Forum Rare Books

8 large illustrated volumes of the most important voyages from the 15th to the end of the 17th century

AA, Pieter van der (editor) and Johann Ludwig GOTTFRIED. De aanmerkenswaardigste en alomberoemde zee- en landreizen der Portugeezen, Spanjaarden, Engelsen en allerhande natiën: zoo van Fransen, Italiaanen, Deenen, Hoogh- en Nederduitsen als van veele andere volkeren. Voornaamenlyk ondernomen tot ontdekking van de Oost- en Westindiën, midsgaders andere verafgelegene gewesten des aardryks.
The Hague, widow of Engelbrecht Boucquet and sons; Leiden, Jan van der Deyster, and Boudewijn and Pieter van der Aa, 1727. 8 volumes. 1mo and folio. With 7 (of 8) engraved frontispieces (lacking that of volume 4), 4 engraved dedications, 117 engraved maps on 61 leaves, 7 engraved plates and 502 engravings in text. Further with 127 (of 128) title-pages (including a general title-page, a title-page to 7 (of 8) volumes, lacking that of volume 4, and 118 for the separate works). Volume 1-3 & 5-8: contemporary mottled calf, gold-tooled spine and board edges; volume 4: modern calf. Full description

€ 65,000

Exploration of southwest Iran

ABBOTT, Keith E. Notes taken on a journey eastwards from Shiráz to Fessá and Darab, thence westwards by Jehrúm to Kazerún, in 1850.
[London, Wiley, 1857]. 4to. Modern blue wrappers. 149-184 pp. Full description

€ 400

A unique view into the private life of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

[ABU DHABI – ROYAL FAMILY]. [Photograph archive of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's private life].
[Pakistan], [1968-1984]. An archive of 807 loose photographs, 541 in colour (including several duplicates, some printed in a different format), including 65 photos depicting falcons (3 duplicates, 36 in colour) and 14 photographs of camels (1 in colour). Full description

€ 75,000

Photographs of Sheikh Zayed's state visits to Pakistan

[ABU DHABI – STATE VISITS TO PAKISTAN]. [Photograph archive and album. Album title]: Visit to Lahore of His Highness Skeikh Zayed bin Sultan Alnahayyani the ruler of Abudhabi (16th to 28th November, 1967).
[Pakistan, 1967-1971]. An archive of 183 photographs: 133 loose black and white photographic prints (ca. 30 x 25 cm), 30 smaller ones (ca. 5 x 6 cm) numbered and mounted together on a single sheet of paper, and 20 additional prints in the album. Further with numerous rolls of original medium format negatives.Original black half morocco album, green cloth sides with title and emblem of the United Bank Limited Pakistan on the front board. Full description

€ 125,000

History of the Islamic Almoravid and Almohad dynasties in Spain and north Africa

ABU-MOHAMMED ASSALEH el Abdel-Halim and José de SANTO ANTONIO MOURA (translator). Historia dos soberanos Mohametanos das primeiras quatro dynastias, e de parte da quinta, que reinarao na Mauritania,..
Lisbon, Academia real, 1828. 4to. Contemporary motted sheepskin, gold-tooled spine. [4], 454, [4] pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Comprehensive 12th-century Arabic treatise on agriculture

ABU ZAKARIYA ibn al-AWWAM. Libro de agricultura. ... Tomo I[-II].
Including:
BROECK, Victor van den. Catecismo de agricultura.
VILLE, Georges. Abonos químicos conferencias agrícolas.
Seville, Biblioteca Científico Literaria; Madrid, Victoriano Suarez (colophon: printed by Salvador Acuña y Comp., Seville), 1878. 2 volumes. Imperial 16mo (18 x 11.5 cm). Later half turquoise sheepskin. 512; 552 pp. Full description

€ 1,750

An early account of Timbuktu by an American sailor

[ADAMS, Robert (= Benjamin ROSE)]. Jongste en echte berigten betrekkelijk Tombuctoo en eenige andere nog onbezochte deelen der binnenlanden van Afrika.
Amsterdam, J.C. Sepp en Zoon, 1818. 8vo. With a folding engraved map (30.5 x 37.5 cm) of North Africa with the routes of Mungo Park and Robert Adams highlighted in colour. Contemporary boards. VI, 353, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,500

First edition of a rare work on Syrian grammar, with excerpts from important Syrian authors

ADLER, Jacob Georg Christian. Brevis linguae Syriacae insitutio in usum tironum edita.
Altona, Johann David Adam Eckhardt, 1784. 8vo. With a woodcut vignette on the title-page and typographical ornaments at the head of every page. The text is set in Roman and Syriac type. Early 19th-century blue marbled paper wrappers. 64, [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,950

With attractive maps of the Holy Land

ADRICHEM, Christiaan van. Theatrum Terrae Sanctae et biblicarum historiarum cum tabulis geographicis aere expressis.
[Cologne, Officina Birckmannica, for Hermann Mylius, 1628]. Folio. With engraved allegorical title-page, numerous decorated woodcut initial letters and tailpieces, 11 maps of Israel and 1 map of Jerusalem (8 folding and 4 double-page). Contemporary calf, gold-tooled spine with red morocco title-label, blind-tooled sides, gilt binding edges. [12], 286, [30] pp. Full description

€ 10,000

Pope Clement XI's copies of three important works concerning the Armenian language

AGOP, Joannes (Yovhannès KONSTANDNOWPOLSECÍ). Puritas Haygica seu grammatica Armenica ...
Rome, Sacrae Congretationis de Propaganda Fide, 1675.
With:
(2) AGOP, Joannes. Grammatica Latina Armenice' explicata: ...
Rome, Propaganda Fide, 1675.
(3) AGOP, Joannes. Puritas lingue Armenicae ...
Rome, Propaganda Fide, 1674. 3 works in 1 volume. 4to. Contemporary sheepskin parchment. [6], 246, [4]; 215, [1 blank]; 215, [1] pp. Full description

€ 24,000

Of lasting value of the history of Arabic literature

AHLWARDT, Wilhelm. Verzeichniss der Arabischen Handschriften der Königlichen Bibliothek zu Berlin.
Berlin, A. W. Schade (I) and A. Asher & Co. (II-X), 1887-1899. 10+1 volumes. 4to. With 12 photographic halftone plates of 62 manuscript specimens in vol. X. Added: separate atlas issue of the 12 plates. Altogether 11 vols. in publisher's light blue printed boards. Full description

€ 8,500

First edition of Islamic Golden Age scholar Al-Zamakhshari's proverbs in Arabic and German

AL-ZAMAKHSHARI, Abu al Qasim Mahmoud ibn Omar (Joseph von HAMMER-PURGSTALL, ed.). Samachschari's Goldene Halsbänder. Als Neujahrsgeschenk arabisch und deutsch.
Vienna, widow of A. Strauss, 1835. 8vo. With two identical plates showing the golden necklace around a calligraphic Arabic inscription, the necklace hand-coloured in gold and the inscription in blue, as a frontispiece for both the Arabic and the German text (on the first and the last page). The Arabic title is incorporated into a printed circular medallion with decorative points at the head and foot on the first page, and the main Arabic text opens on the back of the same leaf with an elaborate headpiece. Text set in German and Arabic. Contemporary green calf (spine faded to brown), with a gold- and blind-stamped frame on each board. [1], [1 blank], 54 pp. (German text); 27, [1] ll. (Arabic text). Full description

€ 2,500

Latin translation of a classic Arabic surgical manual that reformed European knowledge of the subject

ABULCASIS (Abu al-Quasim Khalaf Ibn Al-Abbas). Chirurgicorum omniu[m] primarii, lib. tres.
I. De cauterio cum igne & medicinis acutis per
singula corporis humani membra ...
II. De sectione & perforatione, phlebotomia, & ventosis ...
III. De restauratione & curatione dislocationis me[m]brorum ...
preceded by:
[THEODORUS PRISCIANUS] (mis-attributed to "Octavius HORATIANUS"). Rerum medicarum lib. quatuor ... Per Herma[n]num Comitem a Neüenar, nuper restitutus autor.
Strasbourg, Johannes Schott, 1532 (colophon: 26 February). 2 works in 1 edition. Folio in 6s (32.5 x 21 cm). With a 5-piece woodcut frame on the title-page (each side piece with 2 roundels containing a portrait and coat-of-arms), 8 full-page woodcuts by Hans Wechtlin (ca. 1480-post 1526) and numerous woodcuts in the text. Set in Venetian-style roman types, with 14 mm typographic Roman capitals (probably by Peter Schoeffer the younger) used as initials. Later half sheepskin, with the title in ink on the foot edge. [8], 319, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 65,000

A love story from the Arabian Nights in Portuguese, extremely rare second edition

[ALF LAYLA WA-LAYLA]. Historia de Ganem, filho de Abou Aibou, denominado o escravo de amor. Traduzida do Arabio em Francez, e ultimamente no idioma Portuguez, por B.A.E.
(Colophon: Lisbon, Francisco Borges de Sousa, 1792). Small 4to (21 x 15 cm). Disbound, spine lined with a strip of black paper. 39, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 4,950

Rare travelogue of Yemen, with the original Arabic text

AL-GARADI, Ahmed Ibn Muhammad [and Eugen MITTWOCH]. Aus dem Jemen. Hermann Burchardts letzte Reise durch Südarabien. bearbeitet von Eugen Mittwoch...
Leipzig, Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft in kommission bei F.A. Brockhaus, [1926]. 4to. 28 plates with 55 photos, 1 map on page 9. Text is partially in Arabic. Original paper covers. [4], 74 pp. Full description

€ 200

One photographic print of Mecca as the remarkable exception in an album
containing 50 photographic prints of the people, cities and scenery of Algeria and Tunisia in North Africa

[PHOTOGRAPHY - ALGERIA - TUNISIA] Algerie - Tunisie.
[Tunis, Photographie Garrigues, late 19th century]. Oblong album (32 x 41 cm). Album with 50 photographic prints of various sizes (13.5 x 9.5 to 29 x 21.5 cm , each pasted on thick paperboard. Half black leather with title in gold lettering on front board. [50] ll. Full description

€ 45,000

Peace treaty between the Dutch Republic and the Regency of Algiers

[ALGIERS - TREATY - STATES GENERAL]. Tractaat tusschen haar hoog mogende de heeren Staaten Generaal ... en de regeeringe van Algiers. Geslooten in het jaar 1757.
With: (2) Ampliatie tot het tractaat van vrede tusschen ... de Staaten Generaal ... en den Dey en regeering van Algiers. Exhibitum den 10 October 1760.
Middelburg, Johan Bakker, [1758]. 4to. With the woodcut coat of arms of the Dutch admiralty on the title-page. Contemporary marbled wrappers. 18; 3, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,250

First English translation of volume 8 of Al-Hamdani's historical, geographical
and genealogical description of ancient South Arabia

AL-HAMDANI [transl. and ed. Nabih Amin FARIS]. The antiquities of South Arabia being a translation from the Arabic with linguistic, geographic, and historic notes of the eighth book of Al-Hamdani's Al-Iklil, reconstructed from Al. Karmali's edition and a MS in the Garrett collection Princeton University Library.
Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1938. 8vo. With 1 page with the text of fol. 22(a) of the Princeton MS; p. 73 shows inscriptions of Himyarite characters; 1 map titled "Ancient Arabia Peoples, places and routes". The notes are partially in Arabic and Hebrew (and possibly other types of) script. Black cloth, with title information on spine. [6], 119, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Dala'il al-khayrat written in China

AL-JAZULI, Muhammad ibn Sulaiman. Dalâ'il al-khayrat. [= "Waymarks of benefits"].
[Eastern Turkestan, now Xinjiang, China, early 17th century CE]. 4to (19 x 14 cm). Manuscript written in black ink on paper in Arabic script, with a red single- or double-line frame around each page, rubricated throughout, and two illustrations on pages 47 and 48) showing the "Ka'ba of Allah" (!) and the burial sites of the first three Rashidun Caliphs. The Arabic script is in the sini calligraphic style used in China, an archaic form mixing features of naskh and muhaqqaq. Contemporary(?) black, red and gold painted and lacquered leather over paper and cloth. The painted sides show floral designs in black and gold on a red background, in a black border with red wave designs. With remnants of leather on the brown cloth spine. [1], 337 pp. Full description

