c1939 Iraqi State Railways Visit Iraq Travel Brochure – Railway Map Baghdad Babylon.
Original circa 1939 Iraqi State Railways tourism and travel brochure promoting rail travel through Iraq with the slogan:
“Visit Iraq in Comfort and feel the Magic and Mystery of the East.”
A striking piece of pre-WWII Middle Eastern railway and tourism ephemera, produced during the period when Iraqi State Railways actively promoted Iraq to international travelers.
The colorful foldout brochure combines railway advertising, travel information, photographs, illustrations, a map of the Iraqi rail system and suggested itineraries to many of the country's major historic and archaeological destinations.
The brochure promotes six tours and excursions including:
Babylon, Kish, Birs Nimrud, Ur, Tal al-Ubaid, Eridu, Nasiriyah, Karbala, Najaf, Kufa, Diwaniyah, Asshur, Hatra, Samarra, Kirkuk, Arbil, Baghdad, Basra, Mosul and Nineveh.
One itinerary also specifically promotes travel to the Iraq oilfields.
The interior includes a colorful railway map showing routes through Iraq from Mosul and Kirkuk south through Baghdad to Basra, together with connections and locations including Karbala, Najaf, Hillah, Samarra and other destinations.
Additional sections promote Iraq's ancient history and archaeological sites, agricultural and industrial opportunities, modern Baghdad and Basra, transportation by rail, river and air, and international connections to India and the Iranian Gulf.
The combination of colorful period graphics, railway history, archaeological tourism and pre-WWII Iraq makes this an interesting example of early Middle Eastern travel advertising.
CONDITION:
Original vintage condition with age toning, scattered spotting/soiling, fold and handling wear and other signs of age. There is some handwritten notation on the itinerary portion as shown. The brochure retains strong colors and displays very well for its age.
Please examine all photographs carefully for the exact contents and condition. What is shown in the photographs is what is included.
An excellent collectible for those interested in Iraq, Baghdad, Babylon, Mesopotamia, Middle Eastern history, archaeology, railroad history, vintage tourism and pre-WWII travel ephemera.
