Sorab K. H. Katrak - Through Amanullah's Afghanistan: A Book of Travel - 1929

A very RARE and uncommon and interesting book...." Through Amanullah's Afghanistan: A Book of Travel" written by Katrak, Sorab Kavasji Hormuzdyar (1892-1972) and published in 1929 by Karachi: D.N. Patel at the "Sind Observer" Mercantile Steam Press Ltd. With a portrait frontispiece, nineteen plates and a map at rear. Original publisher's brown cloth binding with blind stamped title on the front board and the spine. The book offers an interesting insight to Afghanistan and its politics during the last year of reign of a western-oriented Amanullah Khan (in power in 1919-29) from the point of view of its non-British neighbours. Katrak travelled to Kabul by car from Peshawar via Khyber Pass and Jalalabad in August 1928 to take part in the celebrations of the Afghanistan Independence Day (the date was set up to commemorate the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919). The book contains vivid descriptions of Kabul and Darulaman which was intended to become a new capital, but never did after the abdication of Amanullah Khan; separate chapters are dedicated to the festifities in the summer capital Paghman, Katrak's side-trips to Bamyan and Ghazni, and a separate travel to Kandahar from Quetta in October 1928. Katrak also talks about Afghan national lifestyle, "wit and humour," describes the abdication of Amanullah Khan and readily talks about Parsi residents in Afghanistan he had met. The introduction was written by a Parsi jornalist from Bombay G.K. Nariman. Book in good condition for age, inside complete and clean, presumably ancient sign of a tiny hole from a wormhole from the beginning trough page 90-see photos. Externally original cloth a bit darkened, light wear around edges and corners.
One of only two copies selling worldwide!!!! Scarce