€ 38,000

The first important work on the history of Egyptian medicine

ALPINO, Prospero (Prosper ALPINI), and Jacob de BONDT (BONTIUS). De medicina Aegyptiorum, libri quatuor. & Iacobi Bontii In Indiis archiatri, De medicina Indorum. Editio ultima.
Paris, Nicolaus Redelichuysen, 1645. 2 parts in 1 volume. Small 4to (22.5 x 17.5 cm). Title-page printed in red and black; woodcut chapter initials, headpieces and tailpieces, 5 woodcut illustrations on integral leaves (3 full-page). Contemporary vellum, title in gold on red spine label. [11], 150, [25]; 39, [1] ff. Full description

€ 3,000

Egyptian botany with 50 woodcuts, including the first European illustration of the coffee plant

ALPINO, Prospero (Prosper ALPINI). De plantis Aegypti liber. ... Accessit etiam liber de Balsamo alias editus.
Including: De balsamo dialogus.
Venice, Francesco de Franceschi, 1592. 4to. With a general title-page and a divisional title-page, each with the same Franceschi woodcut device, and 50 large woodcut plant illustrations. Further with numerous woodcut decorated initials, woodcut decorations and decorations built up from arabesque typographical ornaments. Contemporary(?) wooden boards covered with 18th-century sprinkled paper. [4], "80" [= 84], [8] ll. Full description

€ 8,500

Printed by the first director of the Imprimerie Royale, with notes in Arabic and Syriac type

AL-SUYUTI, Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr. De proprietatibus, ac virtutibus medicis animalium, plantarum, ac gemmarum, tractatus triplex.
Paris, Sébastien et Gabriel Cramoisy, 1647. 8vo. With 2 woodcut headpieces, a woodcut tailpiece and woodcut decorate initials, plus decorations built up from arabesque typographic ornaments. Set in roman and italic type with a few words in Greek, Hebrew, Arabic and Syriac. Contemporary vellum with manuscript spine label (faded). [24], 179, [17] pp. Full description

€ 25,000

Three letters written in 1539 on the Ottoman threat in the Mediterranean

[LETTERS]. ALVAREZ DE TOLEDO, Pedro and Maria OSORIO Y PIMENTEL. [Three letters to Ferrante Gonzaga, Viceroy of Sicily, two from Pedro Alvarez de Toledo and one from his wife Maria Osorio y Pimentel].
Andria (in the Kingdom of Naples), 13 August to 10 September 1539. Folio (21.5 x 30 cm).
(1) Letter in Italian, signed, from Pedro Alvarez de Toledo in Andria to Ferrante Gonzaga, 13 August 1539, with a 23 mm seal bearing Alvarez de Toledo's coat of arms (with a chain of flags) stamped on a slip of paper attached with red wax.
(2) Letter in Spanish, signed, from Pedro Alvarez de Toledo in Andria to Ferrante Gonzaga, 3 September 1539, with the 45 mm imperial armorial seal stamped on a slip of paper attached with red wax.
(3) Letter in Italian, signed, from Maria Osorio y Pimentel [in Andria] to Ferrante Gonzaga, 10 September 1539, with the remains of what appears to be her husband's 23 mm red wax seal.
Each letter, in brown ink, occupies one page, with the last page containing the address and the sender's seal. The two inside pages of the second and third letter are blank. Each formerly folded for posting, so that the address would have appeared on one side and the seal on the other. [4]; [4]; [2] pp. including blanks. Full description

€ 15,000

A defence of Leachman's assassin

'ALWACHI ('Abd al-Hamid). Al-Shaykh Dari qatil al-Kulunl Lichman fi Khan al-Nuqtah. [English title:] Sheik Dhari, assassin of Lieut-Col. G.E. Leachman at Khan el-Nuqta.
Baghdad, Maktab al-Alwaji wa-alHajjiyah, 1968. 8vo. With the English title on the back wrapper and the recto of the final leaf, main text set in Arabic type throughout. With 16 black and white photographic illustrations (on 5 leaves). Original lime green printed wrappers. 158, [2] pp. Full description

€ 1,500

First book in Arabic type printed in Norway

AL-ZAMAKHSHARI and Jens Peter BROCH. Al-Mufassal, opus de re grammatica Arabicum.
Oslo, W.C. Fabritius, 1859. 8vo. Near contemporary cloth with title in gold on spine, covered with protective plastic. 229, [5] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

Great history of the Portuguese colonial empire in South America, India, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa

ANDRADA, Francisco d'. Chronica do muyto alto e muyto poderoso Rey destes reynos de Portugal Dom João o III deste nome, ...
Coimbra, Real officina da universidade, 1796. 4 volumes. 4to. With a woodcut royal Portuguese coat of arms on title-page of each volume. Contemporary plain paper wrappers. VIII, I-XV, [1 blank], 385, [1 blank]; [4], XIX, [1 blank], 565 [=465], [1 blank]; [4], XX, 452; Full description

€ 2,500

Private photographs of a visit to the oilfields of the APOC, by the founder of Toc H

[ANGLO-PERSIAN OIL COMPANY - PHOTOGRAPHS]. [CHAPPELL, Henry Pegg (photographer)]. A Christmas pilgrimage to the Anglo-Persian Oil Co. in Persia made by P.B.C.. S.C.. H.P.C.
[Greece, Palestine, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, 1931-1932]. Oblong photograph album (20.5 x 32 cm). With 72 sepia photographs (ca. 6 x 8.5 cm). [19], [5 blank] ll. Full description

€ 8,500

Presentation copy of an authoritative handbook on the Arab states of the Lower Gulf

ANTHONY, John Duke. Arab states of the Lower Gulf: People, Politics, Petroleum.
Washington D.C., The Middle East institute, 1975. 8vo. With two black and white maps on the endpapers. Brown cloth with publisher's illustrated dust jacket. X, 273, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 500

Very rare work on an Islamic procession in the city of Mecca in 1728

ANTONIO, João Carlos (pseudonym of António Correia de LEMOS). Relaçam de huma solemne, e extraordinaria procissam de preces, que por ordem da corte Ottomana fizeraõ os Turcos na cidade de Meca, no dia 16. de Julho de 1728. ... Primeira[-segunda] parte.
Lisbon, Pedro Ferreira, 1730. 2 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With woodcut title vignettes, headpieces and initials. Modern blue marbled paper wrappers. 23, [1 blank]; 24 pp. Full description

€ 7,500

Ephemeralia, including Arab constitutional documents and an introduction to the history of Arab medicine

[ARABIA]. [A collection of ephemeralia regarding the Arab states].
New York & London, 1951-1962. 3 booklets and a menu. Full description

€ 1,800

Ephemera, including Arab constitutional documents and an introduction to the history of Arab medicine

[ARABIA - EPHEMERA]. [A collection of ephemera regarding the Arab states].
New York & London, The Arab Information Center, 1951-1962 8vo. Comprising:
(1) EL-KHATIB, M. Fatallah (foreword). Basic Documents of the Arab Unifications. New York, Arab Information Center, June 1958.
(2) OMRAN, Abdel-Rahim. Public Health & Welfare in the Arab States: Past, Present and Future. New York, Arab Information Center, November 1959. The booklet opens with a history of the Arab contributions to medicine followed by modern statistics.
(3) WRIGHT, Esmond. The Arab World. Current Affairs no. 125. London, Bureau of Current Affairs, 3 February 1951.
(4) [MENU]. P&O menu. On board the S.S. Arcadia, Sunday 25 March 1962.
2 booklets, a magazine and a menu, all in original publishers wrappers. 43; 32; 19, [1]; [4?] pp. Full description

€ 1,800

Abundantly illustrated performance report of ARAMCO in 1955

ARABIAN AMERICAN OIL COMPANY. 1955 Report of operations to the Saudi Arab government.
[Dhahran], Saudi Arabia, Arabian American Oil Company, 1956. 28 x 21.5 cm. With a portfolio of photographs, 8 pages in the middle of the work, with captions in both English and Arabic. Thoroughly and colourfully decorated with photographs, maps and other decorations in the text. The 56 pages of text appear twice in the present work as published, once in English on the left side of the portfolio and once in Arabic on the right side of the portfolio. Original publisher's decorated wrappers, with the title in English on the front wrapper and the title in Arabic on the back wrapper. VIII, 48, [8 - portfolio of photographs], 48, [8] pp. Full description

€ 750

USAF pilot's map of the Arabian Gulf

[MAP - ARABIAN GULF]. Aeronautical chart and information center. Persian Gulf | ONC-H-6/7. Operational navigation chart.
St Louis, Aeronautical chart and information center, United States Air Force, 1969. Two copies of two folding maps colour printed on both sides of a sheet of silk (103 x 78.5 cm) on a scale of ca. 1:1,000,000. The two maps (ONC-H-6 & ONC-H-7) show one continuous area. Full description

€ 2,800

The life of Muhammad and a history of Arabia under the first four Caliphs

[ARABIAN HISTORY]. Hedendaagsche historie; of het vervolg van de algemeene historie; ... Behelzende het leeven van Mohammed; en het begin van de historie der Arabieren, onder de drie eerste Khalifs ...
Utrecht, Hermanus Besseling (vols. 1-2), Leiden, Amsterdam, P. van der Eyk, G. de Groot and son, K. van Tongerloo and P. Schouten (vol. 3), 1760-1764. 6 parts in 3 volumes. 4to. With 3 engraved frontispieces, engraved coat of arms and 6 folding plates. Contemporary boards covered with sprinkled paper. Full description

€ 5,000

Arabian nights in Dutch translation

[ARABIAN NIGHTS]. Duizend en één nacht. Arabische vertellingen.
Amsterdam, Hendrik Frijlink, 1829-1831. 9 volumes. 8vo. With an engraved frontispiece and engraved title-page to each volume. Contemporary half calf, gold-tooled spine. [8], [2], 355; [8], 338, [2]; [8], 296; [8], 322, [2]; [8], 339; [8], 366, [2]; [8], 303; [8], 344; [4], I-VIII, 309, [2] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Attractively bound set of the Arabian nights in the first accurate English translation

[ARABIAN NIGHTS]. LANE, Edward William (translator). The thousand and one nights, commonly called, in England, the Arabian nights entertainments.
London, Charles Knight and Co. (back of title-page volume 1 & 3: William Clowes and sons; volume 2: Whitehead & Co.), 1840 (vol. 2) - 1841 (vols. 1 & 3). 3 volumes. 8vo in 4s. With a different lithographed title-page for each volume and hundreds of wood-engraved illustrations in text.19th-century red morocco (signed on flyleaf: "Jefferies & Sons, Bristol" - the sons joined the firm in 1863), richly gold-tooled spines, boards, board edges and turn-ins, gilt edges. XXXII, 618; XII, 643, [1]; XII, 763, [1] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Including a manuscript leaf by Burton

[ARABIAN NIGHTS]. BURTON, Richard F. The book of the thousand nights and a night[:] a plain and literal translation of the Arabian nights entertainments.
With:
(2) BURTON, Richard F. Supplemental nights.
(3) BURTON, Richard F. [Autograph manuscript book review of an 1881 Panchatantra edition].
(Colophons: U.S.A. [Boston, MA?]), The Burton Club, [ca. 1940]. 16 volumes (incl. 6 supplements). 8vo. With an original manuscript leaf written by Burton (with the manuscript heading: "Proof to Sir R.F.B. Hotel des Bains, Aigle, Canton Vaud, Switzerland" and a note "Long Primer Pressig.") and each volume with a different frontispiece in two states (coloured and uncoloured). Contemporary richly gold-blocked green morocco, boards with Arabic script in gold, gold-tooled turn-ins. Full description

€ 25,000

Abu Dhabi's Oil industry: the Israeli perspective

[MAP - ARABIAN PENINSULA OIL RESOURCES]. Neft ba-mizrah ha-tikhon. Zikaynot, shadot, tzinorot, batei zikuk. [= Oil in the Middle East. Concessions, oilfields, pipelines, refineries].
Tel Aviv, Israel Defence Forces, General Staff, [1957]. 56 x 82.5 cm. Chromolithographic map of the Arabian Peninsula, from Turkey in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south, and covering Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, North and South Yemen. Scale 1:5,000,000. Scale and key in Hebrew inset to top-right, inset explanatory panels in Hebrew and English, compass rose in Saudi Arabia. Folded. Full description

€ 7,500

A rare survival of a printing device: a woodblock for the cross-cultural printing
of a Hebrew publication of the Song of Solomon

[ARABIC-SCRIPT PRINTER’S WOODBLOCK]. Hand-cut woodblock bearing the text "Safr Nishd al-nishad li-Süleyman ..." (Book of the Song of songs of Solomon) in naskh Arabic script.
[Probably Ottoman provinces, mid-18th century (ca. 1750)]. A single hand-cut woodblock (17 x 9 x 2.2 cm, with protrusions to the left and right making it wider - 11 cm - near the head to accommodate the wider 2nd line) intended for use as printing block, with 6 lines of text, together with an inked impression on 18th century paper (16.5 x 10.5 cm). Full description

€ 18,000

Very early manuscript treatise about the fatwa

[ARABIC MANUSCRIPT]. Kitab Al-Waqi'at fi'l-Fatawi [Kitab Al-Waghi'at Fi Al-Fatwi].
[Levant, ca. 1290]. Small 4to in 6s (17 x 14) cm. Arabic manuscript, 15 to 17 lines to the page, written in clear cursive ta'liq script on brown Middle Eastern paper. With occasional red rubrication.
Contemporary (?) blind-tooled calf, mostly covered with later calf leaving only the contemporary back cover exposed. 19th century European paper endpapers. With a loose leaf of 18th century European paper with Arabic manuscript writing on one side. 374 ll. Full description

€ 35,000

Pamphlet on Saudi Arabia

[ARAB SUPPORT COMMITTEE]. Struggle, oppression and counter-revolution in Saudi Arabia.
Berkeley, CA, Arab Support Committee, [ca. 1973]. With a map of the Arabian peninsula. Original publisher's wrappers. [5], 25 pp. Full description

€ 375

Aramaco and the Arabic Superman: It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Nabil fawzi!

