Bertram Thomas: 'Arabia Felix: Across the Empty Quarter of A...

Hammer

£50

Bertram Thomas: 'Arabia Felix: Across the Empty Quarter of Arabia', foreword by T.E. Lawrence, London, Cape, February 1932, 2nd impression, large folding coloured map of Southern Arabian Desert, + 2 maps and numerous plates, many from photographs, as called for, original cloth gilt. Pencil ownership signature/inscription to FFEP "Gawain Bell Kassala. June 1932". From the estate of Gawain Westray Bell (1909-1995), British colonial administrator who became the Governor of Northern Nigeria. Bell served in Sudan between 1931 and 1954, with secondments to Palestine in 1938 and the Arab Legion during the Second World War. In 1956, he was appointed political agent in Kuwait, surviving an assassination attempt, before serving as governor of Northern Nigeria between 1957 and 1962, where he oversaw the end of British rule. In 1965, following failed talks and an Adenese walkout from the Federal and Federal Supreme Council, Bell and Sir Ralph Hone (1896-1992) were approached by the federation's leadership travelled to Aden to act as constitutional advisors. During the course of their visit they recommended that Aden become the capital of a new United Republic of South Arabia, with enhanced representation in the legislative and executive branches. Following his work in south Arabia, he led other missions to Oman (1966 and 1974) and the Trucial States. Provenance by descent