Valuable book ‘spied’ in Thame charity bookshop
On 15/07/2015 At 3:06 pm
Category : Missed a ThameNews story?, More News, Thame news
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A very rare, unusual and valuable book has been found in an anonymously donated box of books at the Oxfam Bookshop in Thame.
Harry St. John Bridger Philby
The book, entitled War in Iraq, valued at £1500, was published in 1918 at the end of the First World War, to mark the signing of the Armistice by the Superintendent, Government Press, Basrah. The author was Harry St John Bridger Philby, the Intelligence Officer father of Kim Philby, the infamous double agent for the Soviet Union.
The book is a collection of photographs of the people, events and places in Iraq and Central Arabia in 1918. It is thought to be the first photographically illustrated book of the region.
The Author led a colourful life; he was a well known orientalist, explorer, intelligence officer and convert to Islam. His son, Kim Philby, was famously revealed in 1963 to be a member of the spy ring know as the Cambridge Five. The others being Maclean, Blunt, Burgess and reputedly Cairncross.
Dick Jennens, shop manager, said: “We are delighted to find this book donated to the shop and are proud of our volunteer team who ‘spied’ the book and undertook the research. The book is of historical significance.
“Almost a century after publication, Iraq and whilst much of the Middle East continues to be embroiled in conflict. This early photographic reference points us back to earlier conflicts and the short period of peace that followed the First World War.”
Following consultation with Bonham’s Auctioneers in London, a selling price of £1500 was determined.
Prior to offering the book for sale at their specialist book auction later this year it was listed on the Oxfam Online shop where it was spotted and purchased for the asking price by a customer in France.
Dick added: “The sale of this book will bring much need funds for Oxfam to help them bring relief to the refugees from conflict around the world.”
To browse Oxfam’s stock of over 400 books for sale:http://www.abebooks.co.
