To the High and Mighty Sovereign, The Shah of Persia, Unto Whom May God Grant a Long, Peaceful, and Prosperous Reign, and Establish his Throne in the Hearts of All His Subjects Throughout His Vast Domains [ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THE IRANIAN JEWISH COMMUNITY]
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- Hardcover
- Hertford: Printed by Stephen Austin and Sons, 1873
Hertford: Printed by Stephen Austin and Sons, 1873. Hardcover. g+ to vg-. Quarto. 11 1/4 x 8 3/4". 7, [1], 12pp. Period full pebbled green morocco, with elaborate gilt tooling and ruling on covers. 7 pages of text in English (left to right), followed by 12 pages in Persian (right to left). Lavishly decorated binding with Islamic motifs, produced by the publisher, Stephen Austin and Sons. Each page contains elaborate decorative borders in gilt, along with either red or purple, framing the text. Title page includes a printed image of the Qajar Dynasty coat of arms, with the Lion and Sun motif.
This extremely scarce text, printed in both English and Persian, was presented by a delegation of the Anglo-Jewish Association to Nasar al-Din (1831-1896), the fourth Shah of Qajar Iran, during an audience at Buckingham Palace, on June 24th, 1873. An exceedingly lavish copy of the bound text was gifted to the Shah, which included the Qajar Dynasty coat of arms, inlaid to the middle of the front cover, and was signed by the members of the delegation in the area following the end of the Persian text. According to contemporary reporting in the Jewish Chronicle* the English text was translated into Persian by a Syd Abdullah. Our book is one of a very limited (but unknown) number of additional copies of this bilingual text, likely printed for the members of the delegation and/or other members of the Shah's entourage. It is possible than less than 10 of these additional copies were produced, and we have currently only been able to confirm one other extant copy.
The Shah's visit to the United Kingdom was part of his European tour of that year, which was significant in that it marked the first time a modern Persian monarch had traveled to the continent. On numerous stops in various cities throughout Europe, the Shah was presented with Jewish appeals from local representatives of their respective communities, advocating for the improvement of the conditions of the Jews in Iran. Most notably, in addition to the British Jewish delegations in June, the Shah met with a member of the Rothschild family (likely Baron Alphonse de Rothschild) and Adolphe Crémieux, head of the Alliance Israélite Universelle, in Paris in July.
On the 24th of June two delegations of prominent members of the British-Jewish community visited the Shah at Buckingham Palace for the same purpose. The first group consisted of members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, comprising Sir Moses Montifiore, Joseph Meyer Montefiore, Morris S. Oppenheim and Sir Joseph Sebag-Montefiore. The second delegation, who presented this text, was from the Anglo-Jewish Association and comprised Sir Julian Goldsmid, Sir John Simon, Baron George de Worms, Frederick David Mocatta, Reuben David Sassoon, and Herbert G. Lousada.
In the text here presented to the Shah, the delegation of the Anglo-Jewish Association states that advocacy on behalf of our "brethern-in-faith" in promoting their "moral, social and intellectual well-being" is the organization's aim. Presented is a list of eight grievances on behalf of the Jewish community of Iran, relating to their systemic religious, legal, and economic persecution in the country, often originating in the long held pervasive Islamic belief in the ritual impurity of Jews. Ideas for increased civil rights and economic opportunities for Jews are advanced in the text, with specific remedies for some these issues proposed, especially in regard to taxation, and prejudice in the judicial system. The history of anti-Semitic persecution in Europe, and the subsequent emancipation of Jews in the modern period, is held up as an example for an enlightened ruler. Jewish contributions to broad social improvements and economic success in their respective countries is discussed as a positive result of such changes. The text extolls their "industry, energy, and integrity" as well as "their loyal devotion to their sovereign and their country. There is scarcely a trade, profession, or art in which they do not excel; and in the various spheres of intellectual distinction, the countries of Europe derive a considerable portion of their renown from the activity and perseverance of their Jewish citizens." The tone of the text consistently appeals to the just, enlightened and modern nature of the Shah, and draws a clear lineage of rule between Cyrus the Great of the ancient Persian Empire, liberator of the Jews, and the then current monarchy of Iran.
Bilingual text in English and Persian.
Binding with some rubbing to extremities, especially corners. Minor scratches and stains to the back cover. Interior with some smudging to the endpapers. Ex-libris ink stamps at the bottom of the interior covers*. Starting after the eigth page (in between the two sections). Binding in good+, interior in very good- condition overall. *Ex-libris ink stamps of Dr. Eugen Meyer. A card with printed text 'Ex-libris Eugen Meyer', and some notes in ink below, laid in. Meyer served as a district Rabbi in Zweibrücken, Germany.
Title (text) in Persian:
حيدا شاهنشاه خورشید کلاه فلك بارگاه جهان پناه کهف امن و امان نوشیروان زمان وارث ملك سليمان مولى الملوك العرب والعجم سلطان البر و البحر خد يوكشور ستان اعني اعلیٰ حضرت قدر قدرت حافظ شریعت غُرا و ناصر ملت بیضا السلطان ابن السلطان الخاقان ابن الخاقان ناصر الدین شاه قاجار
Bibliographic sources:
* The Jewish Chronicle, London, No. 222, June 27th, 1873;.
