"THIS DOCUMENT WILL BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY WHEN NOT IN ACTUAL USE": 1942 HANDBOOK OF THE… TRIBES OF SYRIA, WITH LARGE FOLDING MAP

(SYRIA) [GLUBB, John Bagot, Lt-Col.]. Handbook of the Nomad, Semi-Nomad, Semi-Sedentary and Sedentary Tribes of Syria. G.S.I.(T). Headquarters: Ninth Army, February, 1942. Large octavo, original blue printed paper wrappers. Housed in a custom clamshell box.

First edition of this World War II-era handbook to the tribes of Syria, number 330 of only 750 copies produced for the use of British Army officers, with large folding map of the "Arab Tribes in Syria" measuring 24 by 33 inches and two folding tables, in scarce original wrappers. From the library of Lt.-Col. Sir John Glubb, known as "Glubb Pasha," who led Allied Bedouin armies in Syria during World War II, and who contributed the introductory chapter "The Bedouin of Northern Arabia."

This highly informative handbook was prepared with the assistance of the Free French authorities in Syria, whose Geographical Division produced the Tribal Map, for the use of the Ninth Army under General "Jumbo" Wilson. A stamp on the front wrapper shows this to be copy number 330, of a print run of 750 copies. Folding map laid into a stapled pocket flap inside rear wrapper, as issued. With errata leaf printed on red paper inserted after table of contents, corrective slip tipped to page 62, and corrective stamp on page 63. This copy unmarked as such, but from the library of Lt. Col. John Bagot Glubb, who contributed the introductory chapter on "The Bedouin of Northern Arabia." Known as "Glubb Pasha," Sir Glubb was a British soldier, scholar and author, who led and trained Transjordan's Arab Legion between 1939 and 1956 as its commanding general. "Glubb was probably the first man to succeed in turning the Bedouin into disciplined soldiers… In 1941 he led them alongside the British army in Syria and Iraq… His contribution to the capture of Baghdad in 1941 and the subsequent capture of the desert fortress of Palmyra in Syria was decisive, for it denied the eastern flank of the Middle East to Hitler. Later he formed a complete mechanized brigade, almost entirely Bedouin. He was now known as Glubb Pasha, 'pasha' being an Ottoman honorific title" (ODNB).

Expertly repaired three-inch closed tear to upper margin of title page, extending into security notice. Light wear to wrappers at spine head and creasing to front wrapper; stapled pocket flap inside rear wrapper without one staple. A very good copy of this scarce World War II handbook in original wrappers.