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C.J. [Cecil James] EDMONDS (?) : 1920s ORIGINAL ARCHIVE OF THREE [3] HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPH ALBUMS DETAILING THE DEMISE OF ANCIENT PERSIA AND MARKING THE BIRTH OF MODERN IRAN CREATED BY A FUTURE AUTHOR AND RENOWNED EXPERT ON IRAN AND IRAQ

6.5 X 4.5 IN.. On offer is an absolutely sensational, original set of three [3] historic photo albums, circa 1920 with one album identified specifically as 'October 11-29, 1920'. This is an outstanding, irreplaceable, one of a kind, collection of approximately 158 period photographs, each about 2-1/2 x 1-1/2 inches, wherein the photos include: Uman, summit of Latakuh Pass, the Gilan jungle, Lahijan, a super photo of a sailing barge on the Chamkhaleh, scenes around the Caspian, gypsies, a Ford vehicle stuck in a pond, a mosque in Kasvin, the Shah's Palace in Tehran, scenes of Baghdad, the bringing in of Bolshevik prisoners, a shikarchi [a muzzle loading rifle], the Tomb of Esther and Mordechai, a caravan of camels, the Persian Army, a display of corpses and heads on posts, an oil refinery at Abadan, Nodeh, Shah Suvar and Muskrat plus many, many more, which makes for one part diary-like experience following this officer and his group and another part an historic, photgraphic evidence of the ancient world meeting the modern world and the difficult collision. Careful reading suggests while unidentified, the photographer and original owner of the albums was a British officer, [assuredly, future famed author on the Middle East, Cecil James Edmonds, whose initials are present on most of the pictures and there is a picture of the man himself] who has a portrait of his 'batman' and provides many more clues that will assuredly assist researchers in confirming his ownership. Historians, collectors and researchers of old Persia and the roots of contemporary Iran will understand that these albums are of no small historic value: in 1920 Persia was at the crossroads of history being the end of one era in their history and the beginnings of another. 1920 saw the new, raw Communist regime, now the Soviet Union marking the end of old imperial Russia, invade northern Persia and establish Soviet satellite states in Gilan [the northernmost province of Persia, where an independent Soviet Republic was established there under Kuchik Khan, with Soviet recognition and military assistance], Kurdistan, Azerbaijan, and Khorasan. With great cynicism a march on Teheran was initiated, though supposedly repudiated by the Soviet Government. This was also the start of the Persian Revolution in 1921 wherein Reza Khan Pahlavi overthrew the corrupt Shah Ahmad Mirza and crushed the separatist regimes in Gilan, Kurdistan, Azerbaijan, and Khorasan. Following the coup of Persian General Reza Khan Pahlavi in February of 1921, a peace treaty with the Soviets was ratified, and Soviet forces withdrew. This collection of photographs offers an unusual and unique perspective for historians as it is in these photos we see the old world's demise and the modern era conceived. Most of the photos are in excellent condition being sharp and clear. The photo albums are approx. 6 x 4/5 inches. Photo Album. Book Condition: Very Good+. Binding: Hard Cover

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