A Sketch of the Political History of Persia, Iraq and Arabia

This scarce intelligence pamphlet includes significant chapters on the neighbours of Iraq, namely the 'The Bakhtiari', the 'Pusht-i-Kuh' (Pošt-e Kuh), and 'Central Arabia and the Shamiyah'. Scattered throughout are extensive references to the history of Arabia and Saudi Arabia, with the 'Central Arabia' chapter including an account of Ibn Saud and Wahhabism, as well as mentions of relations with Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait. It was only five years later that the borders of Saudi Arabia with Iraq and Kuwait would be agreed under the Uqair Protocol.

Sir Arnold Talbot Wilson (1884-1940) was a critical figure in the British administration of Iraq and its relations with its neighbours. He was deputy chief political officer under Sir Percy Cox and then acting commissioner when Cox transferred to Persia in 1918. The pamphlet describes itself as being 'prepared to meet the request of certain Officers of Indian Expeditionary force "D" for some account of the political status of Mesopotamia and neighbouring countries' and was likely commissioned as part of the broader reaction to the British disaster at Kut in requiring up-to-date intelligence on the region.

Scarce, with only 6 copies known in institutions.

First edition; small 8vo (18 x 13 cms); publisher's original green printed cloth wrappers, black lettering to upper cover, a few marks to upper cover, else a very good copy, internally clean; 43 pp.