. Heinrich Brode transcripted the Swahili into ´Latin script` and translated it into german and published it in ,,Mitteilungen des Seminars für orientalische Sprachen« Abteilung III, Jahrgang V und VI, erschienen 1902/1903. Tippu Tip or Tippu Tib or Tippoo Tib (1837 – June 14, 1905), real name Hemed bin Mohammed bin Jumah bin Rajab bin Muḥammad bin Sa‘īd al-Murghabī, (Arabic: حمد بن محمد بن جمعة بن رجب بن محمد بن سعيد المرجبي‎), was a Swahili-Zanzibari Tippu Tip was a a fascinating   ivory and slave trader,  Explorer, Governor. Leda Ferrant describes him as one the last great Slavers of the 19th century, his rule extended for thousands of miles, west and nort west of lake Tanganyika, and his name was known and feared in most of East and Central Africa. He was known by the natives of Southeast Africa as Tippu Tib after the sounds that his many guns made. A brilliant ivory trader, explorer, plantation owner and governor, who worked for a succession of sultans of Zanzibar. He also traded in slaves for Zanzibar's clove plantations.

He led many trading expeditions into Central Africa, as part of the large and lucrative ivory trade by constructing profitable trading posts that reached deep into Central Africa. He bought the ivory from central African suppliers who sold it to him for a low price. Tippu Tip built himself a trading empire that he then translated into clove plantations on Zanzibar and became one of the richest men in Africa at the time. Abdul Sheriff reported that when he left for his twelve years of "empire building" on the mainland, he had no plantations of his own. However, by 1895, he had acquired "seven 'shambas' [plantations] and 10,000 slaves"

His mother, Bint Habib bin Bushir, was a Muscat Arab of the ruling class. His father and paternal grandfather were coastal Swahili who had taken part in the earliest trading expeditions to the interior. His paternal great-grandmother, wife of Rajab bin Mohammed bin Said el Murgebi, was the daughter of Juma bin Mohammed el Nebhani, a member of a respected Muscat (Oman) family, and a Bantu woman from the village of Mbwa Maji, a small village south of what would later become the German capital of Dar es Salaam. He met and helped several famous western explorers of the African continent, including Henry Morton Stanley. Between 1884 and 1887, El Murgebi claimed the Eastern Congo for himself and for the Sultan of Zanzibar, Bargash bin Said el Busaidi. In fact in several cases Tippu Tip organised most of  the expedition / caravan  resources (Supporting letters from the Sultan,  men and supplies) for the European explorers. In fact it was Tippu Tip who guided European explorers into the interior of East and Central Africa, also his influence in the interior of Africa was crucial.  These areas were known to Tippu Tip as trader in Slaves and Ivory and representative of the Sultan of Zanzibar. At the age of 18 he already traveled to Lake Nyasa. Stanley unfairly blamed Tippu Tip for the failure of the Emin Pascha relief expedition who ironically did not want to be found. 

Tippu Tip has still not been given credit by Westerners for the enormous contribution he made to the Western Explorations in Eastern and central Africa, the main reason being his role as slave and ivory trader. Ironically it were these Western explorations into East  and Central Africa  that eventually ended slavery in these areas. In spite of his position as protector of Zanzibar's interests in Congo, he managed to maintain good relations with the Europeans. When, in August 1886, fighting broke out between the Swahili and the representatives of King Leopold II of Belgium at Stanley Falls, El Murgebi went to the Belgian consul at Zanzibar to assure him of his "good intentions." Although he was still a force in Central African politics, he could see by 1886 that power in the region was shifting. In early 1887, Stanley arrived in Zanzibar and proposed that Tippu Tip be made governor of the Stanley Falls District in the Congo Free State. Both Leopold and Sultan Barghash bin Said agreed and on February 24, 1887, Tippu Tip accepted. Around 1890/91, he returned to Zanzibar where he retired. He wrote his autobiography, which is the first example of this literary genre in Swahili. Dr. Heinrich Brode, who knew him in Zanzibar, transcribed the manuscript into Roman script and translated it into German in 1903. It was subsequently translated into English and published in Britain in 1907. He died June 13, 1905, of malaria (according to Brode) in his home in Zanzibar  Stone Town.

 References:

Tippu Tip is referenced in an endless list of books reflecting his importance to the History of Eastern Africa in many ways) :

  1. Tippu Tip H. Brode , Maisha  ya Hamed bin Muhammed El Murjebi, in Mitteilungen des Seminars für orientalische Sprachen  Abteilung III, Jahrgang V: p 175-277 und VI p1-55 1902/1903
  2. Brode, Heinrich. Tippoo Tib: The Story of His Career in Zanzibar & Central Africa. Translated by H. Havelock with preface by Sir Charles Elliot. London: Arnold, 1907
  3. Leda Ferrant, Tippu Tip and the East African Slave Trade , St Martin´s press New York  1975
  4. Heinrich Brode, Tippu Tip: The Story of his career in Zanzibar and Central Africa, The Gallery Publications, Zanzibar 2000
  5. David Livingstone, Missionary Travels and Researches , 1857
  6. David Livingstone The Last Journals 1874
  7. Stanley How I found Livingstone
  8. Stanley through the dark continent 1879
  9. Stanley The Congo and the founding of the free state
  10. Stanley In darkest Afrika
  11. Stanley My Kalulu, Prince, King and Slave
  12. W.H. Ingrams Zanzibar Its History and People
  13. F.B. Pearce Zanzibar, The Island metropolis of Eastern Africa
  14. Christiane Bird, The Sultan´s Shadow One family´s Rule at the crossroads of East and West, Random House New York 2010
  15. Benett, Norman Robert. Arab vs. European: Diplomacy and war in Nineteenth-Century Est Central Africa. New York: Africana Publishing Company, 1986
  16. Sheriff, Abdul. Slaves, Spices & Ivory in Zanzibar: Integration of an East African Commercial Empire into the World Economy, 1770-1873. London, Nairobi, Tanzania, Athens,OH: James Currey, Heinemann Kenya, Tanzania Publishing House, Ohio University Press, 1987
  17. Wikipedia Tippu Tip

1905 Tippu Tip Lebensbild eines zentralafrikanischen Despoten 1905 in a grey binding, probably a second book edition

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Rare book with the title "Tippu Tip Lebensbild eines zentralafrikanischen Despoten - Nach seinen eigenen Angaben dargestellt" translated by  Dr. Heinrich Brode and published by Wilhelm Baensch Berlin 1905.

