In news from the famous auction house, Christie's has sold a letters from the correspondence of King Faisal I of Iraq and Lawrence of Arabia. The letters discuss the future of the Middle East. Christie's in New York often offers historical letters and other documents for sale. Last February, letters by Lawrence of Arabia written between 1885-1935 were sold. Westerners see Lawrence as a person who dedicated his life to the Middle East working to help the Arabs achieve self-government. Another of his interests was the archaeology of the Middle East.
Christie's explained that the letters belong to a well-known family - Jews of Iraqi origin who are now Americans - with a great interest in Middle Eastern history and Palestine in particular. They own letters written by Lawrence of Arabia to kings and rulers in the area and their responses to him as well. Harry Shapiro, a member of the Iraqi Jewish family, owned a famous gallery in New York and collected letters and historical documents. For years he and his wife frequented auctions in search of letters written by Lawrence of Arabia. After his death in 2001, his collections were sold at auction. Christies is auctioning these letters that show Lawrence of Arabia's adventures, including a handwritten letter by King Faisal I of Iraq to Gen. Gilbert F. Clayton, governor of occupied Palestine. The letter fetched $7,700.
Here is a translation of the letter - which may not be what modern grammarians would expect:
I have received your kind letter of the 26th November last and I cannot but send to you my cordial thanks for the interest you have had of our affaires despite of your being far distant. As a sincere friend of us who has ever been our valuable support, I wish you pleasant long life.
I have rendered your salutations to my brother Ali who desires me to convey to you his majesty's best thanks for the friendly sentiments which you have displayed towards him, and honest wishes for your happiness and welfare. I have decided to visit London next summer upon the invitation of his majesty King George and hope to see you there. I close by reiterating my wishes for your everlasting prosperity and happy days.
Baghdad, 18th December 1932
Christies also offered an official English letter from King Faisal I to Lawrence of Arabia dated Dec. 18, 1932 in Baghdad. The first estimates were that the letter would fetch between $4,000-$6,000 thousand and it went for $4,381. Christies says that the Shapiro letters included a letter from Haim Weizmann to General Gilbert F. Clayton, governor of occupied Palestine. The estimate was from $8,000 - $12,000 but it sold for $28,680.
