Silk Road Books & Photos

11

Thornton Ernest

Leaves from an Afghan Scrapbook

First Edition, London John Murray details the experiences of an English official and his wife in Kabul  who went to work to assist the development of Industry in Afghanistan in 1906  Published 1910.  In excellent condition from the “John Murray Imperial Library” and embossed to this effect in Gilt by John Murray publishers.

£150

Amanullah’s Afghanistan

12

Stratil Sauer G

From Leipzig to Cabul

Hutchinson 1928, 284 pages. This is an account of a German's motorbike ride from Leipzig and detention in Cabul for killing an Afghan nomad during an altercation. The author was unexpectedly freed having expected to be executed for his crime.

13

Sorab, Katrak

Through Amanullah’s Afghanistan

An account of travel in Amanullah’s Afghanistan by a Zoroastrian scholar, covers much of Zoroastrian history in Afghanistan and social customs of the time.

14

Trinkler Emil

Through The Heart of Afghanistan

15

Asad, Mohammed

The Road to Mecca

An Austrian Jewish man's account of travels in the Islamic World after the first world war and his conversion to Islam. The author was nearly shot in Afghanistan for becoming engrossed in looking at an attractive village lady. In Afghanistan during a debate on Islam, the author was told that he was a Muslim though he did not accept it.  This amongst other things resulted in the author considering what his actual personal beliefs were before deciding to embrace Islam. First Edition Ex library binding with the dw cut out and glued to the hardback cover. 1954.

16

Ben, James

Afghan Journey

Book Description: Jonathan Cape, London, 1935. Cloth. Book Condition: Very Good. 8 Photo Plates, Endpaper Maps (illustrator). First English Edition. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.. Pages 285. A nice clean copy, with bright gilt lettering on a terra cotta cloth binding. No prior owner marks, and very clean inside. A good read about travel in a very different time.
A Persian Official's wife tells the Author in Iran not to go to Afghanistan since the Afghans would kill him for the gold ring on his finger. The Author is a guest of the Royal Government of Afghanistan and interviews King Nadir Shah as well as other members of the Royal Court. Nadir Shah had not re-opened girls’ schools closed since the fall of Amanullah but is interested in trade relations with the US. Later, the Author met a disgruntled Afghan man who told him “We want to read and write; we want our women like other women of the world. Nadir Khan can’t stop us; if he does someone will kill him” In 1935 Nadir Khan was assassinated leading to succession by Zahir Shah to the Afghan throne.

17

Byron, Robert

Road To Oxiana

Folio Society edition in slip case. Attractively decorated front hardback cloth cover with turquoise lozenges against a cobalt blue background cloth. Published in 2000.

18

Fox E

Travels in Afghanistan 1937-38

It was 1937 and few places on Earth were more remote than Afghanistan. Into this hermit kingdom went Ernest Fox. Technically searching for oil and gemstones for the Afghan king, the American engineer discovered a countryside unchanged since the days of Marco Polo.
For a year Fox rode a series of local horses through the mountains, valleys, and deserts of this forbidden realm, visiting such fabled places as the medieval city of Herat, the towering Hindu Kush mountains, and the legendary Khyber Pass.
The equestrian engineer thus spent an exciting time on his sojourn, exploring a country which had been a highway for history since the days of Alexander the Great. “Travels in Afghanistan” was compiled from the field notes, maps and sketches Fox brought back from his 2,000 mile horse back adventure.
A lively and adventure-filled book, it provides a geographical and historical sketch of Afghanistan, her various people, and a way of life that was destroyed in the late 20th century. Amply illustrated, it remains a timeless classic. Hardback first edition in dustwrapper 1943

19

Le Fevre, Georges

An Eastern Odyssey The Third Expedition Of Haardt And Audouin-Dubreuil

Preface By André Citroën Introduction By L. Audouin-Dubreuil Translated And Adapted By Major-General Sir E.D. Swinton. Hardback first edition travels through Persia, Afghanistan and into British India in the 1930s. 1935 UK edition.

20

Maillart, Ella K

The Cruel Way

Trip by motor car in the late 1930s from Switzerland to Afghanistan via Iran by this, at the time, famous author.  1947 Hardback very good Heinemann publishers. 217 illus with b and w photos.