This very rare and extremely important autobiography was originally written in Swahili by Tippu Tip and subsequently translated into German by Heinrich Brode. First issued in a scientific magazine and slightly later published in this rare book.

 Tippu Tip was a very important slave and ivory trader, explorer, diplomat, plantation owner, soldier etc.

 

Description:

Very Rare book. Frontispiece followed by 167 numbered pages.  This very important autobiography was first written in Swahili. Heinrich Brode transcripted the Swahili into ´Latin script` and translated it into german and published it in ,,Mitteilungen des Seminars für orientalische Sprachen« Abteilung III, Jahrgang V und VI, erschienen 1902/1903. Tippu Tip or Tippu Tib or Tippoo Tib (1837 – June 14, 1905), real name Hemed bin Mohammed bin Jumah bin Rajab bin Muḥammad bin Sa‘īd al-Murghabī, (Arabic: حمد بن محمد بن جمعة بن رجب بن محمد بن سعيد المرجبي‎), was a Swahili-Zanzibari Tippu Tip was a a fascinating   ivory and slave trader,  Explorer, Governor. Leda Ferrant describes him as one the last great Slavers of the 19th century, his rule extended for thousands of miles, west and nort west of lake Tanganyika, and his name was known and feared in most of East and Central Africa. He was known by the natives of Southeast Africa as Tippu Tib after the sounds that his many guns made. A brilliant ivory trader, explorer, plantation owner and governor, who worked for a succession of sultans of Zanzibar. He also traded in slaves for Zanzibar's clove plantations.

He led many trading expeditions into Central Africa, as part of the large and lucrative ivory trade by constructing profitable trading posts that reached deep into Central Africa. He bought the ivory from central African suppliers who sold it to him for a low price. Tippu Tip built himself a trading empire that he then translated into clove plantations on Zanzibar and became one of the richest men in Africa at the time. Abdul Sheriff reported that when he left for his twelve years of "empire building" on the mainland, he had no plantations of his own. However, by 1895, he had acquired "seven 'shambas' [plantations] and 10,000 slaves"

His mother, Bint Habib bin Bushir, was a Muscat Arab of the ruling class. His father and paternal grandfather were coastal Swahili who had taken part in the earliest trading expeditions to the interior. His paternal great-grandmother, wife of Rajab bin Mohammed bin Said el Murgebi, was the daughter of Juma bin Mohammed el Nebhani, a member of a respected Muscat (Oman) family, and a Bantu woman from the village of Mbwa Maji, a small village south of what would later become the German capital of Dar es Salaam. He met and helped several famous western explorers of the African continent, including Henry Morton Stanley. Between 1884 and 1887, El Murgebi claimed the Eastern Congo for himself and for the Sultan of Zanzibar, Bargash bin Said el Busaidi. In fact in several cases Tippu Tip organised most of  the expedition / caravan  resources (Supporting letters from the Sultan,  men and supplies) for the European explorers. In fact it was Tippu Tip who guided European explorers into the interior of East and Central Africa, also his influence in the interior of Africa was crucial.  These areas were known to Tippu Tip as trader in Slaves and Ivory and representative of the Sultan of Zanzibar. At the age of 18 he already traveled to Lake Nyasa. Stanley unfairly blamed Tippu Tip for the failure of the Emin Pascha relief expedition who ironically did not want to be found. 

Tippu Tip has still not been given credit by Westerners for the enormous contribution he made to the Western Explorations in Eastern and central Africa, the main reason being his role as slave and ivory trader. Ironically it were these Western explorations into East  and Central Africa  that eventually ended slavery in these areas. In spite of his position as protector of Zanzibar's interests in Congo, he managed to maintain good relations with the Europeans. When, in August 1886, fighting broke out between the Swahili and the representatives of King Leopold II of Belgium at Stanley Falls, El Murgebi went to the Belgian consul at Zanzibar to assure him of his "good intentions." Although he was still a force in Central African politics, he could see by 1886 that power in the region was shifting. In early 1887, Stanley arrived in Zanzibar and proposed that Tippu Tip be made governor of the Stanley Falls District in the Congo Free State. Both Leopold and Sultan Barghash bin Said agreed and on February 24, 1887, Tippu Tip accepted. Around 1890/91, he returned to Zanzibar where he retired. He wrote his autobiography, which is the first example of this literary genre in Swahili. Dr. Heinrich Brode, who knew him in Zanzibar, transcribed the manuscript into Roman script and translated it into German in 1903. It was subsequently translated into English and published in Britain in 1907. He died June 13, 1905, of malaria (according to Brode) in his home in Zanzibar  Stone Town.

 References:

Tippu Tip is referenced in an endless list of books reflecting his importance to the History of Eastern Africa in many ways) :

  1. Tippu Tip H. Brode , Maisha  ya Hamed bin Muhammed El Murjebi, in Mitteilungen des Seminars für orientalische Sprachen  Abteilung III, Jahrgang V: p 175-277 und VI p1-55 1902/1903
  2. Brode, Heinrich. Tippoo Tib: The Story of His Career in Zanzibar & Central Africa. Translated by H. Havelock with preface by Sir Charles Elliot. London: Arnold, 1907
  3. Leda Ferrant, Tippu Tip and the East African Slave Trade , St Martin´s press New York  1975
  4. Heinrich Brode, Tippu Tip: The Story of his career in Zanzibar and Central Africa, The Gallery Publications, Zanzibar 2000
  5. David Livingstone, Missionary Travels and Researches , 1857
  6. David Livingstone The Last Journals 1874
  7. Stanley How I found Livingstone
  8. Stanley through the dark continent 1879
  9. Stanley The Congo and the founding of the free state
  10. Stanley In darkest Afrika
  11. Stanley My Kalulu, Prince, King and Slave
  12. W.H. Ingrams Zanzibar Its History and People
  13. F.B. Pearce Zanzibar, The Island metropolis of Eastern Africa
  14. Christiane Bird, The Sultan´s Shadow One family´s Rule at the crossroads of East and West, Random House New York 2010
  15. Benett, Norman Robert. Arab vs. European: Diplomacy and war in Nineteenth-Century Est Central Africa. New York: Africana Publishing Company, 1986
  16. Sheriff, Abdul. Slaves, Spices & Ivory in Zanzibar: Integration of an East African Commercial Empire into the World Economy, 1770-1873. London, Nairobi, Tanzania, Athens,OH: James Currey, Heinemann Kenya, Tanzania Publishing House, Ohio University Press, 1987
  17. Wikipedia Tippu Tip

1896 Vom Mittelmeer zum Persischen Golf. Vol 1 & vol 2

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Vom Mittelmeer zum Persischen Golf.

