Oman and the southern shore of the Persian Gulf.

Rare dual language first edition. The very rare true first edition, with English and Arabic text, of this comprehensive study of Oman produced by the Arabian American Oil Company. This work was produced in the midst of the Buraimi dispute, a series of efforts by ARAMCO and Saudi Arabia to encroach on the oil rights of the tribal controlled lands in the north of Oman and the Trucial states. The oil rich Buraimi Oasis was a focal point of this interest, and as such takes up a good chunk of the first part of the book along with a brief history that claims Saudi Arabian historic land rights over parts of Oman.

Despite every effort by the compilers to 'present as impartial a report as possible', the report was still suppressed as a result of its content and because it was in Arabic as well as English, seemingly a deliberate choice to broadcast the position of Saudi Arabia directly to the other Gulf states. The first page of the preface makes their stance clear: 'there are no boundaries fixed by international agreement in the lands under consideration here, so that one cannot say with finality where Saudi territory ends and the territory of any of the adjacent states begins.'

In addition to Buraimi the lands and tribes of Abu Dhabi and Qatar are treated at length, and the Imamate of Oman, little known to the West despite its long history, receives due attention. Robert Landen describes this work as 'one of the few really important secondary works on Oman. In some ways the book is a primary source since part of the information about tribes was derived from interviews with tribesman from the vicinity.' The tribes mentioned are: the 'Abriyin, the 'Awamir, the Duru', the Hajariyin, the Harasis, Bani Bu Hasan, Bani Hina, the Hirth, the Hubus, the Janabah, Bani Kharus, the Mahariq, Bani Rawahah, Bani Riyam, Al Bu Sa'id, Bani Shukail, Al Wahibah, the Ya'aqib, the Baluchis (or Balush), Bani Ka'b, The Mayayihih or Bani Ghafir, Nu'aim, Bani Qitab, Bani Yas, Al Bu Falasa, the Dhawahir, the Mazari', the Manasir, the Ma'adhid, the Sulatah, the Sudan, Al Bu Kuwarah, the Mahanidah, Al Musallam, and the Huwalah.

The Arabic half of the first edition is rarely found due to the inflammatory nature the work could have when read by the Arabic speaking officials and nations which Saudi Arabia bordered at the time. The English half is more commonly found on its own, perhaps published as a remainder, and in western contexts is appreciated much more as an informative work on a previously unappreciated part of the Arabian peninsula.

First edition, text in English & Arabic; 8vo (24 x 18 cm); 16 maps (most folding), comprising 2 suites of 8 in English & Arabic; original publisher's green morocco lettered in gilt, very neat repair to upper joint, a very good copy; xiii, [ii], 326, [ii]; xiii, 318 pp.

Robert Geran Landen (Oman since 1856: disruptive modernization in a traditional Arab society), 1967, pp.441-2.