[ARAMCO]. Aramco World. Vol. 21 no. 2: March-April 1970.
New York, Aramco, 1970. 4to. Illustrated wrappers. 32 pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Large folding road map of Saudi Arabia

[ARAMCO]. Saudi Arabian road map.
Dammam, Al-Mutawa press company, 1973. Large folding map (60 × 90.5 cm), printed in light orange with darker purple, depicting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its main roads. With on the right the title in both Arabic and English and a table with the distances from one city to another. Full description

€ 1,800

Surviving traffic in Saudi Arabia, a large folding map

ARAMCO. Saudi Arabian road map.
Dammam, printed by the Al-Mutawa Press for the Arabian American Oil Company, 1973. Large folding map (60 x 90.5 cm), printed in colour, depicting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its main roads. With on the right the title in both Arabic and English and a table with the distances from one city to another. Printed on two sides, one side with the map in English and the other in Arabic. Full description

€ 1,800

Surviving traffic in Saudi Arabia, a large folding map

ARAMCO. Saudi Arabian road map.
Dammam, printed by the Al-Mutawa Press for the Arabian American Oil Company, 1975. Large folding map (60 x 90.5 cm), printed in colour, depicting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its main roads. With on the right the title in both Arabic and English and a table with the distances from one city to another. Printed on two sides, one side with the map in English and the other in Arabic. Full description

€ 1,500

The establishment of archaeology and philology as fields of study, bound for a Bourbon(?) count, including a work on the famous Rosetta Stone

[ARCHAEOLOGY - PHILOLOGY] BARTHÉLEMY, Jean-Jacques and others. [Collection of texts on early archaeology and philology].
[Various places], [various publishers], 1760-1827.
Containing:
(1) [CHRISTIE'S - LONDON]. A list of the very rare and valuable Aethiopic and other oriental manuscripts, collected by the celebrated traveller, James Bruce, esq. of Kinnaird, taken from the catalogue of them made by the late Alexander Murray, editor of the travels by Mr. Bruce in Abyssinia.
[London, 1827].
(2) WEBER, Georg Friedrich. Observationes sacrae circa funera populorum orientis. ...
Strasbourg, Johann Heinrich Heitz, [1767].
With a woodcut headpiece, tailpieces (2) and open-sided factotum.
(3) SEYFFARTH, Gustav [and Friedrich August Wilhelm SPOHN]. Brevis defensio hieroglyphices.
Leipzig, Johann Ambrosius Barth, 1827.
(4) SCHLICHTEGROLL, Friedrich von. Ueber die bey Rosette in Aegypten gefundene dreyfache Inschrift...
München, printed by Ignaz Joseph Lentner, [1818?].
(5) BARTHÉLEMY, Jean-Jacques. Explication de la mosaïque de Palestrine. Paris, H.L. Guerin & L.F. Delatour, 1760.
With 1 large folding engraved plate of the mosaic, 1 plate showing the names of animals written in the mosaic. Bound with it is an unrelated engraved plate on a 4to leaf, showing Samaritan medals (drawn and engraved by Poisson in 1790) that accompanied another one of Barthélemys publications.
(6) BARTHÉLEMY, Jean-Jacques. Lettre de m. l'abbé Barthelemy ...
[Paris, 1760].
With 2 plates of the Phoenician medals and Phoenician inscriptions found on Malta, with an elaborate woodcut headpiece and a woodcut tailpiece.
(7) BARTHÉLEMY, Jean-Jacques. Seconde lettre de m. l'abbé Barthelemy, ... sur quelques médailles Phéniciennes. [Paris, 1763].
With one plate of the Phoenician medals and the same elaborate woodcut headpiece as ad 6.
(8) [PARQUOY (assistant to labbé François BEJOT at the Bibliothèque du Roi). Lettre à messieurs les auteurs du Journal des Savans, sur un projet d'edition du Syncelle.
[Paris, 1778].
(9) BARTHÉLEMY, Jean-Jacques. Lettre a monsieur le Marquis Olivieri, au sujet de quelques monuments Phéniciens ... Paris, L.F. Delatour (printer), 1766.
With 4 plates (numbered I-IV, nos. I & III folding), the first 3 signed by P.L Charpentier, of Phoenician inscriptions, alphabet and medals. With a woodcut (oak branches with a ribbon) on the title-page and a woodcut headpiece.
(10) [D'ANSSE DE VILLOISON, Jean-Baptiste-Gaspard (draughtsman) and DROÜET (engraver)]. Alphabetum codicis bibliothecae coislininae, nunc sangermanensis, ineunte decimo saeculo manu exarati, ex quo Apollonii lexicon descriptum est. Paris, 1771.
10 works in 1 volume. 4to. A wholly engraved monograph, in Greek and Latin with a few words of Syriac.
Mid-19th-century half red goatskin morocco, sewn on 4 supports, gold-tooled spine (blind-tooled fillets) with the cypher monogram of a French count in compartments 1, 3 & 5 and "labbé|Barthelemy" and "Dissertations|1760-1792" in mid-19th-century roman capitals across compartments 2 & 4, "agathe" chemical-marbled sides, Spanish-marbled endpapers, red sprinkled edges, green ribbon marker. 16; 43, [1 blank]; 24; 28, XIV; [2], 44; 12; 8; 12; [1], [1 blank], 45, [1 blank]; 9, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 12,500

Incunable on poisons, using various Arabic sources

ARDUINO, Sante. [Incipit:] Incipit liber de venenis ...
(Colophon: Venice, Bernardino Rizzo, 1492). Folio (42 x 28 cm). Set in in 2 columns in 2 sizes of rotunda gothic types, with spaces left for numerous 3-line and 4-line and a few larger initials (with printed guide letters), none filled in. Modern black- and gold-tooled calf. [4], 101, [1] ll. Full description

€ 45,000

The most important source for the Moluccas in the early colonial period

ARGENSOLA, Bartolome Leonardo de. Conquista de las islas Malucas.
[Madrid, Alonso Martin, 1609]. Small folio (22 x 30 cm). With an engraved architectural title-page showing an allegorical scene (the Moluccas represented by a native woman with feather headdress, cornucopia and sword, riding a crocodile, with the Spanish royal coat of arms in the sky) and a sleeping lion (representing the author?) in a separate cartouche below. Early 18th-century richly gold-tooled red morocco, each board with a large centrepiece a petit fers made partly with pointillé stamps. (Integral?) engraved title-page + [10], “407” [= 411], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 35,000

The Ottoman state and its officials in contemporary portraits, coloured by hand

ARIF PACHA, Muchir. Les Anciens Costumes de l'Empire Ottoman, depuis l'origine de la monarchie jusqu'a la reforme du Sultan Mahmoud ... Tome 1er [all published].
Paris, Lemercier, 1863. Folio (54.8 x 40 cm). With lithographic portrait of Arif Pacha, drawn on stone by M. Julien, printed on India paper, with caption and imprint lithographed directly on the leaf, 16 tinted lithographic plates after Arif Pacha (image size 24.5 x 34 cm), coloured and finished by hand. Modern cloth. 24 ll. printed both sides, plus plates. Full description

€ 35,000

With 16 large tinted lithographs of lie at the Ottoman court

[ARIF PACHA, Muchir]. [Les anciens costumes de l'empire Ottoman, depuis l'origine de la monarchie jusqu'a la reforme du Sultan Mahmoud. Volume I = all published].
[Paris, Lemercier, 1863]. 1mo (54.5 x 40 cm). With lithographic portrait of Arif Pacha, drawn on stone by M. Julien, printed on India paper, cut in an oval and mounted on a leaf of stiff paper, with caption and imprint lithographed directly on the leaf, 16 tinted lithographic plates after Arif Pacha (image size 24.5 x 34 cm). Lacking lithographed title-page. Contemporary black half morocco. 24 ll. printed both sides, plus plates Full description

€ 25,000

Exceptionally large Persian/Arabic armillary sphere

[ARMILLARY SPHERE]. [Rotating celestial globe, bordered by four pivotable concentric rings, the uppermost with ornamental mount].
Arabic, 1125 AH (1713 CE). 53 cm. Engraved and etched gilt brass with lettering in Arabic. Total height from ring to base: 53 cm. Full description

€ 135,000

Highly detailed wall map of Asia and the Arabian peninsula, from the collection of the Governor of Ceylon

ARROWSMITH, Aaron. Asia.
London, Aaron Arrowsmith, 1 January 1801. Engraved wall map, hand coloured in outline, on 4 sheets joined as 2 (measuring 124 x 147 cm in total) on a scale of ca. 1:6,490,880, with an elaborately decorated cartouche at the head left, a dedication below ("To major James Rennell, Esqr. F.R.S. &c. &c.") and the name of the engraver at the foot right (George Allen). Mounted on cloth and divided into 32 sections. Contemporary slipcase, covered with marbled paper and a manuscript title-label on front. Full description

€ 7,500

French mission to Mount Carmel, with a portrait of the Emir

ARVIEUX, Laurent d'; Gerard KUIPERS (transl.). Reis naar de legerplaats van den grooten Emir, en beschrijving, van de zeeden en gewoonten, der woestyn-bewoonende Arabieren ... Uit het Fransch vertaald en met aanteekeningen vermeerderd door G. Kuipers ...
Utrecht, Henricus van Otterloo, 1780. 8vo. With engraved title-page with a vignette by De Vries (a female figure reading from "H[eilige] Schriftuur" (Holy Scripture) with 4 putti and in the background a desert scene with tents, camels and dozens of mostly dark-skinned people, apparently representing nomads), 3 full-page engraved plates by Izaak de Wit Jansz., an engraved half-page illustration (unsigned), headpieces built up from rococo typographic ornaments and woodcut tailpieces. Contemporary half tree calf, gold-tooled spine with red morocco label, shell-marbled sides. [6], XL, 384, [16] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

A French view on the Arabs in a Dutch translation

ARVIEUX, Laurent d'. Reis naar de legerplaats van den Grooten Emir, en beschrijving van de zeeden en gewoonten der woestijn-bewoonende Arabieren ... Tweede druk.
Dordrecht, A. Blussé & Zoon, 1802. 8vo. With 3 full-page engraved plates and 1 engraved illustration in text. Contemporary gold-tooled half calf, shell-marbled sides. [4], XL, 384, [16] pp. Full description

€ 1,350

Asia and the Middle East in 1952, with many borders on the Arabian Peninsula still undefined

[MAP – ASIA – MIDDLE EAST]. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY. Southwest Asia, India, Pakistan, and Northeast Africa.
Washington, DC, National Geographic Society, 1952. Colour printed map, 68.5 x 95 cm. Scale 1:7,5000,000. With an inset map of "the Moslem World; percentage of Moslems in total population". Full description