 

Rare book by Max Freiherr von Oppenheim with the title "Vom Mittelmeer zum Persischen Golf"  published in in two volumes by Dietrich Reimer 1896. Contains an important section on his visit to Muscat. Oppenheim was archeologist, adventurer and a important spy-master for the Germans.Vom Mittelmeer zum Persischen Golf

 Max Freiherr von Oppenheim

Vom Mittelmeer zum Persischen Golf

Description: Extremely rare and important book on Oman and Arabia by the spy(!) / archaeologist Max von Oppenheim. One part incomplete and in poor condition. Overall a poor incomplete copy of a very rare, important and valuable work on Arabia. Includes some photos of Khanjars and a description of the working of a Abu Fatillah (antique Omani musket/gun)
References:

1900 Arabia the Cradle of Islam

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Arabia the Cradle of Islam

 

 

Book with the title "Arabia the Cradle of Islam"  by S.M. Zwemer (missionary of the Dutch reformed church of America) published by Fleming, Revell company New York, Chicago, Toronto 1900. The book is interesting as Zwemer operated in Bahrain and Oman.

 

 Zwemer Arabia the cradle of Islam

 

Description:

Scarce book. First Edition Studies in the Geography, People and Politics of the Peninsula with an account of Islam and Mission-work. 8 vo, pp. vi,434, (iv) adv.; with half title, portrait frontispiece of an Arab of Yemen, numerous illustrations on plates, some plans, maps (one folding), diagrams, plus one large coloured folding map, original brown pictorial cloth (expertly re-backed), original end-papers preserved, gilt title-lettering to spine; occasional very minor foxing; a good copy indeed, first issue of the first edition. Der Autor der sehr instruktiven, reich illustrierten Monographie über Arabien reihte sich in die direkte Linie jener Missionspioniere ein, die die arabische bzw. moslemische Welt für ihre Aufgabe auserkort hatten. Zwemer verbrachte zehn Jahre in diesem Teil der Welt. Obgleich das Buch vom Standpunkt eines Missionars geschrieben ist, entbehrt es keinesfalls an ethnologischer, geographischer, archäologisc her, kommerzieller und politischer Information. Keine deutsche Übersetzung! Written from a Missionary viewpoint, an account of the spiritual and geographical history of Arabia and Islam.

References: No References

1901 Article by Emile Alleman with 20 photos of Muscat taken by him in Le tour du Monde 1901 / 1898!

!
Large article on Muscat by Emile Allemann in Le tour du monde

Important article with 20 photos of Muscat and surroundings taken in 1898.  The title of the article is " Mascate Voyage execute a la fin de 1898 Dessins d´apres des photographies de l´auteur" .

The article is by Emile Allemann and was published in In Le Tour du monde Tome Vii nouvelle Serie 7e liv  16 Fevrier 1901.  Our slide-show includes the 20 important photos form the article!

 

 Old photo family Sultan of Oman

Details of the important article on Muscat by Alleman

This magazine is a fantastic source on Muscat and surroundings with over 20 (!)  good photo illustrations dating from 1898 and published in 1901. The large article covering several pages has been written by Emile Allemann who worked for the French navy and the fine photos have also been taken by him.  The article and photos give an excellent impression of Muscat and its surroundings at the end of the 19th century!

We have included most of the photos in the slide-show.  This magazine is not referred to in most books / reference lists on Oman. The article has also be translated into other languages e.g. in Dutch.

References:
  1. Mascate Emile Allemann Le Tour du monde Tome VII nouvelle serie 7e liv 16 Fevrier 1901.
  2. Maskate Emile Allemann Dutch translation of reference 1 in De Aarde en haar Volken 1902.  page 193-204 Including some of the previous photos.
  3. Muscat gate Museum memoirs of history p 25,26 contains some photos of the first reference.

1902 S.M. Zwemer Three journeys in Northern Oman

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Omani children Silver amulets Photo by S.M. Zwemer

 

The Omani children on the photo taken by S.M. Zwemer are wearing lots of silver jewelry including Koran boxes, nose rings, anklets, amulets etc. This was done to protect them from the evil eye!  

 

 

 

 

Missionary Zwemer Exploring Oman

S.M. Zwemer was a missionary of the Dutch reformed church of America. He describes three journeys in this article:

  1. May 1900 he crossed from Sharka on the Persian Gulf to Shinas and Sohar via Waddi Hitta
  2. Feb 1901 he travelled along the Pirate Coast from Abu Thabi to Sharka
  3. May 1901 he travelled across the North of Oman from Abu Thabi to Sohar via Buraimi
References:
  1. S.M. Zwemer Three journeys in Northern Oman 1902 The Geographical Journal, Vol XIX
  2. Travels in Oman , Philip Ward, The Oleander Press 1987 page 242

1910 Article describing a trip in the interior of Oman in 1910 including Nizwa, Bahla Fort, Jabreen, and Rostaq Fort.

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Photos by S.B. Miles Nizwa, Bahla Fort, Jabreen, and Rostaq Fort.

 

Article by S.B. Miles describing a trip in the interior including several photos and a large map.

It was published in the  1910 issue Geographical Journal of the Royal Geographical society London pages 159- 178; 400-425. 

 

 

 

 

Old photo Jabreen palace

Photo of Jabreen palace by Miles 1910

S.B. Miles exploring Oman

This article describes a trip by S.B. Miles in Oman. It contains early photos of Oman including photos of Bahla Fort, Jabreen Fort, Rostaq Fort and the House of Seyyi Hamood Azzan also in Rustaq.

