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For those that are interested, I received "Royal Quest" yesterday. While I haven't had the chance to read the entire book, I have had the chance to browse the photos and read a few chapters.

My first impressions are that this is more of a picture book than hunting book. The Prince was in the U.S. when the Ayatollah Kohmeni overthrew the sitting government (Prince Abdorrezza's brother, the Shah). All of Abdorrezza's photos, notes, and trophies were in Tehran at his home and in the Tehran museum when the coup occurred, so the Prince lost those.

The book was written by Bill Quimby, aided by the Prince's recollections and reconstructed hand written notes, in 2002. Photos were donated by other publishers and the Prince's friends, including Mellon, O'Connor's estate, CJ McElroy, and others.

The book doesn't go into great detail about any of the hunts. I suppose, at least in some instances, nearly half a century between the hunt and the idea for the book had dulled the Prince's recollection. The chapter about hunting Kenya in 1964 is a mere 4 pages long, much of that space is taken up by large photographs. The text could probably be condensed to 1 or 2 pages. This is pretty typical throughout the book, though chapters about hunting Iran and the Prince's conservation achievements garner more print.

The photos are incredible, and the book is dominated by photos.

Quotes by the Prince included in the text are more about his overall recollection of the safari as a whole, other than any particular hunt. He does relate scolding a few PH's that he felt were too trigger happy. He does relate the close relationship between himself and James (Jay) Mellon. Mellon had preceded the Prince in many of the more rare hunts in Africa, though he was several years the Prince's junior. Mellon accompanied the Prince during the hunts for Walia Ibex and others, making trophy recommendations and area recommendations.

I'll write more as I finish reading the book, when time allows.

This book is a limited edition, though I did not spring for the premium edition that carried the $1,250 USD price tag. It still carries a hefty price, that I'm sure as a collectable would recover it's cost in the years to come, but not sure as world hunting read it carries that much value. But then again, I'm only about 10 chapters into it.

Reading through the Prince's achievements in the game fields around the world, his hunting ethic, his determination, and his marksmanship, I do believe he belongs in a class of hunter with few contemporaries. Maybe James Mellon, Herb Klein, Elgin Gates, and CJ McElroy could be considered his peers. I don't suspect any hunter beginning a world quest today would ever be able to accomplish the feats of these gentlemen, not with the political strife and conservation efforts that abound.

The Prince does relate that his safari in Chad may have been the greatest of all his adventures. He took Addax, Scimitar Horned Oryx, Barbary Sheep (goat), and Red sea Ibex, none of which can be hunted in their native ranges today.

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