€ 850

Rare study describing a 622 AH (1225/26 CE) celestial globe with Cufic lettering, with 3 folding plates

ASSEMANI, Simone. Globus caelestis Cufico-Arabicus Veliterni Musei Borgiani ... illustratus. Praemissa ejusdem De Arabum astronomia dissertatione et adjectis duabus epistolis Cl. Josephi Toaldi.
Padua, Seminary printing office, 1790. Small folio (21.5 x 29.5 cm). With 3 large folding engraved plates. Contemporary green half calf, gold-tooled spine, marbled sides. [16], CCXIX, [9] pp. Full description

€ 28,000

Important work on Arabian horses, describing a Spanish quest for thoroughbred Percherons

AZPEITIA DE MOROS, Luis. En busca del caballo Árabe. Comisión á Oriente. Turquía, Siria, Mesopotamia, Palestina. Memorias del viaje.
Madrid, Tip. "Sucesores de Rivadeneyra" 1915. Large 8vo. With photographic illustrations printed from halftone relief blocks in the text throughout and a lithographed map showing the sailing route in blue. Original publisher's printed and illustrated paper wrappers. 297, [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], [2], [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,800

An important analysis of the Saudi Arabian oil economy

Al JASIM, Mohammed Ali Redha. Muqadimat a'iqtisadiyat al-mamlakat al-'arabiat al-Sa'udia [= An introduction to the economics of Saudi Arabia].
Cairo, The Arab League, 1972. Small 4to. Illustrated with 3 maps. Original printed buff wrappers. 246 pp. Full description

€ 1,500

First printed edition of a famous work on optics

BACON, Roger. Perspectiva. In qua, quae ab aliis fuse traduntur, succincte, nervose & ita pertractantur, ut omnium intellectui facile pateant. Nunc primum in lucem edita. Opera & studio Joannis Combachii.
Frankfurt, Wolffgang Richter for Antonius Hummius, 1614. 4to. With 8 full-page woodcuts printed on both sides of four leaves inserted as plates, and numerous woodcut figures and illustrations in text, several full-page. Modern plain paper boards. [8], 189[=205], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 9,500

"Ruler of group of Islands"

[PHOTOGRAPHY - BAHRAIN]. HH Sheikh Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa with three other sheikhs.
Gulf region, 1920s. Black and white photograph (gelatin silver print, 8 x 7 cm) mounted on brown cardboard (9 x 8.5 cm). Captioned in white ink. Full description

€ 4,500

Important history of ancient astronomy, with chapters on Egyptian, Chaldean and Persian astronomy

BAILLY, Jean-Sylvain. Histoire de l'astronomie ancienne, depuis son origine jusqu'a l'établissement de l'École d'Alexandrie.
Paris, Debure brothers, 1775. 4to. With 3 numbered folding engraved plates. Beautifully bound in contemporary gold-tooled red morocco, each board with coat of arms of Simon-Pierre Merard de Saint-Just in the centre, marbled endpapers. In modern slipcase covered with marbled paper. [2], XXII, 526 pp. Full description

€ 25,000

First printed record of Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai

BALBI, Gasparo. Viaggio dell'Indie Orientali.
Venice, Camillo Borgominieri, 1590. 8vo. With woodcut device on title-page and navigational diagram on leaf 144. 19th-century polished tan calf, richly gold-tooled spine. Full description

€ 150,000

Constantinople at Paris

[BALIGOT DE BEYNE, Arthur]. Constantinople et le Bosphore.
Paris, A. François et Ce, Décembre 1845. 8vo. Original green printed wrappers. 64 pp. Full description

€ 1,650

Collection of Greek, Arabic, Latin, Egyptian and Asian medical and chemical theories,
both ancient and contemporary, including Chinese acupunture

BARCHUSEN, Johann Conrad. De medicinae origine et progressu dissertationes. In quibus medicinorum sectae, institutiones, decreta, hypotheses, praeceptiones, &c. Ab initio medicinae usque ad nostra tempora traduntur.
Utrecht, Gysbertus Paddenburg and Guilielmus Croon, 1723. 4to. Title-page printed in red and black, few woodcut illustrations in text. Contemporary half calf, gilt spine divided in five compartments, light brown morocco title label, red edges. (16), 680 pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Large coloured map of the Middle East, including roads and oil pipe lines

BARTHOLOMEW, John. Middle East with boundaries, roads and railways.
Edinburgh, John Bartholomew & Son, 1962. 8vo. Large folding map (77 x 101 cm) on a scale of 1:4,000,000, linen backed. With relief shown by contours, hachures and gradient tints and depths shown by soundings. Folded, with title-wrapper. Full description

€ 850

A classic description of Islam

BAUDIER, Michel. Histoire generale de la religion des Turcs. Avec la naissance, la vie, & la mort, de leur prophete Mahomet; et les actions des quatre premiers caliphes qui l'ont suivy.
Paris, Jean Guignard, 1632. 8vo. With the controversial half-page engraved portrait of Muhammad. 17th-century(?) vellum, later endpapers. [70], [2 blank], 726, [50] pp. Full description

€ 2,750

A Franciscan discovering the Holy Land. From the library of King Louis-Philippe

[BEAUGRAND, Felix]. Relation fidele du voyage de la Terre Sainte dans laquelle se voit tout ce qu' il y a de remarquable, tant par mer que par terre, depuis le départ de Marseille jusqu' au retour de ce saint voyage.
Paris, Gabriel Valleyre, 1760. 8vo. With a small woodcut vignette on title, several woodcut head- and tailpieces. Contemporary mottled calf, gold-tooled spine, with yellow morocco title label, gold-tooled binding edges, red edges. [4], 248, [10] pp. Full description

€ 5,000

60 photographs by Bechard of Egyptians and Nubians

BÉCHARD, Henri Égypte et Nubie.
[ca. 1880]. 60 photographs on albumen paper, measuring 28 x 22 cm each, signed and captioned in the plate, numbered 1 through 68. Contemporary green half calf with gilt spine and title "Égypte & Nubie", initialed "B.C.D." on first plate. Full description

€ 45,000

Tale of the Caliph who renounces Islam and engages with his mother

BECKFORD, William. The History of the Caliph Vathek.
London, Sampson Low, Son, and Marston, [ca. 1900]. Contemporary gold-tooled cloth, gilt edges. X, 189, 16 pp. Full description

€ 125

Rare dissertation on the cultivation of aloe, with references to Arabia and America

BEIER, Gottfried and Johann Arnold FRIDERICI. Aloen publicae florae cultorum censurae.
Jena, Johann Werther, [1670]. Small 4to (19.5 x 15 cm). Modern half vellum. [28] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

The famous Arabic version of Robert Bellarmino's catechism, now with parallel Ethiopic

BELLARMINO, Roberto. Dottrina Cristiana composta dall...
Rome, Propaganda Fide, 1786. Large 4to. With 4 woodcuts on 3 plates, 1 full-page woodcut on the back of the title-page, and a few woodcut initials, factotums and decorations, as well as frames, factotums and decorations built up from arabesque and rococo typographic ornaments. Set in three columns in Ethiopic, roman and Arabic type. Contemporary vellum, gold-tooled spine title, red sprinkled edges. 97, [1] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Belon's account of his extensive travels in the Levant, with 44 woodcut illustrations

BELON, Pierre. Les observations de plusieurs singularitez et choses memorables, trouvées en Grece, Asie, Judée, Egypte, Arabie et autres pays estranges.
Paris, Guillaume Cavellat (colophon: printed by Benoist Prévost for Gilles Corozet, Guillaume Cavellat), 1555. 3 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With title in woodcut border with Cavellet's device and initials at the foot, each part-title with Cavellet's woodcut device, 1 folding woodcut map (31.5 x 35 cm) showing Mount Sinai, 44 woodcuts in the text (including a portrait of the author by Geoffroy Tory), and numerous fine decorated initials. Overlapping vellum (ca. 1600?). [12], 212, [1] ll. Full description

€ 12,500

First Latin edition, printed by Plantin, of Belon's illutrated oriental travel account, with 43 woodcuts

BELON, Pierre. Plurimarum singularium & memorabilium rerum in Graecia, Asia, Aegypto, Judaea, Arabia, aliisq. exteris provinciis ab ipso conspectarum observationes, tribus libris expressae.
(2) BELON, Pierre. De neglecta stirpium cultura, atque earum cognitione libellus: edocens qua ratione silvestres arbores cicurari & mitescere queant. Antwerp, Christoffel Plantin, 1589. 2 works in 1 volume. 8vo. With Plantins woodcut compasses device on each title-page, 43 woodcuts in text (6 full-page), woodcut decorated initials. With an unrecorded 2-page corrigenda leaf. Contemporary overlapping limp vellum. [16], 495, [1 blank]; "78" [= 87], [1 blank], [2] pp. Full description

€ 4,750

Rare and extensive work on Algeria, spectacularly illustrated with 133 large plates, some in colour

BERBRUGGER, Louis Adrien. Algerie historique, pittoresque et monumentale, ou Recueil de vues, costumes et portraits faits d'après nature dans les provinces d'Alger, Bone, Constantine et Oran.
Paris, Delahaye (part-titles: printed by Dondey-Dupré), 1843. 5 parts in 3 volumes. Royal 1mo (57 x 42.5 cm). With chromo-lithographed general title-page, tinted lithographed frontispiece, 2 lithographed maps hand-coloured in outline, and 133 lithographed plates (image size up to 44.5 x 30.5 cm, nearly all non-botanical ones tinted and one with 2 chromolithographed and hand-coloured costume prints) by and after artists including Charles Bour, Eugène Flandin, Félix Emmanuel Henri Philippoteaux and Denis Auguste Marie Raffet. Also with lithographed views (and a few lithographed maps) printed in the tail margins at the ends of many chapters, and 45 white-on-black wood-engravings of coins (each with obverse and reverse) in the text. The 72 botanical illustrations on the last 10 lithographed plates are coloured by hand and highlighted with gum arabic. The non-botanical plates have the publisher's embossed stamp in the foot margin. Contemporary, uniform dark green half goatskin morocco with a gold-tooled spine. XIV, [3], [1 blank], 80; [3], [1 blank], 68; [3], [1 blank], 42; [3], [1 blank], 21, [1 blank], 18, 16, [1], [1 blank] pp. including the chromolithographed title-page. Full description

€ 28,500

Diplomatic and commercial relations between Venice and Persia

BERCHET, Guglielmo. La repubblica di Venezia e la Persia.
Torino, G.B. Paravia e comp., 1865. 8vo. With 5 photographic plates. Original publisher's printed brown paper wrappers. XVII, [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], 294, [2] pp. Full description

€ 750

The geographical details of two outstanding maps of Arabia

BERGHAUS, Heinrich. Geographisches memoir zur erklärung und erlaüterung der Karte von Syrien. (no. 5. von Berghaus' Atlas von Asia).
Gotha, Justus Perthes, 1835. With an engraved map of Syria.
With: (2) BERGHAUS, Heinrich. Geo-hydrographisches memoir zur erklärung und erlaüterung der General-Karte von Arabia und dem Nil-Lande. (no. 6. von Berghaus' Atlas von Asia).
Gotha, Justus Perthes, 1835. 2 works in 1 volume. 4to. With a supplement to another article by Berghaus bound at the end: Supplement zur historisch-geographischen Beschreibung von Assam etc., with an engraved map. Modern half cloth. [4], 48; [4], 128; 179-182 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

"on pesche les perles ... dans le Golfe Persique, principalement ... aupres de Baroyn [= Bahrain]"

BERQUEN, Robert de. Les merveilles des Indes Orientales et Occidentales, ou Nouveau traitté des pierres precieuses & perles, ...
Paris, Christophe Lambin, 1661. 4to. With an engraved portrait of Anne Marie Louise d'Orleans facing the dedication. Contemporary gold-tooled, tanned sheepskin, gold-tooled sides. [12], 112 pp. Full description

