4.409 Ergebnisse
Tall 8vo (150 x 265 mm). Persian manuscript on polished oriental paper. (340) ff., 23 lines, per extensum. Black ink with red emphases. Modern red blindstamped full calf, bound to style. Expansive commentary on the "Qanunchah" ("Qanunceh", "Small Canon") of Mahmud al-Jaghmini, the important Persian medical compendium based on Ibn Sina's famous Arabic "Qanun". Al-Jaghmini's handbook of medicine was widely used at Eastern Persian schools as an introductory medical instruction manual for at least three centuries. The present commentary by Shah Arzani was copied by Fadhl al-Din in 1119-1120 H. - Paper browned and brittle, some edge tears (rarely touching the text). Prettily bound to style in a modern full leather binding with oriental cover decorations stamped in relief.
8vo (120 x 180 mm). (40), 303, (31) pp. Contemporary full red morocco, both covers, spine and leading edges finely gilt. Marbled endpapers. First French edition of the Kitab al-Najah ("The Book of Salvation"), the part on logics from Ibn Sina's great scientific and philosophical encyclopedia Kitab Al-Shifa' ("The Book of Healing"). Translated by the French oriental scholar Pierre Vattier (1623-67), himself a physician like Avicenna. - Ibn Sina's system of logic is known as "Avicennian logic", in contrast to Aristotelian logic. By the 12th century, Avicennian logic had replaced Aristotelian logic as the dominant system in the Islamic world; after the Latin translations of the 12th century, his writings were also an important influence on Western mediaeval writers such as Albertus Magnus. - Light browning throughout; occasional faint waterstains to the lower margin. Very prettily gilt morocco binding; tools attributable to the binders of Macé-Ruette (cf. Esmerian, La reliure au XVIIe siècle). From the library of the French neurologist Maurice Villaret (1877-1946) with his memento-mori style bookplate to front pastedown. OCLC 978575366. Cf. GAL I, 454, 18.
Folio (209 x 318 mm). 459, (2), 14 (but: 13) ff. of index, numerous errors in Arabic pagination, but complete according to catchwords, numbered throughout by a later owner in pencil from left to right, 1-474 ff. Ottoman Turkish manuscript on thin, polished, cream-coloured laid paper. Text is in fine naskh script with black and red ink within a red double-lined border, 31 lines of text within a written area of 232 x 112 mm. Occasional red underlining, sections usually demarcated by a single word of red text on a line with a red border on either side. With 11 full-page colour illustrations of scientific diagrams, 2 full-page coloured world maps, 8 full-page coloured tables, 2 full-page illustrations of Mekka and Jerusalem, 4 coloured half-page diagrams and 1 coloured half-page table, as well as a round, black and red ink diagram on leaf 448v. Contemporary full calf, expertly rebacked with six compartments of raised bands and gilt motifs, gilt red title label, all edges speckled red. A fine 18th century manuscript copy of the famous scholarly encyclopedia, not printed until 1835 (in Bulaq). The "Marifetname", or "Book of Gnosis" is a compilation of astronomical, astrological, mathematical, anatomical, psychological, philosophical as well as mystical religious texts. It is famous for containing the first treatment of post-Copernican astronomy by a Muslim scholar. - Ibrahim Haqqi Erzurumi (1703-80) is considered an outstanding figure of 18th century Ottoman Turkey. Based on an immense knowledge of the Sufi branch of Islam as well as his studies in Western science, he devoted himself to the domains of both religion and science, considering both a means of approaching God. - Occasional smudging of ink; minor offsetting on pages facing illustrations, leaves 7-11 with minor waterstains in the upper corner margins, leaves 12-18 expertly reinforced in the upper margin, with rather severe loss to text in upper half of leaves 14v and 15. Text appears to be lost on 378r (faint traces of text still remain). Leaves 343v-350v have dark pink stain in centre of text toward gutter (no loss), likewise on 443v-463v. Leaves 448-454 have had their margins reinforced. Leaves numbered 449 and 450 must be switched, as well as 453 and 454. Altogether a very appealing copy with the numerous illustrations showing fine detail. Cf. Zenker I, 1709. F. Gülen, "Key Concepts in the Practice of Sufism," p. 106, n. 69. Z. Virk, "Science and Technology in Ottoman Sultanate".
