And lastly we gave you this card showing the inhabitants of Afghanistan, and two of their important cities, Kandahar and Kabul. There have been people in that region since Paleolithic times, and its location led to it becoming a major centre for all manner of trade, which is probably why the market place at Kabul is shown as one of the scenes - the others being the Mosque of Achmad Scia at Kandahar and a trio of tribesmen in the mountains.
Many people have tried to conquer the area, even before Alexander the Great, and it remains an area which is frequently fought over, possibly why the Afghan people are regarded as such tough opponents.
The reason behind the issuing of this set seems to be related to an Anglo-Russian treaty, which was signed on August the 31st, 1907. That laid down that the British government agreed not to attempt to change the current political position within Afghanistan, nor to take sides in the shaurie between Afghanistan and Russia, nor to attempt to occupy any part of Afghanistan themselves, as laid down in the Treaty of Kabul, signed in March of that year.
This set was issued in the French, German and Italian language, and comprises the following cards :
Important Afghans / Kabul. Bazaar Gate and Street / Ahmed Shah`s Mosque, Kandahar
- French - Afghans de qualite / Kaboul. Porte et rue des Bazars / Mosquee d'Achmed Shah, Kandahar
- German - Kabul-Tor v. Basarstrasse / Vornehme Afghanen
- Italian - Afghans de qualite / Mosquee d'Achmed Shah, Kandahar / Kaboul Porte et rue des Bazars
Citadel at Herat / Tomb of Shah Rukh / A gunsmith in Herat
- French - Citadelle de Herat / Tombeau du Shah Rukh / Armurier a Herat
- German - Ziladelle von Herat / Schwertschlaifer in Herat
- Italian - Citadelle de Herat / Armurier a Herat / Tombeau du Shah Rukh
In the Bolan Pass / Afghan houses
- French - Dans le defile de Bolan / Maisons Afghanes
- German - Im Bolan-Pass / Afghanische Wohnhauser
- Italian - Nel passaggio di Bolan / Case d'abibazione degli afgani
Kandahar / Mullah preaching war
- French - Kandahar / Mollah preshant la guerre
- German - Kandahar / Mullah den Krleg predigend
- Italian - Kandahar / Mollah prechant la guerre
Gate at Bala-Hissar / the Khyber Pass /
- French - Porto de Bala-Hissar / Passe de Khaiber
- German - Ter von Bala Hisser / Typee der Afghanischen Armea
- Italian - Porte de Bala-Hissar / Passe de Khaiber / Types de l'armee afghane
- French - Village de tribe nomade sur le Helmand / Chute de la riviere Kaboul
- German - Nomadendorf der Hilman / Wasserfall des Kabul
- Italian - Village de tribu nomade sur le Hilmend / Chute de la riviere Kaboul