€ 25,000

Letters from Hormuz Island, the East Indies and Japan

[BERSE, Gaspar, Francis XAVIER et al.]. Epistolae Indicae et Iapanicae de multarum gentium ad Christi fidem, per Societatem Iesu conversione. Item de Tartarorum potentia, moribus, & totius penè Asiae religione. Tertia editio cum indice castigatior & auctior.
Including: Epistolae Iapanicae, de multorum in variis insulis gentilium ad Christi sidem conversione.
Leuven, Rutger Velpius, 1570. 2 parts in 1 volume. 8vo. Each part with woodcut publisher's device on last blank. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment. [24], 361[=316], [20]; 401[=399], [25] pp. Full description

€ 19,500

Jesuit letters from Hormuz Island and the East Indies

[BERSE, Gaspar, Francis XAVIER etc.]. Epistolae Indicae et Iapanicae de multarum gentium ad Christi fidem, per Societatem Iesu conversione.
Louvain, Rutger Velpius, 1570.
With: (2) GARETIUS, Johannes. De sanctorum invocatione liber...
Ghent, Gislenus Manilius, 1570.
2 works in 1 volume. 8vo. Ad 1 with the title-page in a frame built up from fleurons, and a woodcut publisher's device on last blank, ad 2 with the title-page in a frame built up from fleurons, the woodcut coat-of-arms of Cunerus Petri (bishop of Leeuwarden) on the back of the title-page and on the last leaf a woodcut printer's device within a frame built up from fleurons.
Contemporary limp vellum sewn on 3 leather supports laced through the joints, with the manuscript title on the spine, leather ties, red edges. [24], “361”[=316], [20] pp.; [16], 103, [9] ll. Full description

€ 19,500

Rare contemporary compilation of official accounts of Napoleon's campaign in Egypt

BERTHIER, Louis-Alexandre and Napoleon BONAPARTE. Relation des expéditions d'Egypte et de Syrie, de la bataille d'Aboukir et de la reprise du fort de ce nom, par les troupes de la République Française, commandées par le célèbre Général Bonaparte.
Including:
BERTHIER, Louis-Alexandre. Éxpedition de Syrie.
BONAPARTE, Napoleon. Bataille d'Aboukir.
BONAPARTE, Napoleon. Reprise du fort d'Aboukir.
Paris, Pelletié, an VIII [=1799/1800]. 8vo. Modern half calf, original paste-paper boards. [1], [1 blank], [2], 3-148 pp. Full description

€ 5,500

Rare Catholic Arabic Bible, based on the very first printed Arabic translation of the Bible

[BIBLE - ARABIC - OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT]. Kitab Al-Muqaddas al-Mushtamil 'ala Kutub al-'Ahd al-'Atiq wal 'Ahd al-Jadid [The Holy Book, included the books of the Old Testament found in the original Hebrew of our Lord Jesus Christ and also the Book of the New Testament].
London, William Watts, 1855. 8vo (22 x 14 cm).
Original elaborately embossed brown calf with the title lettered in gold on the spine, red edges. [1], [1 blank], [2], 645; 407; [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], 352 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

On Gothic and Arabic manuscripts in Spanish libraries

BLANCO, Pedro Luis. Noticia de las antiguas y genuinas colecciones canónicas inéditas de la Iglesia Espanola, que de órden del rey nuestro señor se publicarán por su Real Bibliotheca de Madrid, ...
Madrid, Imprenta Real, 1798. 8vo. With some lines printed in Arabic type. Later brown half morocco, gold-tooled spine. XLI [=XXXVIII], [1], 168, [2], [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Important travelogue on Persia, with 15 plates and 2 maps

BODE, Clement Augustus de. Travels in Luristan and Arabistan.
Including: BODE, Clement Augustus de. Observations on the march of Timur ... and on the probable course pursued by Alexander the Great, on his expedition from Susa to Persepolis.
London, J. Madden and Co., 1845. 2 volumes. 8vo. With a wood-engraved illustration on the title-page to each volume, 15 plates, 2 folding engraved maps and 3 wood-engraved illustrations in text. The 15 plates (4 tinted lithographs and 11 wood engravings) consists of 2 frontispieces, a folding plate, a double-page plate and 11 single-page plates. Modern half calf, marbled (Period Binders, Bath, England). XX, 404; XII, 398, [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

First edition of the first printed ethnographic comparison of the world's people, typographically stunning

BOEMUS (BÖHM), Johannes. Omnium gentium mores leges et ritus ex multis clarrissimis rerum scriptoribus ... nuper collecti: & in libros tris distinctos Aphricam, Asiam, Europam, optime lector lege. [Half-title:] Repertorium librorum trium Ioannis Boemi de omnium gentium ritibus. Item index rerum scitu digniorum in eosdem. Cum privilegio Papali ac Imperiali M.D.XX.
[Colophon: Augsburg, Sigismund Grimm & Marcus Wirsung, July 1520]. Folio. With the letterpress half-title in an elaborate woodcut border with a trophy of arms, putti and mermen. 17th century vellum with 3 raised spine-bands. [6], LXXXI, [1] ll. Full description

€ 5,750

Souvenir album showing the Holy Land, Egypt, Athens and Venice in the second half of the 19th century

BONFILS, G. LEKEGIAN & CO, Brothers ZANGAKI, Collection MERLIN and Carlo NAYA. [Souvenir album with photographs of the Holy Land, Cairo, Athens and Venice].
[Palestine, Cairo, Athens, Venice, ca. 1890]. Oblong album (41.5 x 31 cm) containing 62 albumen prints, mostly 23 x 28 cm, with 2 smaller prints of ca. 16 x 28 and 5 large prints of 35.5 x 27 cm. Most of the photographs are numbered and captioned in French, and sometimes also in English, on the negative. Contemporary brown half morocco. [59], [11 blank] pp. Full description

€ 9,500

Deluxe Palestine souvenir album

[BONFILS, Félix]. Jerusalem.
[Palestine, 1880s]. Oblong album (44.5 x 31.5 cm) With 71 large photographic albumen prints, mostly ca. 22 x 28 cm, signed and captioned in the negative (in French and English), mounted on both sides of the album's leaves. Includes a three-part folding panorama of Jerusalem from Mount Olivet, measuring 82 x 21 cm. Original auburn morocco with gold-stamped front board, gilt edges. Full description

€ 18,000

Madagascar and its opportunities for trade and colonization, detailing the trade with India, Persia,
Hormuz and other countries and tribes along the Arabian Sea

BOOTHBY, Richard. A breife discovery or description of the most famous island of Madagascar or St. Laurence in Asia neare unto East-India.
London, Printed by E[dward]. G[riffin]. for John Hardesty, 1646. Small 4to (20 x 15.5 cm). Gold-tooled tanned sheepskin (ca. 1850). Rebacked, with original backstrip laid down. [12], 72, [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 35,000

Ledger recording involvement in numerous infrastructural projects in Africa, Asia and the Middle East (1952-1955)

BOULTEN, F.A. [Manuscript ledger recording the time spent working on infrastructural projects].
[London?,] 1952-1955. Folio. Lined journal, each page ruled for monthly tallies, with some extra annotations. Contemporary cloth. [48] pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Five rare publications on the 17th-century French mission in southeast Asia

BOURGES, Jacques de. Relation du voyage de Monseigneur l'evesque de Beryte, vicaire apostolique du royaume de la Cochinchine, par la Turquie, la Perse, les Indes, &c. jusqu'au royaume de Siam, & autres lieux.
Paris, Charles Angot, 1683. 8vo.
With:
(2) PALLU, François. Relation abregée des missions et des voyages des evesques François envoyez aux royaumes de la Chine, Cochinchine, Tonquin, & Siam.
Paris, Charles Angot, 1682.
(3) [FERMANEL DE FAVERY, Luc (editor)]. Relation des missions des evesques François aux royaumes de Siam, de la Cochinchine, de Camboye, & du Tonquin, &c. Divisée en quatre parties.
Paris, Charles Angot, 1684.
(4) Relation des missions et des voyages des evesques vicaires apostoliques, et de leurs ecclesiastiques és années 1672, 1673, 1674 & 1675.
Paris, Charles Angot, 1682.
(5) Relation des missions et des voyages des evesques vicaires apostoliques, et de leurs ecclesiastiques és années 1676 & 1677.
Paris, Charles Angot, 1682. 5 works in 1 volume. 8vo. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment. [8], 167, [1]; [6], 51, [1 blank]; [16], 248; [16], 389, [1 blank]; [16], 170, [1] pp. Full description

€ 12,500

The remarkable life and career of Sir Hugh Boustead in the Middle East and across the world

BOUSTEAD, Hugh. The wind of morning. The autobiography of Colonel Sir Hugh Boustead.
London, Chatto & Windus, 1974. Large 8vo. With 8 double sided plates with multiple images, and 4 maps. Orange cloth with title information in gold on spine, with dust jacket, designed by John Woodcock with a photo of a caravan of people on camels on front cover and one of H. Boustead on a horse on the back, title information in purple on front cover and on spine of dust jacket. 240 pp. Full description

€ 450

Examination of medical pills, heavily influenced by Galen

BRASAVOLA (BRASSAVOLA), Antonio Musa. Examen omnium catapotiorum, vel pilularum, quarum apud pharmacopolas usus est.
Lyon, Jean Pullon, 1545. 8vo. With a woodcut device on title-page and some woodcut initials. Contemporary vellum. 188, [4] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

Testing Galenic medicine

BRASAVOLA (BRASSAVOLA), Antonio Musa. Examen omnium electuariorum, pulverum, et confectionum.
Venice, Vincent Valgrisi, 1548. 8vo. With a woodcut device on title-page and a larger version on the last page. Later stiff paper wrappers. 140, [2] pp. Full description

€ 9,500

Five medical treatises, heavily influenced by Galen

BRASAVOLA (BRASSAVOLA), Antonio Musa. Examen omnium trochiscorum, unguentorum, ceratorum, emplastrorum, cataplasmatum, & collyriorum : quorum apud Ferrarienses pharmacopolas usus est : ...
Venice, (colophon: Lucas Antonius Juntas), 1551. 8vo. With a woodcut device on title-page. Contemporary limp vellum, restored. 296 ll. Full description

€ 9,500

Islamic religious orders in Algeria, "a work of great learning and value", presentation copy

BROSSELARD, Charles. Les khouan. De la constitution des ordres religieux musulmans en Algérie.
Algiers, A. Bourget, August 1859. 8vo. Contemporary red half sheepskin, gold-tooled spine. 36 pp. Full description

€ 3,750

Cross-cultural mapping of the Red Sea: Bruce's chart in an early Egyptian manuscript copy

[MAP - ARABIAN PENINSULA]. BRUCE, James. Carte de la mer Rouge, relevée sur celle de James Bruce.
[Egypt, probably Cairo], 1827. Folio leaf (46 x 31.5 cm). Manuscript map in pen and ink with watercolour, with a French text on Middle Eastern hand-made paper. Full description

€ 15,000

3 little-known works by Italian scientist on astronomy, hydrostatics and navigation

BRUNETTI, Francesco Saverio. Trattenimenti scientifici su la sfera, geografia istorica, meteore, ed astronomia.
Rome, Bernabò and Lazzarini, 1754. With several woodcut illustrations in the text (including an armillary sphere), and an extra added folding engraved frontispiece.
With:
(2) BRUNETTI, Francesco Saverio. Trattenimenti scientifici su lindrografia, nautica, blasone, statica, meccanica, architectura, pirotecnia, e suono.
Roma, Bernabò and Lazzarini, 1755. With several woodcut illustrations in the text, and an extra added frontispiece (facsimile of an engraving?).
(3) BRUNETTI, Francesco Saverio. Macchina semplicissima per cui lacqua da se stessa salice ad una data altezza.
Rome, Bernabò and Lazzarini, 1747. With folding engraved plate as frontispiece. 3 works (the first in 2 parts) in 1 volume. 4to. Contemporary sheepskin parchment. [24], 180, 112; [8], 173, [3 blank]; 12 pp. Full description

€ 4,500

Large paper copy of the beautifully illustrated first edition of De Bruyn’s travels to the Levant

BRUYN (LE BRUN), Cornelis de. Reizen van Cornelis de Bruyn, door de vermaardste deelen van Klein Asia, de eylanden Scio, Rhodus, Cyprus, Metelino, Stanchio, &c. Mitsgaders de voornaamste steden van Aegypten, Syrien en Palestina.
Delft, printed by Hendrik van Kroonevelt [engravings printed by Petrus Schenk and Gerard Valck?], 1698. Large folio (39.5x26 cm). With engraved frontispiece, engraved author's portrait, large engraved folding map of the Mediterranean Sea, 103 engraved plates (many double-page and folding) and 18 engravings in text. 18th-century, gold-tooled, tanned goatskin; rebacked, with original backstrip laid down and modern endpapers. [20], 398, [8] pp. Full description

