1934 — 8 pages, including a full-page sketch map. Plus photographic plates. Original condition with blue wrappers, titles to front, and containing all the ads. This is a complete issue, seldom found in such good and original condition. While in Tehran, Mr. Sykes planned to visit Luristan (Lorestan) and Bakhtiari provinces of Persia (Iran), but an order was given by a high authority of Reza Shah's Government, forbidding travellers to enter those two remote provinces, located in the West and South-West Iran (at the time Reza Shah was trying to diminish foreign influence in Iran), however, the opportunity presented itself through the Ambassador of Afghanistan to Persia, Sher Ahmad Khan, to make a journey to the less-known provinces of northern Afghanistan. In this fascinating account Mr. Sykes provides vivid and detailed description of his travel route, with mentions of every towns and villages, also illustrating his route on a full-page sketch map. He enters Afghanistan from Persia by the Kariz-Islam Kala road, he first reaches Bala Murghab, makes fascinating comments on the traditional dresses of Afghans, Turkomans, Usbegs, and Tajiks of this town, then he crosses Band-i-Turkistan on horseback entering Maimana, then Daulatabad, Andkhui, Akcha, and Balkh, he visits the magneficent ruins of Balkh, continuing his journey, he reaches Mazar-i-Sharif, Khanabad, and from there to Barfak by Kunduz pass, passing through a few other small towns and villages, he finally reaches his destination at Kabul. Also includes interesting remarks on the Turkomans and their camps; rich Usbeg herdsmen, Jewish merchants, lambskin markets, and interesting comparison between Afghan pronounciation and dialect to those of Persian. This is a truely fascinating travel account, accompanied by a full-page descriptive route sketch map and fabulous photographic plates depicting Mausoleum at Herat, Afghans putting out curred lambskins to dry on the roof on a caravanserai at Andkhui, Kebitka tent at a Turkoman encampment between Andkhui and Akcha, and the Kunduz ferry.