4to (ca. 175 x 230 mm). Ottoman Turkish manuscript on paper. 11-277 numbered leaves (lacking the first 10 ff. from the front of the volume, all likely from the Fihrist), per extensum, 16 lines in black Naskh, words and headings in red throughout, over ten leaves with full-page illustrations and diagrams, some of these in colour, including the double-page illustration of the globe as spheres, many tables and diagrams also appearing throughout the text. Contemporary leather-backed cloth boards, cloth with stamped tughra of sultan to covers (head-over-heels). A fine early 19th century manuscript copy of the famous scholarly encyclopedia, not printed until 1835 (in Bulaq). The "Marifetname", or "Book of Gnosis" is a compilation of astronomical, astrological, mathematical, anatomical, psychological, philosophical as well as mystical religious texts. It is famous for containing the first treatment of post-Copernican astronomy by a Muslim scholar, placing the sun at the center of the universe. - Ibrahim Haqqi Erzurumi (1703-80) is considered an outstanding figure of 18th century Ottoman Turkey. Based on an immense knowledge of the Sufi branch of Islam as well as his studies in Western science, he devoted himself to the domains of both religion and science, considering both a means of approaching God. - Although Ibrahim Haqqi completed his work in 1756, very few surviving manuscripts predate the first quarter of the nineteenth century. The British Library holds a copy (MS.Or.12964) compiled in 1235 H (1820 CE), and the earliest known manuscript copy was long thought to be that in the Khalili collection, dated 1226 H / 1811 CE (J. M. Rogers, Empire of the Sultans, 1995, no. 74, pp. 121 & 123), but a copy predating this by seven years was sold by Bloomsbury in 2014 (7 December sale, lot 123), and a manuscript dated to ca. 1760 was offered by Inlibris. - While this copy of the text is in a relatively informal hand, the diagrams have been executed to an excellent standard. The text and drawings were likely executed in different workshops, as the scribe allocated far more space than necessary for the illustrator, resulting in numerous blank pages throughout the text. - Leather spine worn with slight loss to leather at extremities, cloth also worn with loss. Contemporary foliation throughout, a few scuffs and smudges. Spine cracked with a few individual gatherings becoming loose. Overall a clean copy.
Folio (212 x 298 mm). 25 ff. Contemporary brown leatherette binding with giltstamped cover-title. The original Joint Venture Agreement between the state-owned Iraqi Drilling Company (IDC) and the Mesopotamia Petroleum Company (MPC), with the autograph signatures of Idriss Muhsen Al-Yassiri, General Director of IDC, Stephen Remp, Director of MPC and its associate Ramco Energy, and Peter Redman, Director of Midmar Energy and Firstdrill, other associate companies of MPC. - This joint venture, known as the Iraqi Oil Services Company LLC (IOSCO), was created with the objective of drilling 60 new wells each year in the Republic of Iraq, thus significantly increasing oil and gas production. This groundbreaking deal was the first joint venture of its kind between the Iraqi Ministry of Oil and a foreign oil company since the fall of the regime of Saddam Hussein in 2003. On 7 July 2009, IDC terminated the agreement after MPC failed to fulfil financial obligations. MPC was unable to confirm funding of $44.1 million to meet the initial capital commitments to preserve its 49 percent stake in the venture. - Handwritten addition by Stephen Remp on fol. 4 specifying the territory of the joint venture: "(i.e. Missan Province or any other Provinces to be mutually agreed by The Parties.) [...]". - In mint condition.
36 vintage small format silver gelatin photographs, plus a photographic postcard of Faisal II as a boy. A small collection of highly accomplished amateur photos of inter-war Iraq. With a handful of exceptions, the photographs show the local population, often children, recorded with a sensitive and sympathetic eye. - Though there is no material evidence to support the attribution, they came from a collection of similar material said to belong to Christopher Warren, who worked as an Intelligence Officer in Iraq, Lebanon and Kuwait in the 1930s. Other photographs, offered for sale at the same time as these, show that he was active in those locations and was, at one point, based at Dar Al Qamar (Moon House), Karradat Mariam, Baghdad. - The many intimate and beautiful portraits would suggest the photographer spoke Arabic and understood enough about his subjects to foment the mutual comfort necessary for such candid images. Several show young people from both the city and the countryside: the sons of shop-owners at ease in the hustle and bustle of Baghdad and children gathering crops, hunting and playing reed flutes in the open expanse of the desert. Some, such as the portrait of a suited young man in a local boat, potentially imply a professional relationship. Viewed together, the images express a peacefulness far removed from the tensions of the interwar period, in which protests against British influence were common, even after the independence of the country in 1932. Only a photographic postcard, present with the images, reminds one of the broader historical context: a portrait of Faisal II, still a child but standing upright in military dress. - All photographs clearly removed from an album, with residual scraps of brown album paper to versos.
