[IRAQI POETRY / AL-NASIRÎ'S TYPOGRAPHIC COVER DESIGN / BANNED BOOK BY THE SADDAM’S REGIME الشعراء يهجون الملوك: شعر / Al-shu'arâ' yahgûn al-mulûk [i.e., The poets satirize the kings: Poems]. Cover ills. by Rafa al-Nasiri.

YÂSIN, NABEEL (1950-).

Wizârat al-I’lâm, Matbaat Dar al-Hurriyat, Bagdad, AH 1398 [CE 1978].

Original illustrated wrappers. Large demy 8vo. (21 x 16 cm). In Arabic. 127, [1] p. Ex-owner's notes on some pages, slight foxing on the covers and spine. Overall, a very good copy.

A scarce first edition of the Iraqi poet's second book, published as the 108^th book of the "Modern Arabic Poetry Series", which was suppressed by the Saddam regime for two years. The typographic cover design in abstract form is made by the famous Iraqi painter and printmaker Rafa al-Nasirî. After the poet's books were banned, they were circulated clandestinely in Baghdad's literary underground via photocopies.

Yasin began his career in journalism in 1966 and worked for national newspapers such as al-Thuwra and al-Jumhuria. He was also editor of the children’s weekly Mejelitee-wal-Mismar and the magazine Alif-Ba. In 1976, under pressure from the regime of dictator Saddam Hussein, Yasin was forced to give up his official journalistic posts, although he continued to write for an opposition paper until 1979, when the regime cracked down harder. In January 1980, fearing for his life, he left Iraq with his wife and child, arriving in Hungary. (Wikipedia).

Rafa al-Nasirî (1940-2013) was an Iraqi painter, draughtsman, printmaker, educator, and author whose works with a social and political message resonated with the Iraqi public in the mid-20th century. He was also very influential in encouraging young artists to take up printmaking. In addition to his paintings and prints, Al Nasiri was interested in book art and produced many limited edition works, some of which detailed his experiences living in war-torn Baghdad (e.g., Al Mutanabi Street). He also expressed his admiration for Iraq's 13th-century poets by producing art books featuring Arabic calligraphy and compilations of verse by renowned classical and contemporary Arab poets such as al-Mutannabi and Mahmoud Darwish. (Wikipedia).

As of December 2025, OCLC lists three copies (4770678677, 4771253888, 4771154338), none of which are held in any Western library.