RAZMARA, Haj Ali. The Military Geography of Isfahan and Bakhtiari [in Farsi].

RAZMARA, Haj Ali. The Military Geography of Isfahan and Bakhtiari [in Farsi]. Tehran: Government Printing House. [1941].

4to. Original printed wrappers; pp. [ii], 124, [2], three folding lithographic maps, printed in up to three colours; oxidisation to wire-stitching, one opening with restoration to gutter, light wear to spine, otherwise a good copy.

Extremely rare first edition of this illustrated Iranian military intelligence handbook on the Central Iranian province of Isfahan, which presents "besides a thorough physical topography, an exhaustive and admirable fund of information on the economic, social and political peculiarities" (M. Reza Ghods, The Rise and Fall of General Razmara, in: Middle Eastern Studies Vol. 29, No.1, Jan., 1993, pp. 22-35).

The book goes into much detail when it comes to ethnography and tribal structures, even naming single clans and families. The historical background is the Second World War, when Iran tried - successfully - to remain neutral. However, there was a real possibility to be sucked into the war or be invaded by the British Empire, German troops, or, despite the non aggression pact signed with Lenin, by the Soviet Union. Razmara (1901-1951) was born in Tehran and studied at the military academy of Saint-Cyr in France and after a successful military career, including head of Military Intelligence and three-times joint Chief-of Staff, he eventually became Prime Minister in 1950.

SKU: 2124589