Introduced by MALIK MERCHANT

“My interest in horses, their breeding, training, and racing, has been with me all my life and is of course also part of the tradition that I have inherited, the environment in which I was bred.” – Aga Khan III in Memoirs of Aga Khan, page 192

The first-ever book on the history of His Highness the Aga Khan III’s horse breeding, training and racing activities was published in April 1938. Titled The Aga Khan’s Horses, this book was authored by the horse racing writer, R. C. Lyle.

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Besides a trade edition, a limited edition of 140 specially bound numbered copies of The Aga Khan’s Horses were also produced. A special and unique feature of these numbered copies is that they are signed by the author (R. C. Lyle), the artist (Lionel Edwards) and His Highness the Aga Khan III (see photo of signature page, above). Of the 140 signed and numbered limited edition copies, only 125 were made available for sale.

Simerg is delighted to offer for sale a copy of this limited numbered and signed edition. The Limited Numbered Edition 128 is bound in beautiful olive green quarter parchment, with the boards covered in linen-texture brown cloth (emulating the racing colours of Aga Khan III). The olive green calf is accentuated with a single gold line and gold lettering on the spine. The upper edges of the handmade paper are gilded, with the other edges untrimmed.

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The overall condition of #128 of The Aga Khan’s Horses is excellent. Besides the colour frontispiece, there are 7 other plates of colour photolithographs (each covered with guard sheet printed in red with title of illustration), 12 pencil sketches (photolithograph plates), all by the famous British painter Lionel Edwards, who specialized in painting horses, as well as a further 16 photographic illustrations.

Limited edition signed copies of The Aga Khan’s Horses are extremely rare and most are in private or institutional collections. This is a unique opportunity to acquire an original limited edition signed and numbered copy of The Aga Khan’s Horses.

Please send an email to Malik Merchant at simerg@aol.com for pricing details; include your name and contact details with a phone number where we can reach you.

Brief Highlights from The Aga Khan’s Horses Signed by Aga Khan III

R. C. Lyle in his dedication, states:

To H.H. Aga Khan

The only man living who has headed the Leading Owners’ List seven times

1924 1929 1930 1932 1934 1935 1937

And the only man living who has won the Derby three times

1930 1935 1936

In his introduction, R.C. Lyle writes:

“It is a special pleasure and honour to thank His Highness the Aga Khan himself, both for his permission to enquire into all that appertains to his Stable and for the very helpful interviews that he has given.”

Date posted: July 28, 2021.

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Before departing this website please take a moment to review Simerg’s Table of Contents for links to hundreds of thought provoking pieces on a vast array of subjects including faith and culture, history and philosophy, and arts and letters to name a few. Also visit Simerg’s sister websites Barakah, dedicated to His Highness the Aga Khan, and Simergphotos.