David Mason
Fine and Rare Books
CURZON, George N. Persia And The Persian Question. London: Longmans, Green, And Co., 1892. In two volumes. First edition, a binding variant (?) in dark green cloth. Tall 8vo., orig. dark green cloth (rather than the usual black), with a pictorial gilt decoration in the centre of the upper covers, xxiv, (1)-639, (1), 32pp. ads. with ‘5000/12/99’ at the foot of the last page of ads; xii, (1)-653, (1)pp. With 43 plates, additional illustrations, 9 maps, and a large linen-backed folding map tipped on the rear pastedown of volume one. Name on half-titles, some foxing throughout (mostly not severe but affecting the fore-edge as well), some light wear to the spine ends and a couple of short scratches on the spines but overall a very good copy of this important work on Persia.
George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, [1859– 1925], British Conservative statesman who served as Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905; Curzon was Leader of the House of Lords and from December 1916 served in the small War Cabinet of Prime Minister David Lloyd George; he was Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at the Foreign Office from 1919 to 1924. As a new MP, Curzon departed on his first round-the-world tour and ‘developed the firm conviction that Asia represented the foremost battleground of the future for both armies and diplomats.’ Like many other British politicians of the late 1880s, Curzon believed Persia’s location made it a bulwark to protect British interests in India from an expanding Russian Empire. Curzon visited Persia in 1889-90, journeying more than 2,000 miles through Persia by horseback. In the course of his three-month journey, Curzon gathered an extraordinary amount of information, as his ‘political office and privileged social position gave him substantial currency with knowledgeable men on the spot...’ ‘Curzon’s trip produced articles for The Times and one magisterial study, Persia and the Persian Question... this volume firstly established his credentials with policy markers and the press... Even today the study represents no small achievement. Curzon read virtually every work published on Persia in a European language. He also engaged in a vast correspondence with Persian specialists.’ With the publication of the above volume Curzon was ‘hailed as one of Britain’s leading Persian experts as well as one of the foremost strategic analysts of the Anglo-Russian rivalry.’ (Ross, Christopher. ‘Lord Curzon and E.G. Browne Confront the Persian Question.’ The Historical Journal, Jun, 2009.’)
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