Small 4to. XXXIII, (1), 560 pp. With an engraved folding map of Asia Minor, 3 engraved plans (2 of which folding), and 6 lithographed plates. Contemporary full calf with giltstamped borders, spine and spine-labels. First edition. Presentation copy inscribed by one of the authors to pastedown: "Captain Shiffner R.N. frm. Capt. Mangles". - Early privately published travelogue of the Middle East. It consists of 6 letters, the first and last of which are dated Cairo 1817 and Cyprus 1818 respectively. Irby and Mangles, both naval officers, assisted Giovanni Battista Belzoni in his excavation at the site of Abu Simbel, an independent account of which is given in the present work. From there, they travelled through the desert to Gaza, Jaffa, Beirut and Tripoli; thence to Baalbek and Antioch; and reached Aleppo, where they were among the earliest modern explorers of Syria. They continued to Palmyra, Damascus, down the Jordan valley, and through the Holy Land. - The engraved plans include a ground plan of the great temple of Ebsambal, a ground plan of Petra, and a portion of the Dead Sea. The lithograph plates, prepared by William Westall, James Duffield Harding, and others, include scenic views of the Nile and Aswan, as well as a botanical study of the Heshbon wheat. - Covers somewhat rubbed and spotted; rebacked preserving most of the original spine and green morocco labels. Corners bumped. Paper occasionally slightly foxed; the map with a small tear. From the library of Captain Henry Shiffner (b. 1789). Atabey 606. Blackmer 860. Ibrahim Hilmy I, 325. Weber I, 123. OCLC 257597235.
4to. XVI, 400 pp. With 3 folding maps and 3 plates. Contemporary full calf, spine elaborately gilt, leading edges gilt, red morocco label. Second edition (the earliest mentioned). Irwin relates the series of misadventures which occurred on his journey back from India after his dismissal from the East India Company. Following the near wreck of his ship he was taken prisoner by Arabs who took him to the Nile, whence he travelled to Cairo on his release. - The East India Company servant Eyles Irwin, born in Calcutta in 1751, was appointed to survey the Black Town in 1771 and "was made superintendent of the lands belonging to Madras [...] In 1776 he became caught up in the political storm that overtook the governor of Madras, George Pigot, who was placed in confinement by members of his own council. Irwin supported Pigot, and in August he was suspended from the company's service. Early in 1777 he left India in order to seek redress in England. Irwin later published an account of his journey home, which was entitled 'A series of adventures [...]'. In this he displayed his classical education and described his experiences and observations during the journey, which lasted eleven months [...] Irwin returned to India in 1780 as a senior merchant and his route was again overland, but this time via Aleppo, Baghdad, and the Persian Gulf" (ODNB). The author recounts his imprisonment in Yanbu, Arabia, and further voyage to Jeddah, as well as his adventures in Egypt, his journeys through the Peloponnesus and Balkans as well as Persia. He includes an "Ode to the Persian Gulf", which extols the beauties of Bahrain. In 1802, Irwin was to produce a musical play, "The Bedouins, or Arabs of the Desert: a Comic Opera in Three Acts" (1802), which played in Dublin for three nights. - The plates include views of the town of Mocha (al-Mukhah) on the shore of the Red Sea in Yemen, including its early mosques, and of the Straits of Bab al Mandab ("Babelmandel"). Also shown is a detailed view and chart of Yanbu, the port giving access to al Medina. - Macclesfield bookplates to front pastedown and free endpaper. Plates somewhat toned and offset, otherwise an excellent copy, sumptuously bound. Macro 1293. Ibrahim-Hilmy I, 325. Gay 66. Brunet III, 459. Blackmer 865. Cf. Weber II, 576 (3rd ed.).
Small 8vo (126 x 177 mm). 63, (1) pp. With several black and white illustrations; 2 large folding maps (63 x 42 cm / 43 x 51 cm) inserted in a paper pocket on the inner side of the rear wrapper. Original printed wrappers. Rare "Hicaz Rehberi" (Hijaz guide): a detailed Turkish-language guide to the Hajj and the Hejaz region, including maps of Mecca and Medina as well as instructions for the routes, for prayers and tariffs, and other various useful tips for pilgrims. The two folding maps are "Ravza-I Mutahhara'nin Plani" (The Map of the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi) and "Kâbe-i Muazzamanin Haritasi ve Hac ile Umrenin Menâsiki" (The Map of the Kaaba and the Place of Worship of Hajj and Umrah). - Original seller's label pasted to back cover. Old ink ownership, dated 1958, to title-page. Slightly age-toned and stained. Extremely rare: no institutional copies recorded in OCLC or KVK.
