The Background of Islam; Being a Sketch of Arabian History in Pre-Islamic Times
Alexandria, Egypt: Whitehead Morris, 1947. Number 269 of 500 Limited Edition. Signed by the Author on colophon page. 6.5" x 9.5", pp. [6] 7-152, Harry St John Bridger Philby (1885 - 1960) was an Arabist with linguistic and diplomatic skills which elevated him to the inner circle advisor to the King of Saudi Arabia. He was a key negotiator in the unification of Arabia and the rights to its oil. His legacy is shadowed by his son from his first marriage, Kim Philby. Philby was the notorious British spy who supplied critical documents to the Soviets during WWII and the Cold War until he fled asylum to Moscow.
Additionally inscribed: "A present to brother Mahmoud [Mohamed] Shaker" / January first, 1948", Shaker was a prominent Islamic writer of multiple genres: journalism, poetry, scholarly works of the Islamic culture. After two years of college in Cairo, Shaker traveled to Saudi Arabia where he founded a primary school in Jeddah and served as its headmaster. He is an awardee of the King Faisel Prize and Egypt's State Prize for Arabic Literature. While there is no conclusive evidence that Philby inscribed this book for Shaker, they both would have been in Saudi Arabia together at the same time during their careers and would have likely known each other. Fine condition in contemporary red leather binding with gilt Arabesque design front and back, blue endpapers and red silk bookmark added, deckled edges. Item #3375
"In those days and for centuries before them the main stream of Arabian history flowed stronly along the channel of the old spice road..." (p. 35).
Price: $2,250.00