HUSSEIN SADDAM: (1937-2006) President of Iraq 1979-2003. A.L.S., in Arabic, one page, 8vo. n.p. (Republican Palace, Baghdad?), 22^nd February 1989, to the Chief of the Cabinet and Head of the Engineering Department, on printed stationery featuring the coat of arms of Iraq, in Arabic. Hussein issues a command to his correspondents, 'The victory arch must be adorned with helmets of Iranian soldiers pierced by war bullets, and the artist Khaled al-Rahal is to be informed of our order'. Two file holes to the right edge and a couple of very small tears to the upper edge, otherwise VG

The Victory Arch, officially known as the Swords of Qadisiyah, are a pair of triumphal arches in central Baghdad constructed to commemorate the Iran-Iraq War, started and led by Saddam Hussein. Khaled al-Rahal (1926-1987) won the commission to design and execute the construction of the arches which were based on a concept sketch made by Saddam Hussein. Al-Rahal died in 1987 (the present letter evidently referring to his studio, rather than the individual) before the monument was completed and Mohammed Ghani Hikmat, another Iraqi sculptor, assumed control of the project. Each plinth of the arch holds 2,500 helmets, as referenced in the present letter, which belonged to Iranian soldiers killed in the war. The arches were opened to the public on 8^th August 1989.