IRAQ – Airman James JOHNSON, Royal Air Force. - photo 1
IRAQ – Airman James JOHNSON, Royal Air Force. - photo 2
IRAQ – Airman James JOHNSON, Royal Air Force. - photo 3

IRAQ – Airman James JOHNSON, Royal Air Force.

Lot 211
14.12.2022 10:30UTC +00:00
Classic
Starting price
£ 1 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 870737
Lot 211 | IRAQ – Airman James JOHNSON, Royal Air Force.
Estimate value
£ 1 000 – 1 500
IRAQ – Airman James JOHNSON, Royal Air Force.

Two photograph albums. October 1934 - November 1936 and 1944.

Two albums with photographs of Iraq taken by a British serviceman in the RAF, stationed at Hinaidi and Ser Amadia during the 1930s. The first album containing images showing the Vickers Victoria and Hawker Hardy bombers based at Hinaidi and used in the suppression of local tribal insurrections, the base's engine repair sections and engine test beds, while at the same time testifying to a vibrant community life on camp, centred around the 'White Horse Inn', concerts, the manufacture of the 'Bug' – a homemade car – and swimming parties, alongside images of local towns, architecture and people. Johnson charts his route back from Iraq to the UK with shots of Basra, Karachi, Aden, the Red Sea and Malta, before ending with a few shots of his posting to 611 (B) Squadron at Speke, Liverpool. The second album offers a detailed overview of his posting to Ser Amadia, an RAF summer training camp at 6,000-7,000 ft above sea level in the Kurdish mountains, with photos accompanied by titles and a later account in autograph.



Two albums: 1. 'Hinaidi', 148 original photographs (chiefly 161 x 205mm and 65 x 90mm) mounted on 23 leaves, 200 x 225mm. Original cloth (lacking upper cover, but using the first leaf as title cover, spine ends worn, extremities lightly rubbed); 2. 'Ser Amadia; The Tale of a Kurdish Holiday', 23 original photographs (60 x 87mm) mounted on 7 leaves, 216 x 164mm, autograph titles and accompanying account. Original cloth (upper cover stained, extremities rubbed). [With, tipped in:] an incomplete letter from Johnson, n.p., n.d., giving an account of his life in Iraq over several days, 12 pages, 250 x 200mm.

Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
10.12.2022 – 13.12.2022
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
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