Beschreibung:

LAWRENCE, T.E. Secret Despatches from Arabia , edited by A.W. Lawrence, [Waltham Saint Lawrence, Berkshire]: The Golden Cockerel Press, 1939. 4°, collotype portrait frontispiece after B.E. Leeson (occasional, very light spotting), original black niger morocco-backed boards by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, the spine lettered in gilt, gilt press device (boards slightly darkened and marked), t.e.g., others uncut. FIRST EDITION. LIMITED TO 1,000 COPIES, THIS NUMBER 977 OF 970. Clements pp.45-48; O'Brien A226; Pertelote 145. Lawrence's Despatches were reprinted from The Arab Bulletin (a paper initiated by Lawrence), which produced ' ''Summaries'' of political news received from the Turkish Empire, Arab and other Moslem countries, and Abyssinia [...] Of the first few numbers only twenty-six copies were printed, for distribution to the British authorities -- civil, military or naval -- in the Near and Middle East, and to the Foreign Office, War Office and Admiralty in London; the contents were to be treated as ''strictly secret'' ' (p.5). The nature of The Arab Bulletin meant that 'The topics discussed are extremely varied and range from the religious views of Hussein to military operations against the Hedjaz railway, and because of their secret nature, have an honesty of approach' (Clements). The work also includes Lawrence's previously-unpublished article 'Syrian Cross Currents'.