Licence for a Dragoman or a Guide (Form No. 131, C.) No. 96

Pale blue stitched card wraps 12x16cm printed on one panel in English, the other in Arabic. Printed by the Government Press with the printer's code indicating a run of 2005 copies in 1929. (10)pp including inner wraps, with bearer's b/w photo, printed forms with ms entries in English and Arabic, ornate Arabic blind stamp, revenue and ink stamps, terms and conditions, and Tariff. Wraps fair only, much used, with a hard horizontal fold crease, faded with tears along spine and several pinholes to one corner, presumably for attaching inserts. Interiors good, with the photo faded but still discernible. Dragomans acted as interpreters, tour guides, and general fixers. Some started out by hiring donkeys to tourists. Their abilities with and number of foreign languages spoken varied, tending to learn on the job. Their knowledge of history also ranged widely from basic, to more advanced Egyptology with an ability to read hieroglyphics. They were known to tout their services to tourists aggressively. Earlier on, Dragoman permits were issued by the Antiquities Service in much simpler form. This version of the License was introduced when the Ministry of the Interior issued new Regulations on 10 July 1929, and it shows significant upscaling of efforts to control the industry. The opening page states this one (No. 96) was issued in Cairo Governorate / Mudiria on 12 Jan 1931 to Sumeida El Gabri, a local subject aged 49, an English speaking Cairo Guide resident at an address in Giza. Facing this are El Gabri's photo and 14 ink stamped 5 Mills revenue stamps. pp3-4 forms for Limited Excursions are blank except for El Gabri's number. pp5-6 renewal forms are completely filled for every year from 1933 to 1947, each line signed, dated and ink-stamped. pp7-8 list the terms, referencing the Regulations, limiting validity to the issuing Mudiriyah, and term to 1 year renewable upon production of a certificate of good character, non-transferability, prohibition from entering hotel grounds and approaching tourists unless they have been called ("In any case they must refrain from annoying tourists by repeated solicitations"), and obligation to produce the Tarif and permit on demand. p9 the printer's details. p10 the Tariff pasted in and dated 16-10-1934. This lists fixed rates by the hour (PT 10), the day in Cairo (PT 30), and by the day outside Cairo (PT 50). Lifting the paper slightly reveals this was placed on top of earlier versions. A very rare example.…