Bell, Gertrude The Letters Of Gertrude Bell (2 Vols)Ernest Benn, London, 1927. First Edition. In 2

Ernest Benn, London, 1927. First Edition. In 2 volumes. Elegantly bound in half leather with green boards. Portrait frontis. Maps at rear of volumes. Contents fine but some light scattered foxing. Black and white ills. Scarce first edition set handsomely rebound.

From the library of Picton Castle, Pembrokeshire. Originally built at the end of the 13th century by a Flemish knight, it later came into the hands of Sir John Wogan, and is still occupied by his descendants, the Philipps family (see Baron Milford and Viscount St Davids).

Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell, CBE (14 July 1868 - 12 July 1926) was an English writer, traveller, political officer, administrator, and archaeologist who explored, mapped, and became highly influential to British imperial policy-making due to her knowledge and contacts, built up through extensive travels in Greater Syria, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, and Arabia. Along with T. E. Lawrence, Bell helped support the Hashemite dynasties in what is today Jordan as well as in Iraq. She played a major role in establishing and helping administer the modern state of Iraq, using her unique perspective from her travels and relations with tribal leaders throughout the Middle East. During her lifetime she was highly esteemed and trusted by British officials and exerted an immense amount of power. She has been described as "one of the few representatives of His Majesty's Government remembered by the Arabs with anything resembling affection"