Lot 30027 – The King of Hedjaz and Arab Independence Booklet

The King of Hedjaz and Arab Independence: Booklet showing a facsimile of the Proclamation of June 27, 1916. Together with the proclamation issued at Baghdad by Lieut.-General Sir Stanley Maude, after the occupation of that city by the British Forces.

Description of the booklet: Printed in London by Hayman, Christy & Lilly, Ltd., 1917. First edition. 8vo. pp. 15; photographic portrait frontispiece of Hussain I, one folding lithographic plate with the Proclamation printed in Arabic text; some foxing to folding Proclamation, else very good incl. the original wrappers, printed in red, which are creased and soiled. This important document contains the Arabic text, with English translation, of the proclamation made by El Hussein ibn Ali, Sherif and Emir of Mecca and later Hussein I, which announced the independence of the Arab peoples from their Turkish overlords. The Proclamation prompted a positive response from the British and their allies. This work also prints the text of Maude’s proclamation, issued following the Allies’ success in Kut and Baghdad, which refers to the Arabs’ expulsion of the Turks from Hedjaz and from “Koweyt”, Mejd and Asir. A 3pp. introduction provides some context for these proclamations. In all the pamphlet offers an important record of Arab independence and of its importance to the British Middle Eastern interests. A very rare book