{"product_id":"gsgs-restricted-cold-war-silk-escape-evasion-map-n-i-39-tehran-bushire-iran-1951-p-6-111582","title":"GSGS Restricted Cold War silk escape\/evasion map—N-I-39—Tehran—Bushire—Iran 1951","description":"\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e'Tehran — Restricted— Third Edition— Asia 1:1,000,000— N-I-39 \/\/ Bushire — Restricted— Fourth Edition— North H-39— Asia 1:1,000,000'\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eA Cold War-era silk escape map—Restricted—Tehran \/\/ Bushire—issued by the Geographical Section General Staff, War Office, in 1951. Fabric escape-and-evasion maps were developed during the Second World War by the British military intelligence organisation MI9, notably under the direction of Christopher Clayton Hutton. A prolific inventor of devices for covert military and espionage use, Hutton is also thought to have been one of the inspirations for Ian Fleming’s conception of Q Branch. Printed on both sides of rayon cloth, such maps were durable, silent in use, and easily concealed. Originally issued to airmen for use if shot down behind enemy lines, they were later also supplied to Special Forces, and were notably used by the SAS during the 1991 Gulf War. This example reflects Britain’s continuing strategic interest in Iran and the Persian Gulf during the early Cold War. One side maps Tehran and the Iranian plateau; the reverse covers Bushire on the Gulf coast, extending across the northern Gulf and the approaches to the Shatt al-Arab. Together, the two sides combine the political and logistical centres of inland Iran with the strategically important waters of the northern Persian Gulf.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antiquemapsandprints.com","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52807689535835,"sku":"P-6-111582","price":280.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0923\/9583\/1643\/files\/P-6-111582a.jpg?v=1776175666","url":"https:\/\/www.antiquemapsandprints.com\/products\/gsgs-restricted-cold-war-silk-escape-evasion-map-n-i-39-tehran-bushire-iran-1951-p-6-111582","provider":"Antiquemapsandprints.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}