References:
  1. Travels in Oman , Philip Ward, The Oleander Press 1987 page 242
  2. S.B. Miles On the Border of the greater desert: A journey in Oman

1911 French article on the Muscat slave-market and Gate

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Gate in Muscat or Muttrah slave-market

 

French article with the title " Le Traitants de Mascate / Marches d´esclave dans le Golfe Persique" regarding Muscat and its slavemarket in 1911 by Gervais-Courtellemont. 

The article was published in Journal des voyages nr 769 Paris page 226. It includes a full page photo of a gate in Muscat or Muttrah. 

 

 

 Antique photo Muttrah gate

 This is probably the Muttrah gate (close to Muscat)

French article on the Muscat slave-market

French Magazine.  Page 225 has a large full page size photo-engraving of the Muscat according to the text with men and masked ladies.

Comment: It could be the main gate in Muscat but it could also be the gate into the separate quarters in Muttrah where the Lawatya lived.

Text in the article: De la tete aux pieds l´arabe examine l´esclave qu´on lui presente, comme s´il s´agissait  dún cheval et, autour de lui , chacun des assistants s´interesse au marche surtout pour savoir le prix qu´il se decidera a donner . Ignorante du sort qui ici est reserve, douce et resignee, la jeune esclave attend sa decision, prete a suivre la nouveau maitre ou il lui plaira de l´emmener, a devenir  sa chose ou celle de ses femmes.

References:

  1. Historical Muscat An illustrated Guide and Gazetteer by J.E. Peterson published by Brill Leiden 2007 photo 95, 96, 99 &100 Muscat?

1920 The influence of Animism on Islam an account of popular superstitions.

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influence of Animism on Islam

 

Book with the title "The influence of Animism on Islam an account of popular superstitions" written by S.M. Zwemer a missionary of the Dutch reformed church of America and published by Central Board of Missions and Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.  The book is of interest because Zwemer worked in Bahrain and Oman and many examples given relate to Oman / Zanzibar.

 

Zwemer influence Animism on Islam

 

 

Description:

The original edition of this important reference book is rare. Includes:

  • A full chapter on the Zar ceremony
  • Several pages on magic cups (also a photo of a magic cup very similar to ours)
  • Explanation of magic squares, Koran boxes and other amulets.

Very useful source on magic and many links to my Oman collection.

Interesting information on magic in the Islamic world and in particular in Oman (Zwemer did run the mission hospital of the Dutch reformed church in Muscat around 1900) Original green cloth binding.

References:

1924 Persian Gulf Pilot comprising the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Makran coast

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Persian Gulf Pilot 1924 by Learmonth

Persian Gulf Pilot comprising the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Makran coast. Seventh edition 1924 All Bearings are true Published by order of the lords commissioners of the admiralty Crown copyright Reserved . Includes all the  inserted updates including extra views up to 1932 plus numerous manuscript notes / comments. The book was written /published by F.C. Learmonth / London Published for the Hydrographic Department, Admiralty by his majesty´s stationary office. To be obtained from J.D. Potter, agent for the sale of admiralty Charts 145 Minories E.1 1924 Price 10 Shillings

Persian Gulf Pilot 1924

 

Persian Gulf Pilot 1924

 Persian Gulf Pilot 1924

The meaning of the stamp and the early owner inscriptions are unclear to me

Persian Gulf Pilot 1924

Description: Extremely rare book: Only two copies of this seventh edition sold  in auctions over several decades!! At an auction at Sotheby´s in  1998. Late 2014 another copy was offered for sale by Inlibris Austria. Contents (2)XIII(1) 292.  The series of Pilots or guides to navigation were issued by the Admiralty, London, for a range of maritime areas including the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. The Persian Gulf Pilot provides, chapter by chapter, a progressive survey of the Omani coast and the Persian Gulf Coast viewed from the seaboard side. Particular attention is paid to navigational hazards, including weather, water depths and islands, the regular shipping channels are described and in the later editions illustrations of coastal profiles and views of particular locations are included. The documentary interest of the Persian Gulf lies in their detailed descriptions of coastlines and communities of 50 and 100 years ago, most of which have altered beyond recognition. The Pilots go into great circumstantial detail about local conditions of life as well as the geography of the coastline and shipping features. Even the names of the different tribes living or controlling different places are mentioned. The Persian Gulf pilot remains a valuable research source. The book also provide an index / reference to the different sea charts of the area. Some of the interesting text details in the 1924 pilot book:
  • P 36 Muscat: The town has a picturesque appearance from the sea. The suburbs of mat huts occupy every available piece of level ground in the vicinity. Muscat plus Matrah have a population of about 20.000. During winter Mosquito’s are numerous and cause a considerable amount of malaria, amongst the natives
  • p 38 Matrah:The part of the town inside the walls is well built; the khojahs have a separate fortified quarter containing about 500 houses into which only their own sect are admitted.  There is a steep and rugged pass between the places (Matrah and Muscat) but it is impracticable for loaden animals (manuscript correction: A road connecting these places has been constructed)
  • P 62 Ras al Khaimah: the flag of the Jowasim tribe (red with a narrow white border) is flown from a high building to the northward
  • P 66 Sharjah: has 8000 to 10000 inhabitants chiefly of the Al Jowasim tribe under the Sheikh of Sharjah.
  • P68 Dubai (Dabai / Dibai): Has 5000 to 6000 inhabitants of teh Abu Felasa tribe, a branch of the Bani Yas. The highest building in Dabai is the fort etc. Dabai sends about 150 boats to the pearl fishery etc.
  • P 70 Abu Dhabi  is the principal town of the great Bani Yas tribe. Has about 20.000 inhabitants. The Bani Yas are a fine race of men, and the Sheikh is very friendly to the British. They wear their hair long over the shoulders, twisted up in plaits. Abu Dhabi was formerly the chief seat of piracy in these waters.
  • P89 Doha: The Sheikh of Qatar has authority over the other chiefs. Doha may contain 5000 inhabitants of mixed tribes. They were formerly constantly at war with the Bedawin, and it may not be safe to be outside the walls after dark.
  • P 105 Manamah (Bahrein Island): There are about 110.000 in total people living on the different islands in Bahrain. Bahrain harbour is a resort for trading people from Persia, Turkish Arabia, Qatar and Trucial Oman. More than 1000 boats are involved in the pearl fishery.
  • P 126 Kuwait: in 1922 the population of the town was 50.000 and the territory in 1915 89000. The people are of various tribes, a large number are Persians. The natives are a united and warlike tribe
  • P 142 Gwadar (on Makran coast and under control of the Sultan of Muscat): It is a dirty place, and it is advisable for visitors to sleep on board their ships, as fever is prevalent amongst Europeans here. Most of the dwellings are mat huts.  The population is about 4350 in 1903.

