- 189
Shakespear, Captain William Henry Irvine
Description
- Journal of Trip via Central Arabia to Egypt (3 February to 25 May 1914), [together with a printed map of Northern Arabia showing his travels]. [c.1922]
- paper
TOGETHER WITH: a large folding coloured map "Northern Arabia" with printed routes showing Shakespear's travels (700 x 1000mm.) by Douglas Carruthers (Printed at the War Office for the Royal Geographical Society, March 1922; for The Geographical Journal, May 1922)
Provenance
Literature
Condition
"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."
Catalogue Note
Shakespear made seven journeys through Arabia between 1909 and 1914. This diary is a record of his seventh and last expedition, an epic 1,800 mile journey across mostly uncharted territory. In addition to the details of his struggles and negotiations with tribal leaders, Shakespear also records his meteorological observations, and photography.
Shakespear (1878-1915), was a British diplomat and explorer who mapped uncharted areas of Northern Arabia and made the first official British contact with Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud. The meeting took place in February 1910 at the palace of Sheikh Mubarak of Kuwait, where Shakespear took the first recorded photograph of Ibn Saud. Shakespear became military adviser to Ibn Saud, which position he kept until his death in the battle of Jarrab in 1915 when he was shot and killed by one of Ibn Rashid's men.
Shakespear had begun his career in the Indian army, and during this six year period learnt Arabic, Persian, Pushtu, and Urdu. He was then transferred to the political department of the Indian government, and was appointed consul at Bandar Abbas and assistant to the political agent in the Persian Gulf in 1904. He was appointed political agent in Kuwait in 1909, which position he held until 1914.
The original journal of Shakespear's travels is in the British Library (IOPP/Mss Eur A230), donated in 2001 by Dr Omar Pound, great-nephew of Captain Shakespear.