A Horse Breeder's Bible
RASWAN, Carl R. The Raswan Index and Handbook for Arabian Breeders. Acapulco: "Equitacion" and Editorial Anthony. [1957]-1967.
Seven volumes, 8vo. Volume one in contemporary buckram, the others in various publisher's bindings (cloth, boards, calf, morocco), lettered and decorated in gilt (volume VII in silver); pp. [vi], ff. 97, pp. vi, [2, blank], ff. 98-177; [1], 178-369, [3, paginated A-E]; ff. 340-508, [1, blank], pp. 10, [2], 11, [2, numbered A and B], [2, blank]; ff. [2, followed by portrait of the author's wife], 4, pp. 8, [2], ff. 5-9-638; [4], 639-861; [4], pp. A-J, ff. iv, 6; [3], x, A-I, [1], 78; text printed mostly on versos only from the typescript produced by the author's wife Esperanza, highly illustrated, with photographic plates printed on both sides, tables, diagrams and facsimiles; light marginal abrasures to bindings, volume I with marginal spot to title-page, a few plates in volume I cut a little short at upper margins (affecting plate numerals); otherwise very good; provenance: volumes II, V and VI signed by the author on title-pages, twice in English and Arabic, the first three volumes inscribed to John H. and Marilyn H. Payne, horse breeders of Mesa, Arizona.
First edition of the complete and very rare privately published 'Raswan Bible', the best researched handbook on Arab pure-blood breeding, conveying as well a host of information on Arab tribal life, breeding practice, and the tribes' love and admiration of horses. Only 250 to 380 copies were printed of these volumes (some were lost in a flood before they could be distributed).
It took the author over 34 years of travels in Arabia, visiting Bedouin breeders, stud farms in the Middle East, the US and Europe to gather the immense amount of material for this, his lasting legacy.
Carl Reinhard Raswan (1893-1966), born Carl Reinhard Schmidt was the scholar of Arabian bloodlines, and this monumental work is the fruit of his relentless travels among Bedouin tribes, a comprehensive compilation of Arabian horse pedigrees and strain information. Raswan advocated tolerance and understanding of Bedouin ways of life and culture in Arabia. He had started travelling in the Middle East in 1911, was drafted into the German army in 1914, fought at Gallipoli and in Mesopotamia. After the war he continued travelling among Bedouins of the Arabian peninsula on camelback, and later with motor cars and was adopted as blood brother by the Ruwalla tribe. He soon settled in the US, frequently returning to the Arabian peninsula to visit friends, research and export good breeding horses. Before the final volume was published Raswan died of silicosis, a late consequence of too many sandstorms endured. For the research of this work he had visited Lady Anne Blunt and her daughter Lady Wentworth, whose in-depth knowledge of Arabian horse-breeding flowed into his work. Raswan's life is definitely worth a full-length biography.
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