Arabic rare book

Single volume, lithographed from a manuscript in Arabic, 160pp., complete, 125 by 80 mm; printed from a manuscript in single column, 7 lines bold naskh script with vocalisation and diacritics, leaves a little browned and some very small chips to outer edges of margins (not affecting text), numerous early ink inscriptions in English including a list of contents and a part-translation of the colophon; contemporary quarter leather over marbled boards, a little rubbed.

First edition; 3 volumes, folio; printed in Latin, Spanish and Arabic, half-titles, engraved vignettes (opening the text) and errata leaves present in each volume, contemporary Greek ink inscriptions to front free endpapers of each volume, some very small marginal wormholes and occasional light soiling, overall very bright and attractive condition; contemporary mottled calf, spine gilt in compartments within raised bands, red and green morocco labels to spine with lettering in gilt, lightly rubbed and scuffed at extremities.

Single volume, decorated manuscript on blue paper, in Arabic and Farsi, 145 leaves (including one final free endpaper), complete, 168 by 110 mm; single column, 15 lines formal black naskh script, catch-words throughout, early ink ownership seals to first and final leaves, a few minor smudges else attractive and clean internal condition; contemporary tan limp leather binding, ruled in blind, extremities lightly rubbed, water-stain to lower cover.

Five volumes, each containing one Juz' of the Qur'an, illuminated manuscripts on thick polished buff paper, in Arabic, containing Juz' VI (An-Nisa 4:148 to Al-Maidah 5:82), Juz' VIII (Al-An'am 6:111 to Al-Araf 7:170), Juz' XI (At-Towbah 9:94 to Hud 11:5), Juz' XVII (Al-Anbiya 21:1 to Al-Hajj 22:78) and Juz' XXX (An-Naba 78:1 to An-Nas 114:6), each Juz' 16-19 leaves (together 84 leaves, plus some contemporary free endleaves to a couple volumes) and all textually complete in themselves, 265 by 170 mm; single column, 11 lines bold black naskh script with diacritics, some vocalisation in red, surah headings throughout in red thuluth script, large polychrome head-pieces (unwan) opening each of the Juz', these executed to a very high standard by a fine hand and illuminated in gold, leaves ruled in blue and gold throughout, contemporary catch-words, some smudges and light staining, a few sections cockled from damp; housed in uniform contemporary Qajar lacquered boards, inside covers painted and ruled in red, outer covers a dark tan with gilt floral pattern to frame outer edges, all rebacked, a little worn in places.

Concertina-style miniature prayerbook, illuminated manuscript in Arabic, complete, 16 conjoined leaves, 48 by 48 mm; numerous illustrations including images of the holy sites of Mecca and Medina, attributions to Prophet Muhammad through depictions of his hand prints, foot prints, and his Seal of Prophecy, with further illustrations pertaining to the other prophets such as the sword of 'Ali, all heightened in gilt, versos and outer boards backed in contemporary marbled paper.

First edition, printed in Arabic type-set in red and black, complete, small 8vo (165 by 110 mm); Arabic text within ruled borders, key words and phrases printed in red, printed catch-words and wood-block printed devices, ownership and bibliographical inscriptions to front free endpapers (in Arabic and Italian, probably nineteenth-century), clean condition internally; contemporary blind embossed morocco, stamped in gilt with coptic-style central and corner medallions of a floral motif, upper cover a little darkened and soiled, otherwise a good copy.

Single volume, decorated manuscript on western imported paper, from a mixed stock including the watermark of a crescent moon in a shield and the letters 'EIV', in Arabic, complete, 124 leaves, 255 by 180 mm; single column, 16 lines informal cursive script in black with headings and important words in red, catch-words throughout, numerous contemporary and later marginal inscriptions, some light staining (as often), some gatherings becoming loose; contemporary provincial binding of strips of leather over wooden boards with flap, worn with sections of leather missing.