Bahoshy (2 results)

First edition. Small 4to. Original silver patterned cloth, black lettering to front cover; spine sunned, extremities a little rubbed, covers slightly scuffed and dusty, split to text block between p.16 & 17 (but pages and binding still firm), otherwise near very good. Ink ownership inscription to ffep. 192pp. Cairo, Emin Hindie's Printing Office,  A nicely produced Arabic textbook "For every Englishman travelling or staying in Mesopotamia" (title-page), issued soon after the start of the British occupation. The publisher states that he recognised a gap in the market for a book on the Mesopotamian dialect, with so many British soldiers and officials requiring a basic understanding of the local language.  Bahoshy appears to have signed every copy on the verso of the title-page, but we have seen no others in this striking silver cloth.

First and only edition. This attractive but slightly fragile publication was created to provide a guide to the local Arabic dialect for the British forces occupying Baghdad. It is scarce, with only nine institutional copies located worldwide, including at the University of Exeter in the UK, and the Field Museum and Gratz College in the USA. "From the very day of the occupation of Baghdad by the British troops, we have had the satisfaction to remark the magnificent animation with which the military of all ranks have given themselves to the study of the Arabic language, especially to our Mesopotamian dialect" (introduction). A blue pencil ownership inscription on the rear pastedown, inverted, reads "Private Moore, J. J. S/5328598." Private Moore, of the Royal Berkshire Regiment and seconded to the Royal Army Service Corps, received the North West Persia clasp to his General Service Medal. This clasp was awarded to those who served with Noperforce (North Persia Force) and on various lines of communication under Brigadier-General H. F. Bateman-Champain between 10 August 1920 and 31 December 1920, during the occupation of Mesopotamia as it was becoming Iraq. Additionally, there are inked stamps "WJB" and "W. J. Boulton", with a pencil note "Sergeant Instructor, Army Educational Corps." Sergeant, later Captain, Boulton was attached to the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade and received the GSM clasp "Iraq." Records show he served with the RAEC through the Second World War, based in Woolwich. Octavo. Stamped "autograph" endorsement verso of the title page. Original strong bluish green moiré cloth, lettered in black on the front cover. Spine sunned to dark greyish yellow, overall a little bumped, cloth rippled on the covers; inner hinges started but sound, contemporary ownership markings to the endpapers, contents lightly browned, text block square and tight; very good.