Abstract: Ja‘far ibn Muḥammad al-Balkhī (787–886), known as Abū Ma‘shar (and as Albumasar in the Latin West), was one of the most-renowned astronomers of the Middle Ages. His fame in Europe rested upon numerous Latin translations of his astronomical works from the original Arabic. He was born in the Persian city of Balkh (present-day Afghanistan), on 20th of Ṣafar, 171 AH (August 10, 787). He most likely received his early education in Balkh prior to moving to Baghdad, as his works are often colored by a distinct Persian nationalism. According to Ibn al-Nadīm, the tenth-century scholar and bibliographer, Abū Ma‘shar abandoned the study of hadith to focus instead on astronomy and astrology when he was 47 years old. Ibn al-Nadīm lists more than 30 astronomical titles by Abū Ma‘shar. Shown here is Kitāb aḥkām taḥāwil sinī al-mawālīd (Book of the annual revolutions of nativities), translated by Johannes Hispalensis (John of Seville, flourished mid-12th century) under the title De magnis coniunctionibus et annorum revolutionibus ac eorum profectionibus octo continens tractatus, and first printed at Augsburg in 1489. The first five books were also translated into Latin in the 13th century from an earlier Greek translation and published in Basel in 1559. Presented here is a Venice edition of 1515, printed in the shop of Melchiorre Sessa the elder (active 1506–49), identifiable by his printer’s mark: the initials “MS” beside a crown above the image of a cat that has just caught a mouse.Physical description: 188 pages : illustrations ; 21 centimeters
Abstract: Born in what is now the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, ‘Ali ibn al-Muqarrab (1176 or 1177−1231 or 1232) had an adventurous life that included political intrigue and involvement with trade as well as literary accomplishment. Writing in the early 13th century, he is said to have been one of the last poets before modern times to have composed in the classical style. His Diwan (Poetry collection) is lauded for its historical as well as literary qualities. It is considered a primary source for geography and history as well as genealogy and information about the social and cultural conditions of his region. Al-Muqarrab’s tribe, the al-‘Uyuni, ruled portions of the coast of the Arabian Peninsula for more than 150 years, from the 11th to the 13th centuries. Failed political ambitions caused al-Muqarrab to flee to Baghdad and Mosul (present-day Iraq). Historian ‘Abd al-Khalaq al-Janbi discusses many of the strengths and weaknesses of al-Muqarrab as a historian, and notes the confusion in reference works over his name and the authorship of works attributed to him. Manuscripts of the Diwan are found in many Western and Middle Eastern libraries. The edition presented here was printed in Mecca in 1889 and reprinted in Bombay in 1892.Physical description: 120 pages ; 28 centimeters
Abstract: The file contains memoranda, correspondence, and other papers relating to the Mesopotamia [Iraq] Commission (the parliamentary commission of inquiry into the Mesopotamia campaign), British policy in relation to Mesopotamia after the First World War, and the Cabinet Committee on Iraq.These papers include:‘MEMORANDUM BY LORD CURZON ON THE REPORT OF THE MESOPOTAMIA COMMISSION.’, printed for the War Cabinet, 4 June 1917 (ff 2-7)‘BRITISH POLICY IN MESPOTAMIA. Memorandum by Lord Curzon.’, 21 September 1917 (ff 14-18)‘PEACE CONFERENCE. MEMORANDUM RESPECTING MESOPOTAMIA.’ (with appendices, some of which are in French), by Sir Erle Richards, printed for the War Cabinet (ff 19-33), which includes three maps on folios 30, 31 and 32 (Mss Eur F112/286, f 30; Mss Eur F112/286, f 31; and Mss Eur F112/286, f 32)Conclusions and draft conclusions of meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Iraq of 8 December 1922 and 18 January 1923 (ff 34-44 and ff 59-64 respectively)The report of the Cabinet Committee on Iraq, 23 March 1923 (ff 70-76)‘Memorandum on the Assyro-Chaldean Situation.’, Foreign Office, 11 October 1923.The correspondence consists of letters to Curzon from: Leopold Charles Maurice Stennett Amery, First Lord of the Admiralty; Sir Eyre Alexander Barby Wichart Crowe, Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; and Ronald McNeill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. There is also a letter to Robert Gilbert Vansittart, Private Secretary to Lord Curzon (as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs), for Curzon’s information, from Sir John Evelyn Shuckburgh, Assistant Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, enclosing a private letter to Shuckburgh from Sir Henry Dobbs, High Commissioner for Iraq, regarding the political situation in Iraq.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 95; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: This file contains papers relating to the tribal situation in Kurdistan in 1933, and an alleged increase in Kurdish nationalist feeling in 1940 in Iraq and Iran. The main correspondents are Alan Charles Trott (Military Attaché in Tehran) in 1933, and Reader William Bullard (HM Minister at Tehran) and Basil Cochrane Newton (British Ambassador at Baghdad) in 1940.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 9; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes, relating to the rebellion in Iraq 1941.The discussion in the file concerns measures to restore public order in Iraq following the British military occupation of the country which was instigated after a coup d'état by Rashid Ali Al-Gaylani in April 1941. It covers the following:further discussion surrounding the Kurdish rebel leader Shaikh Mahmoudsupport for the restored Iraqi government to enforce public ordermeasures to purge the Iraqi civil service of officials sympathetic to Rashid Ali Al-Gaylanijudicial process for the 'Golden Square' military officials who supported the coup d'etatIncluded in the file is a copy (folio 62) of a paper purporting to be the text of a secret treaty between Rashid Ali and the Axis powers.The principal correspondents in the volume include HM Ambassador to Iraq (Sir Kinahan Cornwallis) and HM Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey.The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 110; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 80-83; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled
Abstract: The file contains papers relating to communications between London and the Middle East. It mainly consists of copies of correspondence sent to the India Office from the Foreign Office. This largely consists of copies of correspondence between the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the British Consulate, Aleppo, regarding the railway service, and improved mail service, between London and Aleppo and other places by the Simplon Orient Express and the Taurus Express.It also includes:copies of correspondence between HM Representative, Tehran, and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, concerning the establishment of a through service to Europe via Nisibin and Istanbul, by the International Sleeping Car Company, Cairoa copy of a letter from the General Post Office to the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, regarding the mail service to Syria, Iraq and Persia [Iran] by Simplon Orient Express and Taurus Expressand a copy of a letter from HM Acting Consul-General, Beirut, to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, regarding the delay in the mail service from England to SyriaThe correspondence includes enclosures in French (folios 12-14 and 32-37).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 38; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file contains a personal letter written by Captain Arnold Crawshaw Galloway, Political Agent, Kuwait, providing impressions he formed of British/Iraqi relations after meeting Iraqi Government Officials, local Shaikhs and others informally while on shooting trips.The letter is forwarded, with comments, by the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf to the Government of India, External Affairs Department, and to the India Office.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 8; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: This volume consists of letters, telegrams and memoranda relating to reports on propaganda among Shi'ite communities in Iraq and Persia.The file includes correspondence on the visit of the Nawab of Bahawalpur (Maulvi Mohamed Bashir and the report of his visit on propaganda among Shi'ite communities in Iraq (ff 30-41) and Persia (ff 42-49).Included in the file (ff 94-96) is the report on the conversation with Khan Sahib Saiyid Tahir Hussain Qureshi by the Vice-Consul at HM Consulate, Baghdad.Principal correspondents are HM Ambassador, Baghdad, and HM Ambassador, Tehran.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 98; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file contains papers concerning the introduction of an Iraqi national currency, mainly relating to the minting of the coins.It includes: copies of correspondence between the Government of India, Foreign and Political Department, and the Financial Secretary to the High Commissioner for Iraq, regarding whether the Indian Mint would be prepared to mint the coinage, and to supply draft sketch designs and quotations for the minting.It also includes: a copy of a telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the High Commissioner for Iraq, concerning tenders and the time scale for the introduction of the currency; and copy extracts of ‘Intelligence Report No. 7’ dated 1 April 1931, reporting on meetings of the Chamber of Deputies of the Iraqi Parliament of 19 March, 21 March and 24 March 1931, regarding the draft Iraq Currency Law.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 16; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file contains copies of correspondence sent to the India Office by the Colonial Office and the Foreign Office, mostly regarding the exchange of diplomatic representatives between Persia [Iran] and Iraq.It largely consists of copies of correspondence between the office of the High Commissioner for Iraq and the following: the Secretary of State for the Colonies; the Government of India, Foreign and Political Department; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Baghdad; and Raymond Cecil Parr, British Legation, Tehran. The correspondence concerns the appointment of Mirza Taqi Khan Nawabi as Persian Minister at Baghdad, and of Taufiq Beg al Suwaidi [or Tewfik al Suwaidy] as Minister for Iraq at Tehran.It also includes correspondence between the British Legation, Tehran, and the Iraq Legation, Tehran, and between R W Rendel, Foreign Office, and Robert Clive, Tehran, regarding the transfer of files concerning outstanding claims of Iraqi camel men in connection with the alimentation crisis.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 27; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file consists of correspondence regarding the supply of certain War Office and Survey of India maps to the Government of Iraq for reprinting in Arabic. It includes a list of maps to be reprinted.The main correspondents include: the Iraqi Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Bagdad [Baghdad]; the British Embassy, Bagdad; HM Ambassador, Bagdad; the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India; the War Office; and the Foreign Office.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at f 1, and terminates at f 25, it is the third file in a larger physical volume, each file has its own foliation sequence; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.