Folio (ca. 200 x 292 mm). French manuscript on lined paper with calligraphed title. (174) pp. on 90 ff. in two loose fascicles (45 ff. each). Stored together with a 1920s typescript copy of the same text, (2) + 39 + 20 pp. on 62 ff., in modern half-calf portfolio with gilt title to spine in a cardboard slipcase. The original manuscript of Jacquesson's travelogue of Egypt and the Levant, written in connection with the preparations for the building of the Suez Canal (1859-69) and published in 1857. The civil engineer Ernest Jacquesson had travelled to Egypt together with Ferdinand de Lesseps, the father of the Suez Canal, and other members of the "Commission Internationale pour le percement de l'isthme de Suez" founded in 1855. In the preface, Jacquesson announces that he shall not write about the Canal project, as his friend, the politician and journalist Jules Barthélemy-Saint-Hilaire, has already published "a series of highly interesting articles" on the subject, but will rather focus on "observations of the country, the mores and customs of its inhabitants, and on gathering interesting peculiarities" that he personally witnessed. The subsequent trip to Palestine is set in a context with the Crimean War: "At the current moment all eyes are directed towards Egypt [...] and towards Palestine considering the reforms that the new state of affairs, resulting from the Crimean War, will bring there imminently". - The journey lasted from November 1855 to April 1856, leading from Alexandria to Cairo, Upper Egypt, Nubia, via Alexandria to Jaffa, Ramla, Jerusalem, Jericho and back to Paris via Jerusalem and Marseille. Jacquesson and his company visited the most important monuments of Egypt and the Holy Land. On 30 November 1855 they enjoyed an audience in Cairo with Mohamed Sa'id Pasha of Egypt, who held a military parade in honour of his French guests. According to Jacquesson, de Lesseps introduced him and his companions individually to Sa'id Pasha. - As Jacquesson states in the preface, his notes had been previously published in the "Journal de la Marne" between June and September 1856, dating the present fair copy to between late 1856 and 1857. - Both covers somewhat dusty and soiled. The first fascicle shows a very minor waterstain affecting the right margin of a few pages; the cover leaf has several tears (partly affecting the title), some of which are restored. Some browning and stains overall, minor tears to the margins. The accompanying typescript is on French typewriter paper watermarked "Johannot et Cie Extra Strong", produced between ca. 1913 and 1936, showing punched holes and occasional light staining. Altogether in excellent state of preservation. E. Jacquesson, Voyage en Égypte et en Palestine: notes et souvenirs (Paris, J. Best, 1857).
8vo. 116 pp. Contemporary grey wrappers. Extremely rare, anonymous account of the "Life and opinions of Muhammad, the Prophet of the Muslims, and founder of a great monarchy, with the history of Arabia" (as the book is titled in German). Chauvin attributes the work to the Altdorf professor Wolfgang Jäger (1734-95), who taught Western languages but was not an oriental scholar. The chapter on modern life in the Arabian Peninsula is based on Niebuhr, while the section on Arab women and the liberties and privileges they enjoy is credited to John Richardson (being an original translation from his "Dissertation on the Languages, Literature, and Manners of Eastern Nations"). - A few professional restorations, spine rebacked, otherwise well preserved. Chauvin X, 586. Not in Holzmann/Bohatta.
8vo (124 x 192 mm). Arabic manuscript on paper in black (and occasional red) Naskh script. 322 pp., frequently interleaved with extensive comments on later paper, prefixed with 6 ff. (some blank). 13 lines, text enclosed within black and gilt rules, gilt headpiece to first page. Numerous coloured diagrams throughout. Contemporary black calf with fore-edge flap, gilt cover borders and central stamped ornaments. Marbled pastedowns. Illustrated commentary by Qadizade al-Rumi on Al-Jaghmini's famous astronomical treatise "Mulakhas" ("Summary on the Science of the Authority"), completed in 808 AH. Al-Rumi (1364-1436), known under the name of Salah al-Din Musa Pasha, was one of the principal astronomers at the famous Samarkand observatory. - Binding rubbed and chipped along extremeties. A paper flaw to the colophon, repaired with some loss. Some leaves loosed, a few edge defects (more prominent to first leaf) and occasional duststains and fingerstains, but on the whole very well preserved. A valuable copy owned and annotated by Mustafa bin Khalil. Cf. GAL I, 473.
8vo. (6), IV, (16), 69, (3) pp. With 30 engraved plates (some depicting cuts of diamonds) and tables. Contemporary mottled calf with gilt dentelle border and corner fleurons (rubbed); modern spine on 5 raised bands. Rare first edition of the "first book in English to describe how diamonds and pearls can be evaluated on the basis of the factors of size (or weight) and style of cut" (Sinkankas). The London jeweller Jeffries is also the first author to provide "a clear statement of the principle that the value of pearls should be calculated to the square of their weight [...] This principle is implicit in the valuation tables given by earlier authors, including Tavernier and others, but Jeffries is the first to state it explicitly. At the back of his book, he provides tables allowing the calculation of the value of individual and batches of pearls of different size or quality. This is effectively a 'chau' book, as used by merchants in the Gulf and India until the mid-20th century, and fulfils exactly the same function" (Carter). - "The text explains the [diamond] cutting procedure, how the evaluation rules were derived, the importance of imperfections and flaws as affecting price, notes on rough diamonds [...] and finally, a somewhat similar procedure for the valuation of pearls, with highest values accorded to pearls of closest approach to spherical perfection, luster, etc. The mathematical rule used for the pearl is known as the 'square of the weight' multiplied by a per-carat base price" (Sinkankas). - Includes a list of subscribers in the preliminaries. Occasional spotting, a few small stains. Small tape repair to title, plates 5 & 6 with short repaired tears (no loss). Professional repairs to corners; modern spine (repairs including the first inch of the covers); modern endpapers. Removed from the Library of the Birmingham Assay Office, one of the four assay offices in the United Kingdom, with their library stamp to the title-page. Sinkankas 3195. Carter, Sea of Pearls, p. 83, 125f., 251 (with illustrations). Goldsmiths' 8500. Hoover 453 (note). Cf. Roller/G. II, 10.