€ 25,000

Magnificent work containing more than 200 highly detailed illustrations of the Levant, Middle East and Asia

BRUYN, Cornelis de. Reizen van Cornelis de Bruyn, door de vermaardste deelen van Klein Asia, de eylanden Scio, Rhodus, Cyprus, Metelino, Stanchio, &c. Mitsgaders de voornaamste steden van Aegypten, Syrien en Palestina.
Delft, Hendrik van Krooneveld, 1698. Large folio (ca. 38.5 x 25 cm). With an engraved frontispiece by J. Mulder, a full-page engraved portrait of the author by G. Valck, and ca. 215 numbered illustrations on 101 full-page and double-page plates (including 17 very large double-page folding plates, 6 illustrations lettered 1, 22A, 22B, 22C, A (again) and B, and 24 smaller illustrations in the text - of which 4 not part of the numbered sequence). Some of the plates are captioned, there does not seem to have been a systematic approach in adding the captions - all plates are as issued and as they appear in other copies. These plates mainly depict views and cityscapes. Contemporary mottled calf. [22], 397, [9] pp. Full description

€ 12,500

First edition of a sumptuous account of a voyage to Russia, Persia and the East Indies,
with large folding views of Moscow and Isfahan (194x42 cm)

BRUYN (LE BRUN), Cornelis de. Reizen over Moskovie, door Persie en Indie: verrykt met driehondert konstplaten, vertoonende de beroemste lantschappen en steden, ook de byzondere dragten, beesten, gewassen en platen, die daer gevonden worden ...
Amsterdam, Willem and David Goeree for the author, 1711. Folio (40x25.5 cm). With engraved frontispiece by Bernard Picart, engraved author's portrait, 2 folding engraved maps, 109 engraved plates (13 folding, 55 double-page, 41 full-page) and 36 engraved illustrations in text. Contemporary blind-tooled vellum. [8], 472, [12] pp. Full description

€ 9,000

First printed record of Abu Dhabi and Dubai: the first Latin edition

DE BRY, Theodor; Johann Israel DE BRY and Joris VAN SPILBERGEN. Indiae Orientalis pars septima [...].Including: Icones, hoc est verae variorum populorum et regum, ceremoniarum item, superstitiosorum rituum et rerum aliarum, ...
Frankfurt, Wolfgang Richter, 1606. Folio (32.5 x 20 cm). With the letterpress title in an engraved architectural border, a separate letterpress title-page for the Icones, an engraved coat of arms on the dedication leaf, 20 engravings in text and 2 double-page engraved plates. 20th-century green half morocco. [4], 126, [2 blank] pp.; 26 ll. Full description

€ 28,000

Biblical travels in the form of a travel book

BÜNTING, Heinrich and Matthias HASAERT. Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae. Dat is: het reysboek der Heyligher Schrift.
Including: BÜNTING, Heinrich. Een besonder tractaet ende onderwijsinghe van de munte ende ghewichtre der Heyligher Schrifturen... [BÜNTING, Heinrich]. Itinerarium Novi Testamenti. Dat is: een reysboeck, over het Nieuwe Testament. Het tweede deel...BÜNTING, Heinrich. Harmonia evangelistarum, dat is: eene seer schoone ende eendrachtige over-een-stemminge der heyliger vier evangelisten...Amsterdam, Hendrik Laurentsz., 1635. 4 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With 5 woodcut and 2 engraved folding maps. Contemporary vellum, modern endpapers. [16], 355, [9]; [2], 36; [4], 163, [3]; 24 pp. Full description

€ 1,950

Rare introduction to Arabic

[BURGESS, Thomas]. The Arabick alphabet...
Newcastle, printed by S[arah]. Hodgson, 1809. Large 12mo. Twentieth-century half calf, marbled sides, with a blind-tooled roll where the calf covering (including the corners) meets the marbled paper, gold fillets on the smooth spine, black morocco spine label with the title in large gold capitals running up the spine, lettered in gold. With 22 sturdy blank leaves at the end and the bookbinders ticket of "Period Binders, Bath". V, [3], 20 pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Stunning lithographic illustrations and a detailed route map of a voyage
through Persia, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and India

BURNES, Alexander. Voyages de l'embouchure de l'Indus a Lahor, Caboul, Balkh et a Boukhara; et retour par la Perse, pendant les années 1831, 1832 et 1833 ... Atlas.
Paris, Arthus Bertrand (colophon on back wrapper: Imprimerie et Fonderie de Fain), [1835]. 3 text volumes and 1 atlas volume. 8vo. With 11 numbered lithographed plates (1 folding) showing costumes of the regions, medals and engraved stones, topographic views, archaeological sites, etc., and a large folding engraved map with the routes hand-coloured in red and orange. Contemporary gold-tooled half sheepskin (text volumes), original publisher's letterpress-printed brown paper wrappers (atlas volume). [3], [1 blank] pp. plus plates. Full description

€ 3,500

One of the first maps to clearly depict the Abadan Petroleum Refinery, the first oil refinery in the Middle East

[OIL-PETROLEUM HISTORY]. [ABADAN]. BURRARD, Sidney Gerald (ed.). [Map with the Abadan Petroleum Refinery, the first oil refinery in the Middle East]
Calcutta, Survey of India, 1912-1915. 59 x 46.5 cm. Heliozincograph in colour. Full description

€ 3,500

An illustrated edition of Burton's Arabian Nights

[ARABIAN NIGHTS]. BURTON, Richard Francis. A plain and literal translation of the Arabian Nights' entertainments, now entituled the book of the Thousand Nights and a Night.
Including: Supplemental nights.
[London?], Richard Burton Club, [ca. 1910]. 17 volumes. Royal 8vo (24 x 16 cm). With numerous illustrations (including the series by Albert Letchford), each repeated on laid paper (the 17 frontispieces repeated in colour). Contemporary half green morocco, gold-tooled spine. Full description

€ 10,000

A collection of 10 quite rare and otherwise inaccessible articles by British explorer Richard Francis Burton

BURTON, Richard and N. M. PENZER (ed). Selected papers on anthropology, travel & exploration. Now edited with an introduction and occasional notes.
London, A.M. Philpot ltd., 1924. 8vo. Red/brown cloth, with title information in gold on spine, red upper edge. 240 pp. Full description

€ 350

An extensive account of Yemen on the eve of World War I
by British naturalist, explorer and Arabist G. W. Bury

BURY, George Wyman. Arabia infelix, or the Turks in Yamen.
London, Macmillan and Co., limited, 1915. Large 8vo. With 3 maps and 18 plates, some containing multiple images. Red cloth, blind-tooling on covers, title information in gold on spine. X, 213, [3] pp. Full description

€ 580

The ever-alluring aspects of Egypt's landscape and monuments in the late nineteenth-century

BÉCHARD, Émile. L'Égypte et la Nubie. Grand album monumental, historique, architectural...
Paris, André Palmieri & Émile Béchard, 1887. Large folio (45.5 x 63 cm). With 150 collotype photographic plates, all signed, numbered and captioned in the wide margins of each plate. The half title-page and divisional half title-page for the explanation of the plates are printed in red , the typographical title-page shows a small vignette of an Egyptian mask. Loose leaves. 23, [1 blank], [3 (numbered [175]-177)], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank] pp. and 150 plates. Full description

€ 35,000

Early exploration and exploitation of oil

CADMAN, John. The geographical journal. Vol. LXXXIV. No. 3.
Beccles, William Clowes & sons, 1934. 4to. With several full-page black and white photographs and maps. Original publisher's blue printed paper wrappers. X, 201-280 pp. Full description

€ 850

Beautifully illustrated expeditions searching for ancient Egyptian antiquities

CAILLIAUD, Frédéric and Bernardino DROVETTI. Voyage a l'Oasis de Thèbes et dans les déserts situés a l'orient et a l'occident de la Thébaïde, fait pendant les années 1815, 1816, 1817 et 1818.
Paris, Royal press, 1821. With 24 numbered engraved plates, including 2 engraved maps (1 folding), 1 plate coloured by hand and 1 double-page.
With: (2) CAILLIAUD, Frédéric and Bernardino DROVETTI. Voyage a l'Oasis de Syouah ... pendant leurs voyages dans cette oasis, en 1819 et en 1820.
Paris, Rignoux, 1823. With 20 numbered plates (1 engraved map and 19 lithographed plates). 2 works in 1 volume. Folio. Contemporary green goatskin morocco, richly gold-tooled spine. [2 blank], XVII, [1], 120; [12], 28 pp. Full description

€ 19,500

The first European to visit Timbuktu

CAILLIÉ, René-Auguste. Dagverhaal eener reize naar Temboektoe, van de westkust af van Afrika, door de binnenlanden, over Jenné, Kabra, Arawan en vele andere opmerkelijke plaatsen, de groote woestijn door, op Tanger... Uit het Fransch overgebragt door Herman van Lil.
Haarlem, widow A. Loosjes, 1831. 2 volumes. 8vo. With engraved frontispiece and an engraved author's portrait by D. and A. Veelvaard, and a large folding map (41.5 x 28.5 cm) after E.F. Jomard. Contemporary half cloth. XVI, 496; [4], 622 [= 582] pp. Full description

€ 1,950

Rare collected works of Portugal's greatest poet

CAMÕES (CAMOENS), Luis de & João Franco BARRETO. Obras de Luis de Camoès principe des poetas Portugueses. Com os argumentos do Lecenceado João Franco Barreto & por elle emédadas em esta nova impressaõ, que comprehende todas as obras, que deste insigne autor se achàraõ impressas, & manuscritas, com o index dos nomes proprios. Offerecidas a D. Francisco de Sovsa capitão da guarda do Principe N.S.
Lisbon, Antonio Craesbeeck de Mello, 1666-1669. 8vo. With 8 woodcut tailpieces. Later mottled calf, red spine labels, red edges. 376, 368, 208, 108, [22], [ 2 blank]. Lacks the individual title-pages. Full description

€ 9,500

Arabic grammar for Spanish missionaries in the Middle East

CAÑES, Francisco. Gramatica Arabigo-Española, vulgar, y literal. Con un diccionario Arabigo-Español, en que se ponen las voces mas usuales para una conversacion familiar, con el texto de la doctrina Cristiana en el idioma Arabigo.
Madrid, Don Antonio Perez de Soto, 1775. 4to. With Perez de Soto's device on the title-page. Set in roman, italic and Arabic type. Contemporary mottled sheepskin. [1], [1 blank], [14], 272, [5], [2 blank], XVII pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Misconduct at Basra by VOC resident

[CANTER, Frans (subject)]. Deductie gedaan ... uit den name ende van wegens bewindhebberen van de Oost-Indische Compagnie ter kamer Amsterdam, eerst requiranten van appoinctement van anticipatie, en nu gedaagdens by mandament van revisie, ter eenre, op ende jegens Aaltje Fransse, weduwe van Cornelis Canter, Jan Canter, en Hendrik van Greuningen, als in huwelyk hebbende Anna Canter, zeggende te zyn moeder, broeder, en zwager respective, van Frans Canter, alle wonende te Amsterdam, ...
[Amsterdam, 1752]. Folio (31.5 x 20.5 cm). Side-stitched.
With: (2) Missive van de bewindhebberen van de generale Neederlandsche geoctroyeerde Oostindische Compagnie ter vergadering van Seeventienen.
[Amsterdam, 1758]. Folio (33 x 21 cm). Side-stitched. 28, [1 blank], [1]; 13, [3 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Winds and the weather in the coast of India and the Arabian and Persian Gulf:
first edition of a rare meteorological work

CAPPER, James. Observations on the winds and monsoons; illustrated with a chart and accompanied with notes, geographical and meteorological.
London, Charles Whittingham, 1801. 4to. With 1 folding engraved map of the world depicting all the oceans and seas, and several tables in the text. Half calf, marbled sides and edges. Rebacked. XXVIII, 29-234 pp. Full description

€ 2,750

On Bedouin tribes, with a map and pictures

CARRUTHERS, Alexander Douglas Mitchell. A journey in North-Western Arabia.
[London, W. Clowes], March 1910. 4to. With 12 black and white photographs made during the journey and a folding chromolithographed map of North-West Arabia (27x30.5 cm). Modern blue wrappers. [32] (numbered 225-248) pp. Full description

€ 750

The Ottoman Empire from a French perspective in 75 strikingly handcoloured plates

CASTELLAN, Antoine Laurent. Moeurs, usages, costumes des Othomans, et abrégé de leur histoire. Avec des éclaircissemens tirés d'ouvrages orientaux, et communiqués par M. Langlès.
Paris, Nepveu, 1812. 6 volumes. 18mo (14 x 9 cm). With 75 hand-coloured engraved plates: a frontispiece in each volume and 17, 17, 9, and 26 plates in volumes 3, 4, 5, and 6 respectively. Most plates depict costumes, but also tools and instruments are shown. All plates are very detailed and beautifully coloured by hand, in very fresh contemporary colouring, some even finished with gold. Contemporary gold- and blined-toole purpleish-black morocco. Full description

€ 6,500

"The most remarkable" medical dictionary, based on works by Galen and Hippocrates

CASTELLI, Bartolomeo. Lexicon medicum Graeco-Latinum ex Hippocrate, et Galeno desumptum.
Rotterdam, Arnout Leers [printed in Amsterdam by Paulus Matthijsz], 1644. 8vo. With Matthijszs(?) woodcut device on title-page. Contemporary vellum. [14], “315” [=353], [19, last page blank] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

Geographical description/atlas of the old world, including the Middle East.
With 33 maps and bound in well-preserved, gold-tooled contemporary calf

CELLARIUS, Christoph. Notitia orbis antiqui, sive geographia plenior, ab ortu rerumpublicarum ad constantinorum tempora orbis terrarium faciem declarans. ... et novis tabulis geographicis ... illustravit.
(Volume 1:) Cambridge, John Owen, 1703; (volume 2:) Amsterdam, Caspar Fritsch, 1706. 2 volumes. 4to. With engraved author's portrait, 33 engraved double-page maps and 1 engraved double-page plate. Contemporary calf, richly gold tooled spines and binding edges, double gilt fillets on sides. [16], 862, [38]; [12], 544; 166, [38] pp. Full description

€ 5,000

First edition of a rare work about the Orient and the crusades

CENTENO, Amaro. Historia de cosas del oriente primera y segunda parte...
Cordoba, Diego Galván, 1595. 2 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With a woodcut coat of arms on the title-page and the divisional title-page for part 2, an elaborate Jesuit woodcut IHS vignette on the verso of the last leaf above the colophon and woodcut initials throughout, with a few typographical or woodcut tail-pieces, al text is set within a simple woodcut frame. Later tree marbled sheepskin. [8], 138, [4] ll. Full description

€ 28,000

A brief history of medicine, including Mesue, Avicenna, Serapion the Younger and other Arab authors

CHAMPIER, Symphorien. Castigationes seu emendationes pharmacopolarum, sive apothecariorum, ac Arabum medicorum Mesue, Serapionis, Rafis, Alpharabii, & aliorum iuniorum medicorum...
(Colophon: Lyon, Johannes Crespin, 1532). 2 parts in 1 volume (bound in reverse order). 8vo. With armorial woodcut on title-page to the second part (bound as opening title-page), repeated several times in text, and numerous woodcut initials. Contemporary vellum, richly blind-tooled in a panel design. LVI, CXII ll. Full description

€ 12,500

French merchant travels through Persia and becomes personal jeweller to the Shah

CHARDIN, Jean. Voyages de mr. le chevalier Chardin, en Perse, et autres lieux de l'Orient.
Amsterdam, J. L. de Lorme, 1711. 10 volumes. 12mo. With an engraved frontispiece portrait of Johannes Chardin, 1 engraved map, 79 engraved folding plates and 6 letterpress folding tables. Contemporary half morocco, gold-tooled spine. [24], 254; 334; 285, [1 blank]; 280; 312; 328; 448; 255, [1 blank]; 308; 220, [82] pp. Full description

€ 4,000

Very rare and little known collection of Italian Renaissance merchant voyages to India

CIGNANO, Ludovico. Quieta solitudine di varii ragionamenti, discorsi, et concetti, ove si narra quattro navigationi ...
Bologna, Alessandro Benacci, 1587. Small 4to. With the woodcut coat of arms of the dedicatee Giovanni Luigi Scappi, elaborately helmed, crested and mantled, on the title-page, a woodcut tailpiece (plus 1 repeat), woodcut decorated initials (at least 4 series), decorations built up from cast typographic ornaments.
Goatskin morocco (ca. 1870/80?), richly gold-tooled spine and turn-ins, signed in foot of front turn-in by the Paris bookbinders "DARLAUD FRÈRES", gold fillets on sides and board edges, combed curl-marbled endpapers, edges gilt over marbling, headbands worked in white and beige, and a yellow, red and green ribbon marker. 166 pp. Full description

€ 45,000

Journey from Cairo to Mount Sinai, with an account of Wadi Mukattab

CLAYTON, Robert (editor) Dagverhaal van eene reize van Groot Cairo na den Berg Sinai en terug.
Amsterdam, Dirk Swart, 1754. 8vo. With folding engraved plate showing Egyptian deities, among them Isis nursing Horus. Near contemporary boards. [14], 192, [1 blank], [24] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Beautiful Plantin edition of the letters of Cleynaerts, seeking to bring together Islam and Christian faith

CLENARDUS, Nicolaus. Nic. Clenardi Epistolarum libri duo. Quorum posterior iam primum in lucem prodit.
Antwerp, Christopher Plantin, 1566. 2 parts in 1 volume. 8to. Both title-pages with Plantin's woodcut printer's mark, Arabic type interspersed. Contemporary vellum with 4 raised bands and a manuscript title on the spine. 112, 258 [= 241], [4] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

One of only two 19th-century English colour-plate books mentioning the Gulf

CLIVE, Robert. A series of lithographic drawings from sketches by Robert Clive, comprising the undermentioned subjects, lying principally between the Persian Gulf & the Black Sea ...
London, Dickinson & Co., (1852). Large folio (45.5 x 590 mm). With 9 tinted lithographs on 8 plates (2 on 1 leaf) after Robert Clive. 3 leaves of letterpress text (plus 1 repeat ), printed on rectos only. Modern half morocco , marbled sides, spine title and decorations in gold. With the original publishers printed front wrapper bound in. Full description

€ 18,000

An account of the former King of Portugal’s visit to Morocco, the first book printed in Tangiers

COLAÇO, José Daniel. Viagem de Sua Magestade El Rei o Senhor Dom Fernando a Marrocos, seguido da descripção da entrega da Grão Cruz da Torre e Espada ao Sultão Sid Mohammed.
Tangiers, Abrines, 1882. 8vo. Modern maroon half morocco, preserving the original publisher's printed wrappers. VI, 122, [1 blank], [2], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,000

1668 Journal of the Dutch Ambassador in the Ottoman Empire, with a letter from the Sultan

COLLIER (COLJER), Justin and Jaques van DAM. Journal du voyage de Mr Collier resident à la Porte. Pour messieurs les Etats Generaux des Provinces Unies.
Paris, Gervais Clouzier, 1672. 12mo. 19th-century(?) half calf, gold-tooled spine. [12], 103, [3] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

On the sales of arms and arms deals in the Middle East

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS. New perspectives on the Persian Gulf. Hearings before the subcommittee on the Near East and South Asia of the committee on foreign affairs, house of representatives, ninety-third congress, first session. June 6, July 17, 23, 24, and November 28, 1973.
Washington, U.S. Government printing office, 1973. 8vo (23.5 x 15 cm). With a small map of the Persian Gulf. Original printed paper wrappers. VIII, [1], 227 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

On "the escalating level of arms sales to Gulf states"

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS. The Persian Gulf, 1975: the continuing debate on arms sales. Hearings before the special subcommittee on investigations of the committee on international relations, house of representatives, ninety-fourth congress, first Session. June 10, 18, 24 and July 29, 1975.
Washington, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1976. 8vo. Original printed paper wrappers. VI, 261 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Communism in the Middle East

[COMMUNIST ESSAYS]. [Collection of communist essays for the Arabic-speaking and Middle Eastern market].
China, Israel, Russia (USSR), United States, [various publishers], 1968-1984. 16 publications. Several fold-out maps and some works with photographic plates. Including (in chronological order):
(1) LANE-POOLE, Stanley. Coins of the Amawi Khalifehs. Catalogue of the collection of Oriental coins belonging to Col. C. Seton Guthrie.
Chicago, Argonaut Publishers, 1968.
(2) [SOVIET REVISIONISTS versus the CHINESE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY]. [Title in Arabic:] Down with the new tsars! Soviet revisionists' anti-China atrocities on the Heilung and Wusuli Rivers.
Beijing, Foreign Languages Press, 1969.
(3) [AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE]. [Title in Arabic:] Search for peace in the Middle East: a report prepared for the American Friends Service Committee.
Philadelphia, 1970.
(4) [AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE]. [Title in Hebrew:] Search for peace in the Middle East: a report prepared for the American Friends Service Committee.
Tel Aviv, 1970.
(5) [AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE]. Search for peace in the Middle East: a report prepared for the American Friends Service Committee.
[New York], [Hill and Wang], 1970.
(6) [AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE]. Search for peace in the Middle East: a report prepared for the American Friends Service Committee.
New York, Hill and Wang, 1971.
(7) MAO ZEDONG. [Title in Arabic:] On the correct handling of contradictions among the people.
Beijing, Foreign Languages Press, 1971.
(8) MAO ZEDONG. [Title in Persian:] People of the world, unite and defeat the U.S. aggressors and all their running dogs!
Beijing, Foreign Language Press, 1971.
(9) MAO, ZEDONG. [Title in Persian:] Talks at the Yenan forum on literature and art.
Beijing, Foreign Languages Press, 1971.
(10) [1972 NEW YEAR'S DAY EDITORIAL?]. [Title in Arabic:] Unite to win still greater victories.
Beijing, Foreign Languages Press, 1972.
(11) [RENMIN RIBAO (editor)?]. [Title in Arabic:] A vicious motive, despicable tricks: a criticism of M. Antonioni's anti-China film "China".
Beijing, Foreign Languages Press, 1974.
(12) [NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS - CHINA]. [Title in Arabic:] Documents of the first session of the fourth National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China.
Beijing, Foreign Languages Press, 1975.
(13) LENIN, Vladimir Ilyich. [Title in Arabic:] A letter to American workers.
Moscow, Progress Publishers, 1978.
(14) LENIN, Vladimir Ilyich. [Title in Arabic:] Two tactics of social-democracy in the Democratic Revolution.
Moscow, Progress Publishers, 1978.
(15) ENGELS, Friedrich. [Title in Arabic:] Anti-Dühring.
Moscow, Progress Publishers, 1984.
(16) [REVOLUTIONARY INTERNATIONALIST MOVEMENT]. [Title in Arabic:] Declaration of the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement.
[1984?].
Mainly works in their original publisher's printed paper wrappers, occasionally in a hardcover binding. Full description

€ 3,500

Fascinating and thrilling account of the land survey work in Palestine in the 1870s.

