IRANIAN 'SHAHNAMEH OF FERDOWSI' ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT PRESENTED DURING RICHARD NIXON'S 1972 VISIT

IRANIAN 'SHAHNAMEH OF FERDOWSI' ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT PRESENTED DURING RICHARD NIXON'S 1972 VISIT
Rare publication: 'The Shahnameh of Ferdowsi: The Baysonghori Manuscript', published by the Iranian Government in Tehran, October, 1971. The lavish, 13.5 x 17.5 in. volume contains 34 exquisite plates depicting the historic Persian epic, published in commemoration of the celebration of the 2,500th anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire by Cyrus the Great. With dust wrapper which has just a few tiny marginal chips, and a small vertical line on first endpaper caused by contact with dust wrapper. Present also is the original gift wrapper and ribbon. This volume was presented to Cmdr. Ronald L. Jackson (1928-1990). Comdr. Jackson, a Navy officer, was tasked with supervising the planning and implementation of reciprocal state dinners, the operation of the White House Mess and food service at Camp David and aboard Air Force One, and travel led everywhere with Presidents Johnson through George H. Bush. By late 1972 Nixon leveraged U.S. Middle Eastern regional policy primarily around the focal point of a militarily strong, pro-American Iran. Concurrently, the Shah was encouraged, and empowered, to begin an unprecedented and virtually unmoderated military spending spree in what is now known as the 'blank check' Thus, their 1972 meeting in Tehran was of the greatest importance to both leaders.