Contents:

  • Front-cover: Persian Gulf Pilot seventh edition 1924
  • Inside: Caution when approaching British Ports
  • Notations for supplements and annual summaries of notices to mariners relate to this book. To be filled in by the navigation officer.
  • Page with Rubber stamp (with Arab text) and Arab manuscript note regarding final correction date.
  • Blank
  • Notice that this volume should not be used without reference to the latest supplements
  • I:Title page
  • II: Blank
  • Caution regarding bearings
  • III Advertisement to the seventh edition
  • IV-VI contents
  • VII-VIII Glossary of words occurring in the charts and sailing directions
  • IX-XXIII General information e.g. on the use of maps
  • Blank; Blank; Small map of the Omani coast and the Persian Gulf.
  • p 1-292 The actual pilot book

Provenance / Inscriptions:

Very interesting because it contains numerous handwritten notes in ink by a contemporary Captain / Navigator who sailed along the Omani coast and the Persian Gulf.  In the beginning of the book there is some writing in Arabic and the book has some old blue stamps with Arab text.  Still need to have the text translated. The beginning of the book contains also handwriting in Italian!!!!  "Correctto dicembre 1932 gd Amanpour?" During the late 1920´s Italy tried to gain influence in the Persian Gulf by increasing diplomatic ties with the Persian government and assisting them in developing a Persian fleet by providing ships and staff. The British saw this as a threat to the crucial naval business routes to and from India. The many notes in ink inside the book are in English however a few in pencil are in Italian .Persia was the only oil producer in The Persian Gulf at the time.

References:

1925 Photos by Sir Percy Cox in article Some excursion in Oman 1900 / 1925 Nizwa Tanuf

!
Photos by Percy Cox Tanuf Nizwa Some Excursions in Oman

Sir Percy Cox / The Royal Geographical Society  Vol LXVI No3 pages 193-227 September 1925. Including two detailed maps at the end of the volume.

Photos of the interior of Oman taken in 1900 by Percy Cox when he was working in Oman, article published when he was head of the Royal Geographical Society. The photos include Nizwa and Tunuf. The one of Tunuf is interesting as most people know it only as a ruined city after the bombardment in the 1950´s by the British.

The photos are included in the photo slide-show.

 

 

 Antique photo Nizwa

Sir Percy Cox exploring Oman

The article describes a trip in Oman by Percy Cox made 25 years earlier (around 1900) when he was the British agent in Oman. The most interesting part of the article is the fact that it contains some very early photos of Oman taken in 1900.  It includes photos of the town Tanuf , Nizwa fort and the village Beni Habib in the Jebel Akhdar.  Sir Percy Cox became chairman of the Royal Geographical Society. When Rudolph the son of princess Emily Ruete and his wife were having tea with Mrs Cox,  Sir Percy Cox had a hunting accident and died.

In the "Books & Maps" section of our website we have a spectacular book "The Persian Question"  by Lord Curzon that belonged to Sir Percy Cox including his book-plate that shows him dressed as an Arab and dressed as a traditional Englishman, so he felt himself half an Englishman and half  an Arab! Percy Cox and Gertrude Bell also played a key role in the shaping of Iraq.

References:
  1. Sir Percy Cox Some excursion in Oman 1925 Royal Geographical Society
  2. Travels in Oman , Philip Ward, The Oleander Press 1987 page 291

1926 Chronology & genealogies of Zanzibar (Oman) rulers of Zanzibar

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Chronology & genealogies of Zanzibar rulers

 

Chronology & genealogies of Zanzibar (Oman)  rulers of Zanzibar. Prepared by W.H. Ingrams assistant secretary of the Zanzibar government.Printed by the Government printers Zanzibar 1926.

 

 

 

 

Description:

Very rare family tree of the sultans of Oman and Zanzibar. Have not seen a copy being offered for many years. Contains family trees (with links to the book of Bibi Salme) of the ruling party, an interesting bibliography of Zanzibar. Pages partly loose. Half leather binding. Size: 34,5 by 22 cm.

References:

Said Bin Sultan (1791-1856) Ruler of Oman and Zanzibar. His place in History of Arabia and East Africa by Rudolph Said-Ruete 1929

!
1929 biography Said Bin Sultan

 

Rare biography of Said Bin Sultan written by his grandson Rudolph Said Ruete (son of Bibi Salme). He was the sultan of Oman and Zanzibar. The book was published by Alexander Ousely limited London 1929.

Contents xviii 200 pp; half-title, frontispiece portrait, 5 b/w plates hors text, 1 folding map, contemporary green cloth, title gilt on spine & upper cover, Said bin Sultan name gilt in Arabic on upper cover, foreword by Major-General Sir Percy Cox, "Genealogical table of members of the Al Bu Said dynasty" RARE FIRST EDITION

On the front-cover we see the Tughra of Said Bin Sultan. On the back of a letter and the wax seals of an original letter of Said Bin Sultan on our website we find the same Tughra.

Said Bin Sultan 1929Said bin Sultan 1929

Said bin Sultan portraitSaid Bin Sultan Rudolph Said Ruete

Description: Rare book on Sayyid Said bin Sultan Al-Said (Arabic: سعيد بن سلطان‎, Sa’id bin Ṣultān) (5 June 1797 - October 19, 1856) was Sultan of Muscat and Oman from November 20, 1804 to June 4, 1856. He became joint ruler of the country along with his brother Salim on the death of his father, Sultan bin Ahmad, in 1804. Said deposed his brother as joint-ruler on September 14, 1806. In 1837, he asked for the assistance of Shaikh Isa Bin Tarif in conquering the town of Mombasa in Kenya in 1837 with his tribe Utub Al Bin Ali[1]. Fort Jesus in Mombasa was named after Shaikh Isa Bin Tarif after he conquered the fort. The translation of Jesus in Arabic is Isa, hence in Arabic it is called the Fort of Isa. In 1840 Said bin Sultan moved his capital from Muscat, Oman, to Stone Town, Zanzibar.Upon Said's death in 1856, his third son Thuwaini bin Said became Sultan of Muscat and Oman, while his sixth son Sayyid Majid bin Said became Sultan of Zanzibar. In 1840, he sent a ship to the United States in an attempt to establish a trading relationship.

