Oman and Zanzibar Virtual Museum

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.

Tughra of Said Bin Sultan

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

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"

Name: Silver Octagonal Koran-box (probably Persian)

Period: 1800-1900

Origin: Probably Persia

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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”

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

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. 

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"

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

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.

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:

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

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

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.

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

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 19^th 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.

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

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 19^th 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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?

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.

• 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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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

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.

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.

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

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" 

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"

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"

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)

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)

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)

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.

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.