1932 — Rare issue of Al-Musawar, an Egyptian magazine, featuring content of assorted local interest from 90 years ago, including the latest news in aviation - Misr Airwork having only just been founded 17 days earlier, athletes in the 1st Maccabiah Games, entertainment, politics, military, education, artisanry and more. Text is in Arabic. Folio. 23 pages, opening from the left side, replete with photographic illustration throughout, plus fully illustrated front cover. Volume measures approximately 28,5 x 42 cm. Some wear to edges and spine, folded at center, otherwise in very good, original condition. The front cover is dominated by a dashing young aviator donning his leather flight helmet and goggles, surely a notable Egyptian pilot chosen by the newly formed Misr Airlines. Misr Airlines, a division of Misr Airwork (1932-1949), now known as Egypt Air, was founded on 7 June 1932 "to promote the spirit of aviation among Egyptian youth", thus becoming the seventh carrier in the world. The headquarters of Misr Airwork, S.A.E. was in Almaza Aerodrome, Heliopolis, Cairo. The initial investment was EG£20,000, with ownership split between the Misr Bank (85%), Airwork (10%), and Egyptian private investors (5%). Operations started in July 1933, initially linking Cairo with Alexandria and Mersa Matruh using de Havilland DH.84 Dragon equipment. Misr Airlines is the oldest airline servicing both Africa and the Arab world. Although several other airlines sprang up in Africa during the 1930s, no other airlines were developed in the Arab world until the mid-1940s. An article of aviation interest found within, remembers the LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin flying overhead on its 1931 Middle East Flight, with aerial images its own large shadow and the scene below. A memorial to Étienne-Jules Marey (1830-1904), French scientist, physiologist and chronophotographer, whose scientific works touched many fields, including physical instrumentation and aviation, also appears at the center of the issue. There are two full pages concerning athletes, being the elite who had participated in the 1932 Maccabiah Games. There were 390 athletes from 27 countries who participated in the first Maccabiah, including over 69 Jewish athletes from Arab countries such as Syria, Lebanon and Egypt. There were several Muslim boxers from Egypt. Al-Musawar is an Egyptian weekly magazine with its headquarters is in Cairo. Launched in 1925, its founder was George Bey Zidan. One of its longest-serving editors was journalist Fekry Abaza who held the post from 1926 to 1961. In 1960 the Egyptian government took ownership and control of the publication. Abaza was suddenly fired due to an article published on 17 August 1961.
