Lot 60
Qur'an
Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographs
Auction: 16 January 2008 at 11:00 GMT
Description
Al-Coranus S. lex islamitica Muhamedis filii Abadllae pseudoprophetae, ad optimorum codicum fidem edita ex museo Abrahmi Hinckelmanni. Hamburg: ex off. Schultzio-Schilleriana, 1694. 4to., title-page in red and black, with both Latin and Arabic half-titles, original paper boards, edges uncut, boards worn and crudely repaired, pastedowns renewed, lower outer corners dog-eared, lower inner joint broken, tear at inner margin of preliminary signature e, general light paper discolouration throughout and some spotting
Footnote
Note: For long considered to be the first edition of the Qur'an for which moveable types were used until the discovery of a unique surviving copy of the Venice edition of 1537. Prior to this copies were produced using block-print and specimens survive both of the wooden blocks as well as printed sheets from as early as the 10th century.
The orientalist Abraham Hinckelmann explains in his preface that his objective in publishing this edition is not to promote the Muslim religion, but to assist with the study of the Arabic language in the general framework of Eastern languages including Hebrew.