8vo. XVI, 116 pp. With 30 plates. Contemporary blue cloth, covers blindstamped and upper cover gilt, title gilt to spine. A 19th century edition of the "first book in English to describe how diamonds and pearls can be evaluated on the basis of the factors of size (or weight) and style of cut" (Sinkankas). The London jeweller Jeffries is also the first author to provide "a clear statement of the principle that the value of pearls should be calculated to the square of their weight [...] This principle is implicit in the valuation tables given by earlier authors, including Tavernier and others, but Jeffries is the first to state it explicitly. At the back of his book, he provides tables allowing the calculation of the value of individual and batches of pearls of different size or quality. This is effectively a 'chau' book, as used by merchants in the Gulf and India until the mid-20th century, and fulfils exactly the same function" (Carter). - "The text explains the [diamond] cutting procedure, how the evaluation rules were derived, the importance of imperfections and flaws as affecting price, notes on rough diamonds [...] and finally, a somewhat similar procedure for the valuation of pearls, with highest values accorded to pearls of closest approach to spherical perfection, luster, etc. The mathematical rule used for the pearl is known as the 'square of the weight' multiplied by a per-carat base price" (Sinkankas). - Insignificant browning. Removed from the Library of the Birmingham Assay Office, one of the four assay offices in the United Kingdom, with their library stamp to the flyleaf. OCLC 31561438. Cf. Sinkankas 3195. Carter, Sea of Pearls, p. 83, 125f., 251. Goldsmiths' 8500. Hoover 453 (note). Roller/G. II, 10.
8vo. (8), XXXXV, (1), 104 pp. With engraved dedicatory headpiece and 10 engraved plates (some depicting cuts of diamonds) and tables. Contemporary French mottled calf with red giltstamped label to prettily gilt spine. Marbled endpapers. All edges red. First edition in French of this early book describing "how diamonds and pearls can be evaluated on the basis of the factors of size (or weight) and style of cut" (Sinkankas). The London jeweller Jeffries is the first author to provide "a clear statement of the principle that the value of pearls should be calculated to the square of their weight [...] This principle is implicit in the valuation tables given by earlier authors, including Tavernier and others, but Jeffries is the first to state it explicitly. At the back of his book, he provides tables allowing the calculation of the value of individual and batches of pearls of different size or quality. This is effectively a 'chau' book, as used by merchants in the Gulf and India until the mid-20th century, and fulfils exactly the same function" (Carter). - "The text explains the [diamond] cutting procedure, how the evaluation rules were derived, the importance of imperfections and flaws as affecting price, notes on rough diamonds [...] and finally, a somewhat similar procedure for the valuation of pearls, with highest values accorded to pearls of closest approach to spherical perfection, luster, etc. The mathematical rule used for the pearl is known as the 'square of the weight' multiplied by a per-carat base price" (Sinkankas). - This French edition is much scarcer than the expanded second English edition, on which it is based. It is dedicated by the translator (the Royal librarian Chappotin S. Laurent) to the sixteen-year-old Louis Joseph de Bourbon, prince de Condé, on the occasion of his marriage to Charlotte de Rohan. - Professional repairs to hinges and corners; in all a fine copy. Provenance: Handwritten ownership of the Brussels jeweller Emanuel Meyer, dated 1788, to title-page. 19th century engraved bookplate of Thomas Westwood to pastedown. Latterly removed from the Library of the Birmingham Assay Office, one of the four assay offices in the United Kingdom, with their library stamp to the second flyleaf. Sinkankas 3198. Cf. Carter, Sea of Pearls, p. 83, 125f., 251. Goldsmiths' 8500. Hoover 453. Roller/G. II, 10.
