Asmahan, Alamphon 5046/5047, Imported Recording, ? "Divide Between Us", 78RPM

$

40

Up for sale is a very scarce 78 rpm shellac 10 inch record, an imported recording of a noted Egyptian female singer, of Druze heritage, who was involved in political intrigue during World War II.
Record Label:  Alamphon (Brooklyn, New York) Record Number:  A5046-1 and A5047-2 Year of Release:  Not stated, but probably 1940s Artist:  Asmahan Song:  Divide Between Us (both sides) - NOTE:  The song title is printed in Arabic.  I had this translated by someone who speaks Arabic, but cannot absolutely vouch for the accuracy of the translation.
The same song is on both sides of the record, but the recordings are different.  Perhaps one side is a continuation of the other side; I don't know for certain.
Asmahan was, next to Umm Kulthum, perhaps the most famous female Arab singer of the 20th century.  She was also a very controversial figure who died in a mysterious car crash at the age of 26.  She was born in 1917 to a Syrian Druze father and a Lebanese Druze mother.  The family was prominent in the resistance movement against the French occupation of Syria and Lebanon.  She was born on board a ship bound for Beirut; her birth name was Amal al-Atrash.  The family lived in Jabal al-Druze, an autonomous region which was part of the French mandate.  In 1922, fearing French reprisals, the family escaped to Egypt by way of Haifa (then in Palestine).  They were given asylum and naturalized in 1926.  Her brother, Farid El-Atrache, became a noted singer in his own right.  Sister Amal was "discovered" by the composer Dawood Hosni, who first suggested that she use the name "Asmahan", rather than Amal.
Asmahan was always torn between Egyptian and Druze culture.  She married her cousin Hassan (who had traveled to Egypt to propose to another relative but then, impetuously, pursued Asmahan instead) and returned to Syria for several years, during which her singing career was halted.  The Druze frowned on her singing career.  Eventually, she divorced Hassan and returned to Egypt, briefly marrying an Egyptian director.  In 1941, she returned to Syria (a trip mysteriously sponsored by the British and the Free French) and remarried Hassan.  In actuality, she was on a secret mission to achieve the cooperation of the Druze in advance of the planned Allied invasion of Syria which was to take place through the Druze territory.  The Allies promised liberation to both Lebanon and Syria, if successful.  They did not keep this promise.  It has been postulated that this provoked Asmahan to attempt a meeting with the Nazis in Turkey.  She was stopped at the border and returned to Lebanon.
On July 14, 1944, a car carrying Asmahan and a female companion crashed into a canal in Mansoura, Egypt.  Both women drowned, presumably after being knocked unconscious during the impact.  Mysteriously, the driver escaped.  There were many rumors that the crash had been arranged, either by the British, by the Nazis, or even by Druze family members who had never forgiven her for various transgressions against their culture.
I have two other auctions for Arabic records this week, all closing at the same time.  I will be happy to combine shipping, with the charge based on the weight of the combined shipment.
Please see above for full description of condition and for photos.  Sold as is.
Attention US Buyers:  I will ship by USPS Media Mail or by USPS Priority Mail, your choice.  Please note that if you have a Military Mail (e.g. APO) address, I must ask that you pick USPS Priority Mail as it is my understanding that USPS Media Mail is not reliable to Military Mail addresses.
Attention International Buyers:  I will ship by USPS First Class International Mail (to selected countries where E-Delcon is available) or by USPS Priority International Mail (worldwide), your choice.  Please note that the price does not include any customs that may be charged by the country to which this is delivered.