The author was the son of Princess Salma ( 1844 - 1924) daughter of Sayyid Saiid Ibn Sultan, ruler of Oman and Zanzibar. The Princess married Friedrich Ruete, a clerk in the German embassy , and lived fifty two years as a widow in Germany. Here her son Rudolph produced this interesting survey, of his grandfather Said bin Sultan 1791 - 1856, life and times. This work is as important as Mauriz's work "History of Seyd Said" [ London 1819]  Sayyid Said or Said ibn Sultan, 1791?-1856, ruler of Oman and Zanzibar.

 References:

  1. Dr. E. van Donzel, Sayyida Salme / Emily Ruete  An Arabian Princess Between two worlds" published by Brill Leiden
  2. Emily Ruete, Memoirs of an Arabian Princess, Ward & Downey London 1888
  3. Emily Ruete, Memoiren einer Arabischen Prinzessin, Luckhardt Berlin 1886

1936 THE SILVER JUBILEE OF H. H. THE SULTAN OF ZANZIBAR

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Manga Arabs celebrating silver julbilee

 

THE SILVER JUBILEE OF H. H. THE SULTAN OF ZANZIBAR (a rare photo book of the celebrations) 1936 published in Middlesbrough: Hood & Co, 1937

 

 

 

Silver jubilee sultan of Zanzibar 1936

Silver jubilee sultan of Zanzibar 1936

Silver jubilee sultan of Zanzibar 1936

Description:  

Extremely rare photo-book. First Edition. Oblong folio; Burgundy coloured wraps printed in silver; 20 pages of sepia-tone photographs of the 25th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Zanzibar of H. H. the Sultan Seyyid Sir Khalifa bin Harub. Photos include the Parade at Mnazi Mmoja, the Sultan and Prince Abdullah at the Parade, the State Baraza, Manga Arabs in Procession, Main Street Zanzibar City, etc. Rockville Non-Retail Listings. First edition. Size: 25,5 by 31 cm.

References:

1977 Omani Silver by Ruth Hawley

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Omani silver 1978

 

Omani Silver by Ruth Hawley. Published by Newman London  New York 1977 (first edition) This is the first book on Omani silver.

 

 

 

 

1977 Omani Silver by Ruth Hawley

 

 

Description:

Scarce first edition of the first work on Omani silver in mint condition.  Still an important book because of its focus on the link  between the design of Omani jewellery and jewellery from ancient history. For a long period this tiny booklet was the only genuine book on Omani silver.

Below you find a Youtube film by the Anglo-Omani society in which Lady Ruth Hawley and  Dr Fahmida Suleman  are interviewed about Omani silver.

1982 Tribes in Oman by Carter

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Tribes in Oman

 

Tribes in Oman by Carter.  Published by  J R L Carter / Peninsular Publishing London 1982. Still the only serious source on the tribes in Oman.

 

 

 

1982 Tribes in Oman by Carter

 

Description:

Common book. Contents 176 pages and many photos. Size 22 by 30 cm

Original dark maroon rexine cloth with gilt lettering on the spine, in fine unused condition and in complete dust wrapper.  Well illustrated throughout mainly in colour. Includes many pedigrees and family trees. Oman forms part of an area whose importance for the rest of the world has been emphasized by recent events. To understand the outlook and shape of its society, one must appreciate the nature of the tribes in Arabia. In Oman lies one of the richer areas for the study of tribal structure in the Peninsula. This volume draws heavily on the rapidly shrinking body of oral tradition. It reveals the flexibility and unique nature of tribal structure and relationships with the main, yet often misleading, division between nomads and townspeople. All the descents of the main groups in Oman are given as well as their links with other groups elsewhere in Arabia. In addition to the tribal structures, the book also outlines the tribes' way of life in the desert and the town, with attention given to their weapons, jewellery and parts of their folklore. 

References:

1982 Pere Etienne Baur en de Arabische opstand van 1888-1889

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Phd thesis with the title "Pere Etienne Baur en de Arabische opstand van 1888-1889" by  HGM Tullemans  / University of Nijmegen.

 

 

 

Pere Etienne Baur en de Arabische opstand van 1888-1889

Book details:

PHD thesis for the university of Nijmegen. Two volumes. 212 pages; Book discusses the important role of Pere Eteinne Baur as a mediator between the revolting Omani Arabs and the German invaders.

References:

1993 Sayyida Salme / Emily Ruete An Arabian Princess between two Worlds Memoirs, letters Home, Sequels to the Memoirs, Syrian Customs & usages First edition of the Letters Home and Sequels to the Memoirs translated into English.

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An Arabian Princess between two worlds 1993

Sayyida Salme / Emily Ruete An Arabian Princess between two Worlds Edited with an introduction by E. van Donzel. The work contains a short biography of Princess Salme / Emily Ruete and of her son Rudolph Said Ruete, a new English translation of her Memoirs, and and English version of her other writings, unpublished  so far: Letters Home, Sequels to the memoirs, and Syrian Customs and Usages.

Van Donzel was head of the Oosters Instiuut in Leiden. The founder of the Oosters instituut was the famous Arabist Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje. Snouck was a personal friend of Emily and they corresponded for many years. Also daughter Rosaly and son Rudolph corresponded with Snouck. The children of Emily left books, manuscripts, photos and paintings to the Oosters Instituut. Also the book and manuscript collection of sonRudolph, that related largely to Oman and Zanzibar, was left to the Oosters isntituut. The material in the Said Ruete was the most important source for the book by van Donzel. 

References:
  1. Hiler 763
  2. Dr. E. van Donzel An Arabian Princess Between Two Worlds: Memoirs, Letters Home, Sequels to the Memoirs, Syrian Customs and Usages  published by Brill Leiden

1994 Arms and armour of Arabia in the 18th 19th and 20th centuries by Elgood

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Arms and armour of Arabia

 

Arms and armour of Arabia in the 18th 19th and 20th centuries by Elgood . Contains important information about the arms found in Oman and Zanzibar.

