- 206
Afghanistan-Soviet relations
Estimate
2,000 - 3,000 GBP
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Description
- Album of photographs, mostly of Afghanistan, including images of the sovereign, Amanullah Khan, receiving military aircraft from the Soviet Union. [c.1924-c.1925]
- PAPER
Oblong folio (238 x 298mm.), 112 silver prints (various sizes from 54 x 40mm. to 122 x 172mm.), mounted on 10 leaves, recto and verso, some captioned in pencil on the mount, contemporary patterned cloth, leaves disbound, mounts rather chipped, some overall fading and wear to photographs, a few gaps where photographs have been removed, binding slightly worn
Condition
Amanullah Khan
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
After the Russian Revolution, from 1919, the Soviet government gave military support to Afghanistan to support their resistance to the British. In 1924, the Soviet Union again gave military aid to Afghanistan, including small arms, aircraft and conducted training in Tashkent for cadre officers from the Afghan Army. This album includes rare photographs depicting Afghanistan's King Amanullah Khan in 1924 receiving aeroplanes from the Soviet Union, complete with pilots and mechanics, which became the foundation of the Afghan Air Force. For the next decade, Soviet pilots performed the bulk of the flying of Afghan aircraft, many of which were Polikarpov R-1s, a Soviet copy of the de Havilland DH.9A. Most Afghan aircraft were destroyed in the civil war that began in December 1928, and it was 1937 before a serious rebuilding effort began.