Mir'At Al-Haramayn wa Al-Rihlat Al-Hijaziyya wa Al-Hajj wa Mashari'uh Al-Dinya.

photographic account of Mecca and Medina

Scarce early important photographic account of Mecca and Medina.

The author, an Egyptian Major-General, completed the pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina four times: in 1901 as commander of the military escort of the Egyptian pilgrims and in 1903, 1904 and 1908 in the high office of Commander of the Pilgrimage (Amir al-Hajj). He provides a detailed account of his four pilgrimages, and the copious photographs provide one of the single largest photographic records of the Hejaz and the holy cities from the pre-war era.

In his position Rif'at Pasha was privileged to assist at many ceremonies ceremonies of the holy month and met many of the important figures not just in Saudi Arabia but also the neighbouring countries, giving him a unique perspective on the politics around the holy cities and the many nationalities of the pilgrims. He was, in his two last pilgrimages, accompanied by Muhammad 'Ali Efendi Sa'udi, a highly skilled photographer, whose superior compositions add much weight and stature to the countless scenes from within Mecca and Medina.

First edition; 2 vols, 8vo (24 x 18 cm); text in Arabic, photographic portrait of King Fuad I of Egypt, 364 photographic plates captioned in English and Arabic, numerous maps and plans, some of which folding; publisher's original contrasting red and green cloth, first volume rebacked with later red morocco and gilt lettering, printed titles to upper boards in black, slightly soiled and worn, some mottling and small split to cloth joint of vol 2; a good set pleasantly clean internally; xv, [2], 514; [xii], 390, 31 pp.