 

 

 

Arms and armour of Arabia Elgood

Arms and armour of Arabia Elgood

Arms and armour of Arabia Elgood

Book details:

Common book. The only serious book about arms from Arabia, includes the description of :

  • The valuable  16th century Omani Kattara
  • Omani Powder-boxes
  • Omani guns
  • Omani Khanjars
  • Rare silver 19th century Baluchi khanjar.
References:

1995 Herinnering van een Arabische prinses, First translation of the memoirs into Dutch by Tinke Davids

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First edition of the memoirs in Dutch 1995

The translation is by Tinke Davids.  The Afterword of the Memoirs was originally written in German by Annegret Nippa in 1885. However anyone interested in the background to the memoirs can much better read  ref 1 "An Arabian princess between Two worlds" by van Donzel.

Anyone interested in the bibliography of the Memoirs should read ref 3 "Het leven van Salme (1844-1924) prinses van Oman en Zanzibar, en de vroege uitgaven van haar memoires" by Hielke van der Wijk

 

 Memoirs of an Arabian Princess in Dutch

 

Emily Ruete and her children left Emily's "intellectual inheritance" (the Said Ruete Library) of books, letters and manuscripts to the Oosters Instituut in Leiden Holland, this was reported by several Dutch Newspaper in 1937. Several Dutch articles appeared about Emily Ruete during her life. Some lengthy Dutch Dutch articles discussed Emily's Memoirs (see e.g. ref 2 De Gids  1897). Despite all this attention it took until 1995 for the first edition of Emily's Memoirs to appear in Dutch.

 

Newspaper Article memoirs of an Arabian Princess

 

Newspaper article Emily Ruete

 

Said-Ruete Library in 1937 to Oosters Instituut Leiden

 

Newpaper article Emily Ruete inheritance

 

Emily Ruete  teaches Arabic

 

References:
  1. E. van Donzel , An Arabian Princess between two worlds,  published by Brill  Leiden 1993
  2. G.J. Kolff, De gedenkschriften eener Arabische prinses, long summary with comments of Emily's Memoirs in De Gids Jaargang 61 (1897) deel 3 p 85-106. This paper has not been quoted / referenced in any of the standard works discussing the Memoirs.
  3. Hielke van der Wijk, Het leven van Salme (1844-1924) prinses van Oman en Zanzibar, en de vroege uitgaven van haar memoires.(Jaarboek van het  Nederlands genootschap van Bibliofielen (pages 183-205) 2017

1997 Oman Adorned. A portrait in silver by Pauline Shelton and Robert Richmond

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Oman Adorned

 

Rare book with the title "Oman Adorned a portrait in silver" by  Pauline Shelton  and Robert Richmond and published by Apex Muscat / London 1997 .  Most important work on Omani silver based on the silver collection of Robert Richmond and others. Very expensive book , but it is worth every penny if you are interested in ethnic jewellery!

 

 Oman Adorned. A portrait in silver

Oman Adorned. A portrait in silver

Description:  Information on the "flap" of the book cover:  "Legions of books exist on ethnic jewelery , but few focus on the Arabian Gulf and those that pay scant attention to the Sultanate of Oman. Omani silversmiths were renowned for their skill but, since oil brought prosperity to Oman in the early 1970´s , gold became affordable to more and more Omani women. They traded in their old silver jewellery, silver smiths became antique dealers and Oman´silver heritage dispersed virtually overnight. Rashid Abdullah Richmond and Ian McLeish between them have a unique collection  totalling more than several thousand pieces of Omani silver jewellery. Apex Publishing took this collection to all corners of the Sultanate to photograph it on Omani women as it was worn , and Miranda Morris and Pauline Shelton have interviewed the women  who remember wearing the silver and the smiths who remember making it. The resulting book is a unique publishing event. One that quite simply not be repeated.  This portrait of Omani silver heritage is a collector´s item, a cultural achievement and, it is hoped a record that may inspire the renaissance of a traditional craft" 

References

2003 The craft heritage of Oman (two volumes)

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Craft Heritage Oman Vol 2

 

Two volume book with the title "Craft heritage of Oman" by Neil Richardson & Marcia Dorr and published by Motivate publishing Dubai / London 2003 (Published under the auspices of his highness Seyyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said) The book discusses  a broad range of items including pottery, Arab chests, silver, arms etc.

 

 

 The craft heritage of Oman

The craft heritage of Oman

Book Description: Scarce book. Omani craft heritage documentation project.  Excellent overview of the different types of traditional crafts in Oman including silver and some of techniques how they are made:   On the inside "flap" of the book-cover: "Rich and diverse the traditional craft industries of Oman are amongst the most important cultural survivals in the Arabian peninsula. Their origins can be traced back to man´s earliest activities in the Gulf and Mesopotamia, and the innate resourcefulness of its people. Across the country and for many centuries, Omani have worked with raw materials available within their local environment and with those obtained through seaborne trade, to create objects of both functional utility and exquisite beauty.Until recently however there had been little research  into this fascinating  subject. It was also very apparent that the rapid development and modernization of the sultanate would pose real challenges to the survival of the countries craft industries.  The Omani craft heritage documentation project was therefore initiated in 1996 by His highness Seyyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, with the aim of assessing and documenting the different types of crafts in all parts of the country. For the jirz-makers of Musandam to the the potters of Dhofar hundreds of craftspeople were interviewed, and their techniques and products carefully documented and photographed"

References:

2003 Slavery and freedom in East Africa in the 19th century (published both in German and Dutch)

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Slavernij en Bevrijding in Oost-afrika in de 19e eeuw

Book with the title "Slavernij en Bevrijding in Oost-afrika in de 19e eeuw / sklaverei und Befreiung in Ostafrika in 19 jahrhundert"  by Grootaers, Jok Madut Jok, Leo van Kessel, Bob Papelard Ulrike Weinhol  and published by Afrika Museum Berg en Dal Netherlands 2003. This is the most important book on slavery in East Africa.

