Shoucair, Naum--An important archive

PHOTOGRAPHS: over 310 photographs of various sizes, comprising approximately 70 relating to the Sudan, the remainder relating to Sinai, including 50 studio photographs of leading political, religious and military figures, friends and acquaintances of Naum Shoucair, many taken by the leading photographic studios in Cairo and London, many signed by the sitters, together with 4 invitation cards to Naum Shoucair, of which 3 are Khedival, preserved in five modern albums

BOOKS: Shoucair Bey, Naum. [Tarikh Sina] The History of Sinai and Arabs, with a resumé of the history of Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia and Arabia, etc. Cairo, 1916, first edition, 8vo (243 x 157mm.), title in Arabic and English, Arabic text, many photographic plates, large folding map of Sinai, original green cloth, upper cover lettered in gilt, lower joint split, rubbed; Ibid. [History of Sudan]. Beirut, 1981, 8vo, (a reprint of the 1903 edition), publisher's binding; Nashr Ul Mandal Al 'Atir. [A collection of obituaries of Naum Shoucair]. Cairo, 1923, 8vo, photographic portrait of the author, original printed green wrappers, lower wrapper torn and detached
Together 3 volumes



MAP: Sinai Peninsula, sheet 2, 460 x 640mm., printed in colours, scale 1:250,000, "For Official Use Only", War Office, March 1915, backed on linen

Naum Shoucair (1863-1919); thence by descent; from whom acquired by the present owner

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Naum Shoucair (1863-1919), intelligence officer and historian, was educated at Beirut university and in 1886 came to Egypt where he joined the Intelligence Department of the Egyptian Army. In 1900 he was transferred to the Sudan Government and was appointed Director of the Historical Section. He served under Lord Kitchener and Sir Reginald Wingate and assisted in the arrangements for the escape of Slatin Pasha from Omdurman in 1895, for which he was decorated by the Emperor Francis Joseph. He became a well known expert on Sinai and due to his intimate knowledge he was sent to Sinai in 1905 on several important missions, accompanying Captain Phipps-Hornby of HMS Diana on a mission to Akaba in 1906 and later he served as a member of the Sinai Boundary Commission. Shoucair wrote his History of the Sudan in 1903, History of Sinai in 1916, and at the time of his death was completing a history of Arabia.

Many of these photographs were used by Shoucair to illustrate his book The History of Sinai and Arabs (included in this collection), but there are many which appear to be unpublished. The photographic portraits include Sultan Hussein Kamil of Egypt, Rudolph Slatin Pasha (signed), Ibrahim Fathi Pasha, former minister of war (dedicated and signed), Sir Gilbert F. Clayton (signed), W.E.J. Bramy, A.C. Parker, Sir Lee Stack (signed), two photographs of Lord Kitchener, Sultan Hussein Kamil, Captain Phipps-Hornby, Hussein Rushdi Pasha, Prime Minister of Egypt,  Ismail Sirri, minister of war (signed) and Captain A.W. Waymuth (signed).