[Great Britain, Afghanistan].
Correspondence Respecting the Relations between the British Government and that of Afghanistan since the accession of the Ameer Shere Ali Khan; [with] Further Correspondence Respecting Central Asia. C.-2188; [with] Further Papers Relating to the Affairs of Afghanistan. C.-2250; [with] Further Correspondence. C.-2401; [with] Further Correspondence. C.-2402; [with] Despatch from Government of India including copy of report... containing a statement of the cases tried before the military commission. C.-2523; [with] Papers Relating to the Occupation of Kandahar. C.-2811; [with] Further Papers Relating to the Occupation of Kandahar. C.-2852; [with] Further Papers Relating to the Occupation of Kandahar. C.-2865; [with] Correspondence Respecting Affairs in Central Asia. C.-2798; [with] Further Despatch Respecting Affairs in Central Asia. C.-2802; [with] Further Correspondence Relating to the Estimates for the War in Afghanistan. C.-(2)772; [and] Further Correspondence Relating to the Affairs of Afghanistan, including the recognition of Sirdar Abdul Rahman Khan as Amir of Kabul. C.-2776; [with] Papers Relating to the Occupation of Kandahar. C.-2811; [with] Papers Relating to the Advance of Ayub Khan on Kandahar. C.-2736.
London, HMSO; Harrison and Sons, 1878-1881.
The letters and despatches contained in these works contain an enormous amount of detail about the politics, economics, and diplomacy of Britain and Afghanistan in this period, in particular the war years of 1879-1881. Important figures such as James Bruce, Sir Henry Rawlinson, John Lawrence, Henry Marion Durand, Lord Mayo, Robert Napier, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Granville Leveson-Gower, and Spencer Cavendish all penned or put their name to the letters and despatches in these volumes and reveal the attitudes of the British government at the time. What perhaps stands out the most is the fragility of the British temperament in regards to either real or imagined Russian influence in Afghanistan and the constant shuffling of Amirs in a vain attempt to turn Afghanistan into a puppet state. Although the military actions of the Second Anglo-Afghan War were considered successful by the British Government, deposing Yaqub Khan and his brother Ayub Khan from the throne, it was also vastly expensive, to the tune of nearly 20 million pounds, and did not result in any territorial gains or subjugation of the region.
The owner who bound the first volume titled the spine 'Afghanistan Betrayed by Lord Beaconsfield to Russia'. This is a strong statement considering Afghanistan preserved its independence and status as a buffer zone following the evacuation of Kandahar and Afghanistan by the British Army. It is an even stronger statement given that the trigger of the conflict, Britain's retaliation to Afghanistan hospitality to Russian envoys, is widely understood to have been the Viceroy of India Lord Lytton's doing and in direct opposition to orders from Disraeli himself. Perhaps the accusation speaks most to the accentuated fears around Russia and the decline of the influence of the British Empire.
First editions; two volumes containing fifteen works, 4to (33 x 21.5 cm); bookplates to pastedowns, a occasional small chips to upper margin otherwise internally fine; first volume in half red morocco, cloth boards, gilt lettering to flat spine, minor wear to extremities but otherwise a very good copy; second volume in half blue calf, cloth boards, gilt spine with gilt morocco lettering piece, all edges gilt, slight wear a little chipping to head and foot of spine, shelf mark to spine, otherwise a very good copy; vi, 266; [ii], 27; 17; 37; 6; 9; 87; 14; 8; 31; [4]; 14; iv, 107; 87; v, 165pp.
Stock code 107237
DELIVERY & RETURNS
We accept returns within 30 days of purchase. Please note that all items must be returned in their original condition, including all tags and packaging. Shipping costs are non-refundable.