20 x 13 inches. Hand-coloured. Fine example of De Jode's modern map of the Middle East, from his Speculum Orbis Terrae, published in Antwerp in 1578 and engraved by Joannes & Lucas van Deutecum. The complete title reads: "Secundae partis Asiae: typus qua oculis subijciuntur itinera nautarum qui Calecutium Indiae mercandorum aromatum caufa fre quentant, ac eorum quoqz qui terrestri itinere ade unt Suacham, Laccam, in domino Praeto Iani, nec non eorum qui Aden et ormum inuifunt, et Balsaram quoque castrum, supra Euphratem fluuium situm, omnia suis gradibus subiecta, cum longitudinis tum latitudinis / Iacobo Castaldo pedemontano authore; Gerhardus de Iode excudebat". As noted in the title, the map was prepared by Gerard De Jode's and is largely identical to Giacomo Gastaldi's highly influential map of 1559. De Jode's delineation of Arabia is vastly superior to the contemporary maps of Ortelius, showing far more accuracy and detail. Extending from the Nile to Afghanistan and centered on the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf, the map depicts what was then still among the most important trading centers of the commercial world. The present example is from the first edition of De Jode's work, which can be distinguished from the second edition by the pagination on the verso (VII for the 1578 edition; 9 for the 1593 edition). The map is drawn from the rare first edition of De Jode's Speculum Orbis Terrarum. At least one commentator has opined that as few as 11 known examples of the first edition are known to have survived, making separate maps from this first edition very rare on the market. - Giacomo Gastaldi (fl. 1542-1565) is widely considered to be the most important and influential of all of the Lafreri School mapmakers. Born in Piedmont, Gastaldi worked in Venice, where he become Cosmographer to the Venetian Republic. Karrow described him as "one of the most important cartographers of the sixteenth century. He was certainly the greatest Italian mapmaker of his age..." While his achievement is obvious, it is hard to quantify. A large number of maps were published throughout this period with the geography credited to Gastaldi, but it is often difficult to know what role Gastaldi played in their creation. As a practice, he did not sign himself as publisher, although his name may be found in the title, dedication, or text to the reader. Frequently where there is no imprint one may assume that Gastaldi was the publisher. A further clue may be that many of the maps attributable to Gastaldi as publisher seem to have been engraved by Fabius Licinius. In other cases, where publication is credited to another, it is not always certain whether Gastaldi was commissioned by the publisher to compile the map, whether another less-enterprising publisher merely copied his work and attribution, or simply added Gastaldi's name in the title to add authority to the delineation. His name clearly commanded the same sort of respect that the Sanson name had in the last years of the seventeenth century, and as Guillaume de L'Isle's had in the first half of the eighteenth century. Gastaldi's first published map was of Spain, engraved on four sheets, and issued in 1544. The following year he published a map of Sicily, among the most widely copied of all his maps. In the course of a prolific career, Gastaldi subsequently produced a number of maps of Italy, and individual parts of the peninsula, with his general map of Italy, and the map of Piedmont also being very influential. Among the most important of his maps, however, were of areas outside Italy. Principal among these was his map of the World, published in 1546, a four sheet map of the countries of south-eastern Europe, published in 1559, and his series of three maps of the Middle East, Southern Asia, and South-East Asia with the Far East, issued between 1559 and 1561. In 1562, Gastaldi issued a two-sheet map of the Kingdom of Poland, and in 1564, a magnificent eight-sheet map of Africa. Karrow, Mapmakers of the Sixteenth Century, 30/91.2. Tibbetts, Arabia in Early Maps 38.
107 volumes, many containing multiple articles. 8vo. Some illustrated with plates and maps. Half calf with marbled sides and gilt lettering on spine or cloth with marbled sides and label on spine. Handsomely bound, extraordinary collection of important scientific journal articles by 19th and 20th century Western explorers of Afghanistan, Central Asia, China, the Himalayas, India (including Assam, Bengal, Kashmir, and Punjab), Karakoram, Pakistan (including Sindh), and Tibet, with content covering anthropology, archaeology, exploration, geography, geology, glaciology, history, language and grammar, mountaineering, and politics. At the time these were the far outskirts of the world for Western science, where a lot was yet to be learned. Often the maps in these journals are the first modern maps of such regions and findings were the first to be scientifically published. - Generally in very good condition. Please inquire for a full list of contents.
4to. (4), 92 pp. Printed on thick paper with 2 text illustrations and 1 plate (counted as III). Contemporary brown half cloth over marbled covers with old paper label pasted on the spine. First edition of this important study of Arabic papyrology, exceedingly rare. With quotations and interspersions in Arabic. The orientalist Joseph Maria von Karabacek (1845-1918) was professor at the University of Vienna and director of the Imperial Court Library. This is the first and only independent, monographic edition in German, an offprint (with separate pagination) from vols. II and III of the "Mittheilungen aus der Sammlung der Papyrus Erzherzog Rainer" (1887). The book was translated into English in 1991 (republished in 2001); it remains a classic textbook referenced by specialized literature such as Adam Gacek's handbook on Arabic manuscripts (Leiden: Brill, 2009). - In very good condition: title-page showing light foxing; contemporary library stamp of the Brünn German Technical University on the cover, their bookplate on the pastedown. Binding slightly rubbed; extremeties bumped. A wide-margined copy. OCLC 17791658. Cf. Gacek, Arabic Manuscripts, pp. 191f., 306 (citing the serialized edition and the English translation).
