Our Partner in Oil.
4to. 4 pp. on bifolium. With 3 black-and-white photographic illustrations, including a portrait of King Ibn Saud.
€ 800.00
Interesting account of the close Saudi-American ties forged after the 1933 Concession Agreement. It describes the friendly relationship between King 'Abd al-'Aziz and Aramco, which involved the frequent exchange of valuable gifts. The King presented "his Aramco friends [with] noble Arabian horses, gold-mounted swords, daggers, watches, and Oriental rugs", a courtesy that the Americans recipocrated with exquisite boxes of gold and a golden coffee service, as well as "a complete American cowboy's outfit, with chaps, sombrero, and a gorgeous saddle mounted in gold and silver" - the latter perhaps constituting one of the more peculiar presents.
Further, the article describes friendly interactions between Arabs and Americans and discusses the company's plans to advance Arabian infrastructure and to foster education and housing.
Small marginal flaws. Somewhat toned.
