Sign In

- Or use -
Forgot Password Create Account
Description

This 1930 Survey of India map offers a depiction of a large swath of the Middle East, with particular emphasis on the Persian Gulf, portraying the geographical and socio-political landscape of the region during a pivotal era in its history. This map, produced on a conic projection, details the coastline of the Persian Gulf, encompassing areas from Saudi Arabia and Iraq to eastern Iran and from Yazid in Iran to the present-day United Arab Emirates (then "Trucial Oman") and the Gulf of Oman. It is notable for its detailed labeling of myriad locations, including Bahrain Island, Qatar, Kuwait, and key cities such as Dubai, Basra, and Doha. The map's precision in illustrating the Strait of Hormuz, coupled with its depiction of roads, railroads, telegraph lines, and other markers of modernity, offers a rare snapshot of the region's development and infrastructure at the time.

The inclusion of features like the Darb Zubaidah, an ancient Persian pilgrim route to Mecca, juxtaposed with modern advancements such as railroads and telegraph lines, underscores the region's rich historical tapestry and its rapid modernization.

The cartographic precision and detail of the map are exemplary of the Survey of India's work during this period. The Survey of India, established to produce accurate maps for administrative and strategic purposes, played a crucial role in documenting the changing geography of the region. This map, with its detailed topographical representations of rivers, lakes, marshes, and unexplored areas, not only serves as a navigational tool but also as a historical record, reflecting both the known and the mysterious aspects of the Middle Eastern landscape in the early 20th century.

This is the map's second edition, published in 1930.

Condition Description
Dissected and mounted on linen in 24 panels. Close margins. Blank on verso. Accompanied by original binder.