 

 Slavernij en Bevrijding in Oost-afrika in de 19e eeuw

Book Description: Common Book. "De slavernijgeschiedenis in Afrika beperkt zich niet tot de West-Afrikaanse kustgebieden van waaruit miljoenen slaven naar de zogeheten Nieuwe Wereld werden verscheept. Ook Oost-Afrika kent een wreed slavernijverleden. Deze publicatie gaat nader in op de situatie in de 19e eeuw, toen verschillende partijen op complexe en niet zelden dubbelzinnige wijze met elkaar verstrengeld raakten: Arabisch handelaars, Afrikaanse slaven en ex-slaven, Europese handelaars, kolonisten en missionarissen. Het boek schetst de vaak tegengestelde maar soms ook gedeelte economische, politieke en ideologische belangen die aanvankelijk leidden tot de voortzetting van slavernij en later tot de moeizame afschaffing ervan. Deze publicatie is verschenen naar aanleiding van de tentoonstelling Wie gaat vrijuit? Slavernij enbevrijding in Oost-Afrika, georganiseerd door het Afrika Museum, Berg en Dal (29 maart - 30 september 2003), in het kader van de herdenking van de officiële afschaffing van de slavernij in Nederland in 1863"

References:

2003 Abyssinia to Zanzibar 1850S-1950S Catalog of the photographic archive of the Winterton Africana Collection

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Catalog Winterton collection

 

Book with the title "Abyssinia to Zanzibar 1850S-1950S Catalog of the photographic archive of the Winterton Africana Collection" published by  Allsworth / Allsworth Rare books London 2003. The Winterton collection is probably the most important collection of 19th century photos of Zanzibar and East Africa. 

 

 

Catalog of the photographic archive of the Winterton Africana Collection

Book Description: Limited edition. Nr 175 out of 200. Contains fine photos of Zanzibar including several that are also in my collection. Size 21 by 27 cm. (The Winterton collection is since 2002 part of  the large Herskovits library of African studies at North Western Universities Evington USA)

References:

2007 A silver Legend The History of the Maria Theresa Thaler

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A silver Legend

Book with the title "A silver Legend The History of the Maria Theresa Thaler" by Clara Semple and published by Barzan Publishing Manchester discusses  the Maria Theresia Thaler that was the most important currency in Oman and the Middle East for many years. These thalers with a very high silver content also formed the base material for a lot of silver jewellery found in Oman.

 

 

 A silver Legend The History of the Maria Theresa Thaler

A silver Legend The History of the Maria Theresa Thaler

Book Description: Common book. First edition . Reprinted in 2007. Maria Theresa Thalers were intensively used in Omani jewelry.  Also a large portion of Omani Jewelry is made from melted down Theresa Thalers. For two centuries the Theresa Thalers were the main currency in Oman (and the Middle East)

References:

2006 The Arab (Omani / Zanzibar) chest by Sheila Unwin

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The Arab chest

The Arab (Omani / Zanzibar) chest by Sheila Unwin published by Sheila Unwin /  Arabian publishing Ltd London 2006.

The only book about Omani (Arab) chests. Includes wedding chests, writing boxes and cash boxes.  Also shows the relation with very similar colonial chests e.g. Dutch VOC chests from southern India (Malabar)

 

 

The Arab Omani Zanzibar chest by Sheila Unwin

 

Description: A common book. Sheila Unwin lived in Kenya until the 1970´s. It was during this period she became interested in the history and culture  of the Indian Ocean paying frequent visits to Zanzibar, where she befriended ab Arab family. After the family was forced to flee Zanzibar during the 1964 revolution, she found herself the proud owner of fort chests, thanks to the cooperation of her good friend, Muhammed Matar  Al-Suwaidy.  So she began her quest about the chests unrecorded origins. Her travels to Oman, India, Pakistan, Iran and Yemen were followed by further investigations in Portugal and the Netherlands in pursuit of evidence to confirm her haunches as to their provenance and stylistic origins.

Sheila Unwin has very much elaborated on the first detailed description of Omani (Arab) chests by J.J. Adie in 1947 / 1949  (ref 1)

References:
  1. J.J. Adie A Guide to Zanzibar 1949 page 104-107 contains a detailed description of the different types of Zanzibar "Arab" chests. Main categories Persian, Surat & Bombay chests. This was a copy of an article in the East African Standard in 1947. He also mentions that during the 1930´s Omani chests were being imitated for the tourist trade. These imitations have iron rather than brass studs. .
  2. Unwin published an article on Omani chests in Kenya Past and present Issue 9 1987 p 34 " Dhow trade chests"  (However the chest type differentiation methods are not consistent in these publication)
  3. The annual National Day magazine Tribute to Oman also had some interesting articles relating to Omani / Arab chests.

Shipwreck & Survival in Oman 1763. The fate of the Amstelveen and thirty Castaways on the south coast of Arabia, based the notes by Cornelis Eyks

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Shipwreck & Survival in Oman 1763.

Author / Publisher Klaas Doornbos / Amsterdam Pallas Publications

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shipwreck & Survival in Oman 1763

Description: Rijk geillustreerde reconstructie van de reis van 30 schipbreukelingen van het VOC-schip de 'Amstelveen'. In 1763 overleefden dertig zeelieden de schipbreuk van een Nederlandse Oost-Indievaarder de Amstelveen aan de zuidelijke kust van Oman. In de brandende zon, blootsvoets en bijna naakt, liepen ze vele honderden kilometers in de hoop de beschaving te bereiken. Tijdens hun tocht door de woeste wildernis zagen de mannen verschrikkelijk af en sommige overleefden de reis niet. Uiteindelijk bereikte Cornelis Eyks, de derde stuurman op de 'Amstelveen', samen met meer dan twintig overige schipbreukelingen, Muscat. Nooit eerder had iemand een dergelijke reis ondernomen en overleefd. Eyks begon zijn verslag over de schipbreuk en de reis naar Muscat een paar weken later. Dit logboek werd recentelijk ontdekt in Frankrijk.  In dit rijk geillustreerde boek wordt dit verhaal gereconstrueerd, waarbij dankbaar gebruik is gemaakt van dit ongelooflijke VOC-verslag. - Klaas Doornbos (1936) is docent, onderzoeker, adviseur van onderwijsbeleid, en  emeritus hoogleraar Orthopedagogiek aan de Universiteit van Amsterdam.

Condition: Fine
References: