IN THE HIGH YEMEN - Description of the British Museum's Delegation Tour to Yemen on the Eve of the Outbreak of World War II - a tour in Sana'a, the main sites and cities, the Jewish Quarter, and more, by Hugh Scott. The book is accompanied by 113 photographs taken by author and photographer Everard Britton as part of the journey, 4 maps - of which one is folded, and 8 diagrams and illustrations in the body of the text. Nice copy - hardcover with the original dust jacket. Published by JOHN MURRAY, LONDON, 1947. The copy of Baron Greenway of Stanbridge Earls with his noble Ex Libris on the protective page.
Description of the British Museum's delegation to Yemen - a detailed and accurate review of Yemen's place in history and art, description of the customs of the residents of Yemen, the Yemenite language, and the special architecture of sites in Yemen, Yemenite Jews, and more. The expedition toured in 1938 on mules, first in British territory in the mountainous region of Aden, and then in Yemen itself with the permission of the Imam. Scott toured using maps prepared for him by the trustees of the British Museum, and he reached the most important cities and sites in Yemen.
A special chapter is dedicated to the Jews of Yemen. The author toured the Jewish Quarter in Sana'a. He describes quite a few small synagogues, the low and simple Jewish houses, the Jewish Talmudei Torah - the author arrived while the children were sitting down to study before the Mori and writes that "in what they read with their teacher they look very happy". In one of the synagogues they visited, the synagogue guard led them to an ancient parchment scroll (appears in picture 82 of the book), as well as to ancient manuscripts that were preserved in the synagogue. He describes at length the Jews of Sana'a and their customs - the costumes of men and women, the jobs in which they were engaged - he writes that goldsmithing is the common craft among Yemenite Jews, he writes about Jewish talismans and jewelry, Jewish foods, the medical work of the Jews of Sana'a, and more. The author also describes Jewish-Arab relations in Yemen, and the laws of the Imam designed to humiliate Jews.
The book is accompanied by rare, high-quality photographs taken by author and photographer Everard Britton using three cameras. They took more than 800 photographs, the finest of which - more than a hundred carefully selected and incorporated in the book.
When the book was published, The Times paper referred to it, writing: "The book provides an inspiring description, carefully detailing one of the few countries in the world that preferred to keep itself to itself...".
The copy before us belonged to Baron Greenway, of Stanbridge Earls II [1888-1963] with his noble Ex Libris. The title was created in 1927 for Sir Charles Greenway - 1st Baron - founder of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. The title was used by his son, and the sons of his sons - a noble family involved in English economics and politics for generations.
XX, 260 pages. 23 cm. open tear in the corner of the dust jacket. Overall condition good. Hardcover with dust jacket, all complete.
