TEHRAN – A book containing historical postcards on the northern Iranian region of Gilan during the Qajar and Pahlavi eras has recently been published.
Entitled “Gilan on Historical Postcards”, the book was unveiled during a ceremony at the Book City Institute in Tehran on Friday.
The postcards show the historical sites and nature, and scenes from the lives and costumes of the inhabitants of Gilan.
The postcards have been selected by a team of experts supervised by the Iranian collector and documentary filmmaker Mehrdad Oskuii from Iranian and foreign private collectors or personal albums.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by Italian Cultural Attaché Carlo Cereti, expert on Gilan’s geography Naser Azimi, and Oskuii, and several cultural officials.
Speaking at the ceremony, Cereti said that the book helps change the wrong image the West has about Iran.
“The book says that Iran is not limited to Isfahan, the deserts, and the southern regions, but it is a country with four seasons and beautiful locations to see,” he added.
On the reason behind choosing Gilan, Oskuii next explained that he is originally from Gilan and that he has made his best efforts to show the potential of his country Iran.
“The postcards are of high importance since most of them were published in late 19th century and contain texts, stamps and seals, which act as good historical sources,” he said.
Oskuii added, “I believe that the book is a good trip into the past and I think we need to see and read our history correctly”.
Direct or Gilan branch of Art Bureau Gholamreza Qasemi, also attending the ceremony, continued that Gilan was considered Europe’s gateway to Iran and the region became familiar with different arts via its northern borders.
“So Gilan turned into a center for theater and publications of magazines and periodicals, and its inhabitants became familiar with different languages due to the presence of Russians, Armenians and other nationalities over the years,” he added.
The bilingual Persian and English book has been published by Farhang-e Ilia Publications in Rasht in collaboration with the Gilan Branch of the Art Bureau.
RM/YAW
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