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Bookstamp of Caro Owen Minasian
Dublin Core
Title
Bookstamp of Caro Owen Minasian
Subject
Minasian, Caro Owen
Description
This is the bookstamp of Dr. Caro Owen Minasian (1897-1973), an Armenian physician, manuscript and book collector, and amateur historian. Dr. Minasian was educated at the English College in Isfahan, Iran. He later went to Europe to study medicine at the Universities of London, Edinburgh, and Lausanne. He returned to Iran to practice medicine first in Ahwaz from 1923 to 1925 and then Teheran from 1925 to 1935.
During his time in Teheran, it is known that Dr. Minasian also took part in espionage for the Soviets. He became the personal physician of Sheikh Khazal al-Kabi of Mohammerah, the semi-autonomous chieftain of many of the Arab tribes in the Khuzestan province in Iran. The Sheikh cooperated with the British and signed a treaty to permit oil drilling in his territory in exchange for payments and protection during the early years of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. Dr. Minasian relayed the details of the Sheikh’s contact with the British to the secret police of the USSR (OGPU) and became an important source of intelligence for the Soviets.
Later in his career, Dr. Minasian returned to Isfahan, where he helped establish several hospitals and infirmaries. He retired in 1967.
Over his lifetime, Dr. Minasian amassed an extensive collection of Armenian, Persian, and Near Eastern books and manuscripts. Part of his collection consists of gifts he received from patients who knew Dr. Minasian was an avid collector. He sold most of his collection to UCLA in 1968. The year 1935 on his blue bookstamp indicates the date the stamp was made. Dr. Minasian also used a purple stamp featuring his monogram “CM.”
During his time in Teheran, it is known that Dr. Minasian also took part in espionage for the Soviets. He became the personal physician of Sheikh Khazal al-Kabi of Mohammerah, the semi-autonomous chieftain of many of the Arab tribes in the Khuzestan province in Iran. The Sheikh cooperated with the British and signed a treaty to permit oil drilling in his territory in exchange for payments and protection during the early years of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. Dr. Minasian relayed the details of the Sheikh’s contact with the British to the secret police of the USSR (OGPU) and became an important source of intelligence for the Soviets.
Later in his career, Dr. Minasian returned to Isfahan, where he helped establish several hospitals and infirmaries. He retired in 1967.
Over his lifetime, Dr. Minasian amassed an extensive collection of Armenian, Persian, and Near Eastern books and manuscripts. Part of his collection consists of gifts he received from patients who knew Dr. Minasian was an avid collector. He sold most of his collection to UCLA in 1968. The year 1935 on his blue bookstamp indicates the date the stamp was made. Dr. Minasian also used a purple stamp featuring his monogram “CM.”
Creator
Minasian, Caro Owen
Source
Date
1935
Rights
Digital Image: Washington University in Saint Louis
Format
Ink
Language
English
Type
Bookstamp
Identifier
bri_stp_linguasacra_minasian_0890.jpg
bri_stp_linguasacra_minasian_0891.jpg
bri_stp_linguasacra_minasian_0890.jpg
bri_stp_linguasacra_minasian_0891.jpg
bri_stp_linguasacra_minasian_0890.jpg
cat:Brisman-2014-07-28T11_07_18
Citation
Minasian, Caro Owen, “Bookstamp of Caro Owen Minasian,” WUSTL Digital Gateway Image Collections & Exhibitions, accessed July 3, 2024, http://omeka.wustl.edu/omeka/items/show/8256.
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