The first visit to China by a Pakistani Prime Minister: signed by Mao and Suhrawardy
Album leaf signed, together with the signature of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy (1892-1963).
8vo (149 x 212 mm). 1 page. Two signatures in ink on plain, greenish paper.
€ 150,000.00
The signatures of the heads of state of China and Pakistan, together on a single sheet, written on the occasion of the first visit to China by a Pakistani Prime Minister. Suhrawardy had taken office only a month earlier.
During this historic visit, the delegations discussed matters such as the exchange of goods (coal for cotton) and industrial development, improvements in water management, and the training of engineers. In their conversations with Suhrawardy, the Chinese sought to dispel fears of hegemony: China herself, it was pointed out, had suffered under Western colonialism and now sought to pursue industrial development in the spirit of peaceful co-existence with all countries, based on mutual respect. The Chinese foreign minister and offical host Zhou Enlai insisted to a skeptical Suhrawardy that the education of the current generation of Chinese political leaders would ensure that future generations would not commit war or aggression.
Signatures by the Great Chairman Mao are extremely rare.
From the estate of Franz-Peter Bach of Wolfsburg, an avid autograph collector of many years. Bach began collecting in the 1980s; his collection was meticulously collated, and the present item has been dispersed from one of his many albums.
Evenly a little toned; some ink bleeding due to paper quality, otherwise flawless. Annotated by a collector in blue ballpoint: "Beijing 10-19-56 / Mao Tsedong, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy". The date marks the state banquet given in Suhrawardy's honour.