This extremely scarce text, printed in both English and Persian, was presented by a delegation of the Anglo-Jewish Association to Nasar al-Din (1831-1896), the fourth Shah of Qajar Iran, during an audience at Buckingham Palace, on June 24th, 1873. An exceedingly lavish copy of the bound text was gifted to the Shah, which included the Qajar Dynasty coat of arms, inlaid to the middle of the front cover, and was signed by the members of the delegation in the area following the end of the Persian text. According to contemporary reporting in the Jewish Chronicle* the English text was translated into Persian by a Syd Abdullah. Our book is one of a very limited (but unknown) number of additional copies of this bilingual text, likely printed for the members of the delegation and/or other members of the Shah's entourage. It is possible than less than 10 of these additional copies were produced, and we have currently only been able to confirm one other extant copy.
The Shah's visit to the United Kingdom was part of his European tour of that year, which was significant in that it marked the first time a modern Persian monarch had traveled to the continent. On numerous stops in various cities throughout Europe, the Shah was presented with Jewish appeals from local representatives of their respective communities, advocating for the improvement of the conditions of the Jews in Iran. Most notably, in addition to the British Jewish delegations in June, the Shah met with a member of the Rothschild family (likely Baron Alphonse de Rothschild) and Adolphe Crémieux, head of the Alliance Israélite Universelle, in Paris in July.
On the 24th of June two delegations of prominent members of the British-Jewish community visited the Shah at Buckingham Palace for the same purpose. The first group consisted of members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, comprising Sir Moses Montifiore, Joseph Meyer Montefiore, Morris S. Oppenheim and Sir Joseph Sebag-Montefiore. The second delegation, who presented this text, was from the Anglo-Jewish Association and comprised Sir Julian Goldsmid, Sir John Simon, Baron George de Worms, Frederick David Mocatta, Reuben David Sassoon, and Herbert G. Lousada.
In the text here presented to the Shah, the delegation of the Anglo-Jewish Association states that advocacy on behalf of our "brethern-in-faith" in promoting their "moral, social and intellectual well-being" is the organization's aim. Presented is a list of eight grievances on behalf of the Jewish community of Iran, relating to their systemic religious, legal, and economic persecution in the country, often originating in the long held pervasive Islamic belief in the ritual impurity of Jews. Ideas for increased civil rights and economic opportunities for Jews are advanced in the text, with specific remedies for some these issues proposed, especially in regard to taxation, and prejudice in the judicial system. The history of anti-Semitic persecution in Europe, and the subsequent emancipation of Jews in the modern period, is held up as an example for an enlightened ruler. Jewish contributions to broad social improvements and economic success in their respective countries is discussed as a positive result of such changes. The text extolls their "industry, energy, and integrity" as well as "their loyal devotion to their sovereign and their country. There is scarcely a trade, profession, or art in which they do not excel; and in the various spheres of intellectual distinction, the countries of Europe derive a considerable portion of their renown from the activity and perseverance of their Jewish citizens." The tone of the text consistently appeals to the just, enlightened and modern nature of the Shah, and draws a clear lineage of rule between Cyrus the Great of the ancient Persian Empire, liberator of the Jews, and the then current monarchy of Iran.
Bilingual text in English and Persian.
Binding with some rubbing to extremities, especially corners. Minor scratches and stains to the back cover. Interior with some smudging to the endpapers. Ex-libris ink stamps at the bottom of the interior covers*. Starting after the eigth page (in between the two sections). Binding in good+, interior in very good- condition overall. *Ex-libris ink stamps of Dr. Eugen Meyer. A card with printed text 'Ex-libris Eugen Meyer', and some notes in ink below, laid in. Meyer served as a district Rabbi in Zweibrücken, Germany.
Title (text) in Persian:
حيدا شاهنشاه خورشید کلاه فلك بارگاه جهان پناه کهف امن و امان نوشیروان زمان وارث ملك سليمان مولى الملوك العرب والعجم سلطان البر و البحر خد يوكشور ستان اعني اعلیٰ حضرت قدر قدرت حافظ شریعت غُرا و ناصر ملت بیضا السلطان ابن السلطان الخاقان ابن الخاقان ناصر الدین شاه قاجار
Bibliographic sources:
* The Jewish Chronicle, London, No. 222, June 27th, 1873;.
Details
Title
To the High and Mighty Sovereign, The Shah of Persia, Unto Whom May God Grant a Long, Peaceful, and Prosperous Reign, and Establish his Throne in the Hearts of All His Subjects Throughout His Vast Domains [ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THE IRANIAN JEWISH COMMUNITY]
Author
[The Anglo-Jewish Association]
Binding
Hardcover
Condition
Very Good
Publisher
Printed by Stephen Austin and Sons: Hertford
Date
1873