DILMANIAN, YAGHOUB (1902-1988) - History of the Jews of Mashad, 1746-1946 Ad: From Their Entrance to Mashad at the Time of Nadar Shah Afshar Until Their Migration from Mashad to Tehran

[New York]: [Yaghoub Dilmanian], [1999]. Paperback. Illustrated by 5 black and white 2 maps; Despite historically being a small minority of Iran's population, Mashhadi Jews form a large segment of the antique Oriental rug industry worldwide. English-Farsi text. Uncommon. "What happened to our ancestors in the city of Mashad, and the state of misery they had the misfortune to live under, was only a sample of the sufferings of the Jews of the Diaspora. In the Jewish year 5599, tragic events forced our ancestors to outwardly accept Islam, and follow its rites and customs to the point that they would not be distinguished from the rest of the population. However they continued to practice Judaism at home to the extent that upon later communication and contact with other Jews, they were proven to be as observant as them, if not more so. These wretched conditions, which lasted about one hundred years, caused their fellow Jews to wonder how our ancestors managed to keep their faith while maintaining their cover, especially in the holy city of Mashad and amongst its pious, prejudiced residents. It occurred to me, Yaghoub Dilmanian, that unless this history is recorded, it shall be forgotten with the passage of time, and future generations shall regret that no one took it upon himself to set it down in writing." -From the Introduction; 2; 90+[11]+[90] pp.. Very Good; 6.5 x 9.5 Paperback in Very Good condition. Wear to edges. Former owner's name inked on title page.