Original watercolour drawing over ink. 267 x 196 mm. On thick oriental wove paper. Original ink drawing of the armillary sphere (Zâtü'l-Kürsü, "instrument on pedestal") published in 1732 in the famous universal Islamic geography "Kitab-i Cihânnümâ" of Katib Chelebi (1609-57). The present watercolour by Ahmed Al-Qirimi, who also contributed the maps to Ibrahim Müteferrika's famous publication of Katip's atlas, probably served as the direct model for the engraved plate. Müteferrika, a Hungarian convert to Islam, completed Katip's unfinished work, which had hitherto circulated in manuscripts only. He had the maps specially drawn and cut for it, and printed it at his own press, the first printshop in Turkey. - While extremely close in design and size to the present drawing, the published plate differs from it in several respects, lacking numerous details as well as - most conspicuously - the four additional instruments which here decorate the corners; on the other hand, the print shows the pedestal placed upon an additional short plinth not seen in the sketch. - Evenly browned and with a few small edge flaws, but well preserved.
4to. (8), 206 pp. (wanting final blank). With woodcut printer's device on title. - (Bound after) II: Pirhing, Ehrenreich, SJ. Facilis, et succincta S.S. canonum doctrina [...]. Venice, Nicolo Pezzana, 1693. (12), 350, (14) pp. Title printed in red and black with two-coloured woodcut vignette. - (And) III: Moretto, Bernardo. Propugnacolo della cattolica, apostolica, e universale Santa Romana Chiesa alle false obiettioni de scismatici, & heretici contra la parola Romana nella dottrina Christiana [...]. Venice, Andrea Poletti, 1685. (14 [instead of 16?]), 112 pp. With engraved armorial vignette on title. Contemporary blindstamped leather over wooden boards with 2 clasps. All edges red. First Italian edition of the "Taqwim al-Tawarikh", an annalistic chronicle from the creation of Man to the year 1648, when it was composed by the famous Turkish polymath Katib Chelebi (1609-57). This is, at the same time, the first printing of any work of Katib Chelebi's in any language: the chronicle was not published in the original mixture of Persian and Ottoman Turkish until 1733, by Müteferrika. "[T]he work originated as an excerpt of [Chelebi's previous effort,] 'Fazlakat aqwal al-ahyar', but continued up to Chelebi's own time [...] Becoming highly popular as an easy reference work, it was continued after Chelebi's death by several authors, including Hüseyin Hezarfenn, Seyhi, and Ibrahim Müteferrika, who published it as the twelfth product of his press [...] Equally popular in Europe as a reference work, it was translated into Latin, Italian, and French. Today, the afterword is the main part of interest, as it contains a brief discussion of the regularities or laws of history, and an initial elaboration of his ideas of causation in history, which are later copies by Na'ima (d. 1128/1716) in his theoretical discussion" (Kafadar, Karateke, Fleischer: Historians of the Ottoman Emprire, s.v.). - Bound before this are two other rare Venetian works of the late 17th century, namely a single-volume reduction of the "Jus Canonicum" (1674) by the Bavarian Jesuit Pirhing (1606-79), and the second edition of an instructional dialogue between a Catholic and a heretic by the Venetian jeweller Moretto (first published in 1647). Some brownstaining and waterstaining; a few edge and corner flaws. Last leaves rather wrinkled, lacking lower flyleaf. I: Babinger, GOW, 197. BN XXIII, 990. Encyclopaedia of Islam² IV, 761. OCLC 563174142, 457543094. - II: De Backer/Sommervogel VI, 854.
Small folio (237 x 308 mm). 2 vols. (6), IX, (1), VI, 665, (1) pp. (2), VI, 817, (13) pp. Contemporary full sheep, flat spines with red morocco labels. The "Mishkat al-Masabih" ("A Nic33357he for Lamps") of Al-Khatib al-Tabrizi (also known as Wali al-Din, d. 741 H), a revised and expanded version of the "Masabih al-Sunnah" by al-Baghawi, with approximately 1500 hadith added. This important Sunni text was first translated into English by Capt. Matthews of the Bengal Artillery. Although some of the original hadith are not included and others incorrectly translated, this attempt at publishing a translation from the Arabic was a noted accomplishment for the time. - The List of Subscribers accounts for 122 copies, with an additional 100 copies noted as being published on order of the Governor General in Council for the Honourable Company. A statement in an 1848 issue of the Journal of Sacred Literature suggests that most copies of the work were destroyed at sea, yet it was still advertised for sale in 1817 in the Literary Panorama (at the price of £4.4s). - Some browning throughout, more pronounced in endpapers. A short tear to lower edge of vol. 1. A good copy of this rare Calcutta imprint, bound in India. OCLC 15466515. BLC v. 229, p. 302.
