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Exceptionally rare, historically highly important, and raw in content, a photo album in untouched condition. This album belonged to a British agent of the British Section of the Palestine Police Force, a heavily armed colonial elite police force. The album documents, in a razor-sharp and uncompromising way, the bloody Arab nationalist uprising (Arab Revolt) in the British Mandate of Palestine, taking place exactly in the years 1936–1939. The album features a deep blue linen-textured cover with a diamond pattern relief and is bound with the original black cord with tassel. The album concludes on the very last page with a formal portrait of Queen Elizabeth (the later Queen Mother) bearing her royal monogram. Combat Actions, Heavy Weapons & Repression:This album is an absolute dream for the serious militaria collector and contains unique, unpublished combat images from the Palestinian fields: In the line of fire: Multiple action shots of British agents lying flat on their stomachs in combat position (firing line) in trenches and wheat fields, while clouds of smoke rise in the background. Heavy firepower: A fantastic action photo of a British agent operating a heavy, water-cooled Vickers .303 machine gun on a tripod. Terrorist threat: A historical highlight shows two heavily armed British agents in tropical helmets and ammunition belts standing guard at the entrance to the "ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL", at the time a primary target for Arab guerrilla fighters. Also included are images of improvised armored trucks (troop transports) and heavy explosions in the landscape. The Corps, Victims & Uniforms:The album contains excellent (group) portraits of the young British agents in their Khaki Drill tropical uniforms. Highly sought after are the photos showing the men kneeling with their characteristic Wolseley tropical helmets (Pith Helmets) prominently in view, including the original and recognizable insignia of the Palestine Police.The bloody reality of the conflict becomes painfully clear through impressive photos of a military funeral for a fallen comrade (including a firing party paying a final salute) and the rows of white gravestones at the British War Cemetery in Jerusalem. Topography, Architecture & Culture:In addition to the military operations, there is a strong focus on the fascinating demographic shifts and culture of the period: Tel Aviv & Jaffa: Beautiful images of the busy beach at Tel Aviv and the legendary, brand-new art deco San Remo Hotel on the boulevard, with the name in English and Hebrew. Also included are images of Jaffa's historic private harbor. Jerusalem & Bethlehem: Iconic photos of the monumental clock tower of the YMCA in Jerusalem (opened 1933), Muslims praying at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Russian Orthodox Mary Magdalene Church on the Mount of Olives, busy markets (souks) and moving portraits of traditionally dressed, veiled women. Condition:The album is in fantastic, untouched museum condition. All 124 photos are mounted razor-sharp with the original photo corners on dark gray photo board. The pages are clean, undamaged, and over the decades no photos have been removed or cut out postwar. The blue cover is perfectly straight and shows minimal...

Brand: Rurfront Militaria

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