Sheikh Azmat (1 results)

Soft cover. Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. Pakistani photographer Azmat Sheikh's striking record of the Hajj over 10 years during the 1960s-70s. Original colour illustrated wraps 21x28cm. (32)pp texts, (64)pp primarily colour photos with 1 in b/w, with texts and captions in Arabic, Urdu and English. Near fine. Undated, but another edition seen in illustrated hardcovers alternatively titled "The Holy Mecca and Medina" was printed by Bruner, Italy, in July 1979, with the same page count and appearance. This edition simply states "Printed in Italy". No other copies of this edition have been traced institutionally: Worldcat and Library Hub locate 4 of the alternatively titled "Holy Mecca" edition (SOAS, Exeter, NYU Abu Dhabi, University Pendidikan). They also record a shorter 50pp work by Sheikh with the same title prepared "for London exibition" in 1979 with additional text in Malay. Azmat Sheikh (d.2017) undertook this project with King Faisal's blessing, and Ministry of Information protection and support. His text includes a history and description of the Hajj, and a letter of thanks from Faisal dated 1971. He captures several views that no longer exit. Many became highly recognisable, published in postcard form and sold in bookshops and by roadsides for pilgrims to take home as souvenirs. In a couple, Faisal and Emir Fahd are captured among crowds in front of the Kaaba. Azmat Sheikh was one of the first photographers to capture the Holy Places from a helicopter, and this includes some of his aerial views. (Ref: Haramain Archives website).