Small folio (204 x 306 mm). (10), 140 pp. Text in Latin and Arabic, with some Hebrew and Greek, woodcut initials and tail-pieces. Tasteful modern sheep-backed marbled boards with giltstamped spine label. First edition of the "notes on the Gospel of Matthew" by the pioneering Arabist and physician Peter Kirsten (1577-1640), who started a private press in Breslau (Wroclaw) in 1607 (cf. Reske 130). His Arabic type, the first to be cut in Germany (by Peter von Selau), shows the influence of the Medicean types. - This is the issue with the letterpress title; another issue has an engraved title. Some copies lack the fifth preliminary leaf (present here): a singleton printed on different paper and in a different typeface, containing a 26-line laudatory poem in Hebrew by Jakob Ebert of Frankfurt, with the Latin translation on the recto. - Kirsten's notes on Matthew's Gospel "are mainly a comparison of the Arabic with the Greek version, and serve to explain the Arabic text. The Coptic and Syriac versions mentioned in the title are no more than marginal readings indicated as such in the Arabic manuscript which he used. These versions, as well as the Hebrew version, are mostly given in Latin translation, but occasionally a slight 12 pt Hebrew type-face is employed" (Smitskamp). - "One of the earliest non-Dutch scholar-typographers in [the] post-Medici tradition was the German Peter Kirsten (1575-1640), a physician of Breslau (Wroclaw), who had travelled and studied in both Italy and Leiden. He created a superior type-face, with some calligraphic qualities" (Roper). - Some very light browning and spotting, but a good copy. OCLC records two copies in the US (New York Public Library and University of Pennsylvania, both apparently with only four preliminary leaves). VD 17, 1:071605E. Smitskamp, PO 113. Fück 58, note 143. Waller 19836. Not in Schnurrer. Cf. Geoffrey Roper, "Early Arabic printing in Europe", in: Middle Eastern Languages and the Print Revolution (Mainz 2002), pp. 129-150, at p. 143.
4to (162 x 202 mm). (12), 128 pp. Modern marbled boards. Posthumous edition, under a new title (and with the author's name misspelt "Enustinus" for "Cnustinus"), of Knaust's 1542 pamphlet "Von geringem Herkommen, schentlichem Leben, schmehlichem Ende des Turckischen Abgots Mahomets". The jurist and poet Knaust (ca. 1521-77) published on a wide range of topics; "his popular-scientific works, written mainly for young readers and interested laymen, proved especially successful" (cf. NDB XII, 167). From p. 33 onwards the book contains an updated German version of the oft-reprinted and anthologized "Cronica und Beschreibung der Türckey" (1530) by the former slave Bartolomej Georgijevic from Transsylvania (Georgius de Hungaria). - Variously browned throughout with a few insignificant waterstains in the margins; occasional 18th century pencil annotations. Rare. VD 16, K 1434. Chauvin XI, 502. Göllner 2200. BM-STC German 473. Boecler 169. Draudius 531. Hammer 1305. Kertbeny 1190. Szabó III, 873. Veress 128.
Large folio. 2 vols. in one. (26), VIII, 132 pp. (4), XX, 144 pp. With coloured engraved title-page (dated 1754), large engraved vignette by Andreas Hoffer after Gottfried Eichler, and 91 (1 folding) coloured or colour-printed engravings by Knorr, J. A. Eisenmann, A. Hoffer and others. Contemporary calfskin binding gilt. First edition of this monumental work of natural history, one of the most splendid zoological works ever produced in Nuremberg. Begun by Knorr as early as 1751, it was continued by his heirs after his death in 1761. The book describes items from the great contemporary natural history collections, including the magnificent white falcon (with hood) from the collection of the famous physician and botanist Christoph Jakob Trew. The illustrations, occasionally printed in colours but mostly hand-coloured in radiant hues, depict birds, exotic mammals, fishes, corals, butterflies and other insects. - Occasional insignificant waterstaining to the wide blank margins of the text; a few plates show unobtrusive fingerstaining. A beautiful, very wide-margined copy in excellent state of preservation, printed on good, strong paper. Plates show clean, distinct colours and superior contrast. Nissen, ZBI 2227. Horn/Schenkling 12038. Hagen I, 426. Dean I, 696. Graesse IV, 35.
187 x 276 mm. With a rosette gilt and in gouache colour. Diacritical marks added later in black ink, vocalization marks in red (as well as one in green and one in blue). 5 lines. Well-preserved leaf in monumental Kufic script (line height c. 30 mm), written in dark brown ink. The text is from the middle part of verse 109 of the second Quran sura. The script style belongs to group D (according to Déroche's classification, subtype D.III). Similar examples are usually dated to the 9th century C.E. (cf. François Déroche, The Abbasid Tradition, London 1992. The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, Vol. I, nos. 25 [p. 76] and 34/35 [p. 84]). The polychromatic rosette shows an inscribed number: The red dots are vocalisation marks; the diacritics (in the form of small slashes) were added later in black ink. - Some browning and staining. Brittle in places due to ink corrosion (minor defects to vellum). Verso rubbed, but still legible. Cf. Fingernagel (ÖNB 2010), p. 33.