A History of Afghanistan [Two-volume Set]

London: Macmillan & Co, 1940. First edition. Hardcover. Very good. 411; 414pp. Octavo [22.5 cm] in blue cloth with gilt-stamped spines, ruling in blind on boards. Rubbing and light wear to boards, spines lightly toned, 1/2" tear to front joint at top of Volume II, light dampstaining to front board of Vol. II; ink name, with "Calcutta, 1941" on front pastedown of both volumes, light soiling to textblock fore-edges, else interiors are unmarked. B&W plates and fold-out maps, large color map in pocket on rear pastedown of Vol. II. All maps crisp and intact. Brigadier-General Percy Sykes travelled widely in the Middle East and also wrote a comprehensive Western history of Iran. He describes this book as the "first complete history of Afghanistan". Apparently, most of the first edition was destroyed in the Blitz.