CONDER, Claude Reignier. Tent work in Palestine. A record of discovery and adventure.
London, Richard Bentley & Son, New Burlington Street, 1879, 2 vols., Many half- and some full-page Illustrations and maps throughout. Contemporary green morocco, with gold-tooling to boards and spine. XXVI, 381, [1]; VII, 352 pp. Full description

€ 500

First edition of the account of the experiences of American anthropologist
Carleton S. Coon in Ethiopia and Arabia

COON, Carleton S. Measuring Ethiopia and flight into Arabia.
Boston, Little, Brown, and Company, 1935. 8vo. With 8 plates. Yellow cloth with title information in blue on front cover and spine, with a dust jacket designed by Paul Wenck, map of Ethiopia and Arabia on the endpapers. IX, [5], 333, [1] pp. Full description

€ 850

A late call for a crusade

COPPIN, R.P. Jean. Relation des voyages faits dans la Turquie, la Thebaïde, et la Barbarie. Contenant des avis politiques qui peuvent servir de lumières aux Rois & aux Souverains de la Chrétienté, pour garentir leurs etats des incursions des Turcs, & reprendre ceux qu'ils ont usurpé sur eux.
Lyon, les frères Bruyset, 1720. 4to. Vignette on title-page, interesting woodcut head- and tailpieces showing fruits and flowers, and 4 plates visualising the position of soldiers, divisions, army and artillery. Contemporary brown calf, gold-tooled spine in 6 compartments, red morocco label, lettered in gold. [6], 496, [6] pp. Full description

€ 9,500

"Ces Arabes paroissent destiné à jouer un grand rôle dans l'histoire"

[CORANCEZ, Louis Alexandre Olivier de]. Histoire des Wahabis, depuis leur origine jusqu'a la fin de 1809.
Paris, Crapelet, 1810. 8vo. Remains of original grey temporary wrappers. Stored in gilt modern quarter morocco box. [4], VIII, 222, [2] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

An Italian farmer turned into a Turkish satirist for a Croatian audience

CROCE, Giulio Cesare and Nikola PALIKUCA (translator). Himbenost pritankogh Veleznanstva Nasradinova.
Ancona, Pietro Paolo Ferri, 1771. 12mo. With a woodcut of the main character on the title-page. Contemporary plain wrappers. 71 pp. Full description

€ 5,800

Journey around the world with a long stay in India

CUBERO SEBASTIAN, Pedro. Breve relacion, de la peregrinacion que ha hecho de la mayor parte del mundo.
Madrid, Juan Garcia Infançon, 1680. Small 4to (20 x 14.5 cm). With the title-page in a border built up from cast fleurons, woodcut coat of arms of the dedicatee Charles II of Spain, and some woodcut initials and tailpieces.Gold-tooled morocco, by the leading Barcelona binder Emilio Brugalla (1901-1987), with the arms of the Spanish bibliophile Isidoro Fernandez (1878-1963) stamped in gold on front and back, gilt edges. [20], 360 pp. Full description

€ 18,000

Promissory note for Venetian customs taxes in Damascus in 1488

[DAMASCUS – VENETIAN TAXES]. [Promissory note for Venetian customs taxes on goods from Damascus].
Venice, 22 Feb. / 5 March 1488. Italian notarial document on vellum (44.5 x 16 cm; text block ca. 27 x 14 cm). Written in two fine cursive hands. Full description

€ 7,500

Beautifully coloured composite atlas

[DANCKERTS, ALLARD, VISSCHER, DE WIT, MORTIER and others]. Atlas.
[Amsterdam, Theodorus and Cornelis III Danckerts?, ca. 1706 (dated maps 1694-1706)]. Imperial folio (53.5 x 33.5 cm). Composite atlas, with an engraved title-page, 43 double-page engraved maps and 4 double-page engraved tables, all beautifully coloured in a consistent and balanced manner by a contemporary hand, probably in the workshop of the publisher. With maps by Johannes, Justus, Theodorus and Cornelis III Danckerts, Carel and Abraham Allard, Nicolaas Visscher I & II, Frederik de Wit, Pieter Mortier, Caspar Specht and even Alexis-Hubert Jaillot in Paris. Modern maroon sheepskin. Full description

€ 48,500

Unique hand-coloured copy of Dapper's famous description of Africa

DAPPER, Olfert. Naukeurige beschrijvinge der Afrikaensche gewesten van Egypten, Barbaryen, Lybien, Biledulgerid, Negroslant, Guinea, Ethiopiën, Abyssinie: vertoont in de benamingen, grenspalen, revieren, steden, gewassen, dieren, zeeden, drachten, talen, rijkdommen, godsdiensten en heerschappyen. ...
Including: Naukeurige beschrijvinge der Afrikaensche eylanden ...
Amsterdam, Jacob van Meurs, 1676. 3 works in 1 volume. Folio (33 x 22 cm). With a richly engraved allegorical frontispiece, a large folding engraved map of Africa (44.5 x 56 cm), 14 double-page engraved maps of parts of Africa and the adjacent islands, 27 double-page and 1 larger folding engraved plates and views, and 55 half-page engraved views, plans, illustrations of costumes, animals, plants, etc. in the text. All illustrations coloured by a contemporary hand. Contemporary vellum at a later date with elaborate blind-tooled decorations, including oriental portraits. With 2 decorated brass clasps, signed B-I. [6], 428, 349, [16]; [1], 121, [4] pp. Full description

€ 85,000

Classic description of Asia, Persia and Georgia

DAPPER, Olfert. Asia, of naukeurige beschryving van het Rijk des Grooten Mogols, En een groot gedeelte van Indiën ... Beneffens een volkome beschryving van geheel Persie, Georgie, Mengrelie en andere gebuur-gewesten.
Amsterdam, Jacob van Meurs, 1672. 3 parts in 1 volume. Folio. With richly engraved frontispiece, first title printed in red and black, double-page engraved map, 20 engraved plates and views, 4 double-page, and 22 engravings in text in the first part, and 3 double-page engraved maps, 8 double-page engraved views, and 11 engravings in text in the second part. Including: DAPPER, Olfert. Beschrijving des koningryks van Persie ... Contemporary calf with richly gilt spine. "379" [= 401], [3]; [1], [1 blank], "184" [= 192]; 43, [5] pp. Full description

€ 6,850

Major source of information on the Muslim world in the 17th century

DAPPER, Olfert. Naukeurige beschryving van Asie: behelsende de gewesten van Mesopotamie, Babylonie, Assyrie, Anatolie, of Klein Asie: beneffens eene volkome beschrijving van gantsch gelukkigh, woest, en petreesch of steenigh Arabie. Vertoont in een bondigh ontwerp van 's lands benamingen, bepalingen, . . . inzonderheit die van d'oude Arabieren, Mahomet en Mahometanen.
Amsterdam, Jacob van Meurs, 1680. Folio. With engraved frontispiece, 3 double-page maps (of Basra and surroundings, Anatolia and the Arabian Peninsula), 12 double-page or folding views (partly drawn by Charles Vasteau). Near contemporary blind-stamped vellum. [8], 357, [3], 324, [4] pp. Full description

€ 9,500

Major source of information on the Islamic world in the 17th century

DAPPER, Olfert. Naukeurige beschryving van Asie: behelsende de gewesten van Mesopotamie, Babylonie, Assyrie, Anatolie, of Klein Asie: beneffens eene volkome beschrijving van gantsch gelukkigh, woest, en petreesch of steenigh Arabie ...
Amsterdam, Jacob Meurs, 1680. 2 parts in 1 volume. Folio. With engraved frontispiece, 16 engraved views and maps (2 folding, 14 double-page), and 22 engraved illustrations in the text. Contemporary blind-tooled vellum. [8], 357, [3], 324, [4] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

11 articles on the history of the Islamic world, including the autobiography of Ibn Khaldun

DEFRÉMERY, Charles and others. [Collection of 11 French offprints and extracts on the Islamic world].
[Paris (1 Leipzig), 1831-1859]. 11 items in 1 volume. 8vo. With many passages in Arabic. Contemporary half vellum. Full description

€ 6,500

The rare book and manuscript collection of a Franco-Russian oriental scholar, diplomat, and secret agent

[DESMAISONS, Jean-Jacques-Pierre]. The collection and research library of Jean-Jacques-Pierre Desmaisons (1807-1873), oriental scholar, diplomat, secret agent, and writer.
Various places, late 15th century to 1873/74. 193 catalogued iems, comprising printed books and manuscripts in 237 volumes. In Arabic, French, Greek, Latin, Ottoman Turkish, Persian, Russian, Syriac, and Sanskrit. Full description

€ 1,050,000

First edition of a history of the Ottoman Empire and Egypt with a collection of Turkish and Egyptian tales

DIGEON, J.M. Nouveau contes Turcs et Arabes. Précédés d'un abrégé chronologique de l'histoire de la maison Ottomane & du gouvernement de l'Egypte, & suivis de plusieurs morceaux de poésie & de prose, traduits de l'Arabe & du Turc.
Paris, Dupuis, 1781. 2 volumes. 12mo. Contemporary calf, richly gold-tooled spines, gold-tooled board edges and turn-ins. VIII, 347 [1 blank]; [2], 278, [4] pp. Full description

€ 2,750

Incunable edition of an influential second century description of the antique world,
including early mentions of China and Arabia

DIONYSIUS Periegetes. [incipit :] ... de situ orbis habitabilis ...
[Colophon:] Venice, Franz Renner, 1478. Small 4to (19 x 14 cm). With the first four lines printed in red and 9 white on black decorated woodcut initials (1 series), plus 1 repeat. Set in roman type, 26 lines to a page, with two words in Greek. Modern blind-tooled calf. [36] ll. Full description

€ 35,000

Important source on mediaeval pharmacology: the fundamental Renaissance work for the study of medicinal plants

DIOSCORIDES, Pedanius. In hoc volumine haec continentu.r [!] Ioannis Baptistae Egnatii Veneti in Dioscoridem ab Hermolao Barbaro tralatum annotamenta. Quibus morborum et remediorum vocabula obscuriora in usum etiam mediocriter eruditorum explicantur ...
Venice, Francesco Barbaro & Giovanni Bartolomeo Gabiano for Giovanni & Gregorio De Gregori, 1 February 1516. 2 parts in 1 volume. Folio (22.5 x 32 cm). Later vellum with old gold-tooled red spine label. [36], “CXXXIII” [= CXXXIV], 106 ll. Full description

€ 8,500

First edition of Ruel's translation of a foundational work on pharmacology

DIOSCORIDES, Pedanius. De medicinali materia libri quinque. De virulentis animalibus, et venenis canerabioso, et eorum noti, ac remedijs libri quattuor.
(Colophon: Paris, Henri Estienne, 1516). Folio. With the title within a decorative metalcut( ?) panel. Set in roman types. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment; rebacked in calf, with new endpapers, but preserving the original paste-downs. [12], 157, [2], [1 blank] ll. Full description

€ 18,000

Extremely rare issue of a pocket edition of "the most influential treatise of classical antiquity in Greek on the natural substances used for the preparation of medicines"

DIOSCORIDES, Pedanius. De medica materia libri sex.
Lyon, Thibaud Payen (Theobaldus Paganus), 1546 (colophon: 1547). 16mo. With a woodcut device on title-page and some woodcut initials. 18th-century calf, rebacked with original gold-tooled backstrip laid down. [30], 543, [147] pp. Full description

€ 3,950

Eyewitness account of a 1570 diplomatic mission to the Ottoman court,
with 28 fine original colour drawings and samples of Turkish decorated paper

[DIPLOMATIC MISSION]. BRAECKLE, Jacques de. Memoires du voiage de Constantinople de Jacques de Bracle seigneur de Bassecourt.
[Various places, [1570 or very soon after]. 4to (main text & decorated paper) & 8vo (transcription & drawings) (21.5 x 14.5 cm). Manuscript in French, written in brown ink on paper in a Flemish bastarda gothic hand, with about 26 lines per page. With 8 contemporary half-sheet specimens of Turkish decorated "silhouette" paper (folded to make 16 leaves in 2 quires), a series of 28 drawings in brown ink and coloured gouaches, highlighted in gold (mostly costume figures, some showing the Sultan and other leading figures, others showing anonymous types from various ethnic and religious groups), plus a ca. 1800, transcript of the complete text and biography of the author (with his arms in colour). Modern sheepskin parchment. [2 blank], [34]; [5 blank], [62 incl. a few blank], [1 blank] pp. plus 8 double leaves of decorated paper and [36], [4 blank]; [2], [2 blank] pp. of 18th-century additions. Full description

€ 180,000

Archaeological sites in the Middle East, with 143 reproductions of photographs

DJEMAL PASCHA, Ahmed and Theodore WIEGAND. Alte Denkmaler aus Syrien, Palastina und Westarabien. 100 Tafeln mit beschreibendem Text.
Berlin, Georg Reimer, 1918. Folio (34.5 x 24 cm). WIth 100 plates with 143 reproductions of photographs. Original red publisher's cloth, with the title in Arabic and German on the front board. 10 pp., 100 ll. Full description

€ 4,500

Life and customs in the Ottoman Empire, described by a Christian former slave

DJURDJEVIC, Bartol (Bartholomeus GEORGIEVITZ) Voiage de la saincte cite de Hierusalem. Jointe la description des citez, villes, ports, lieux, & autres passages. Ensemble les ceremonies des Turcs ...
Liège, printed by Leonard Streel for Lambert de la Coste, 1600. 2 parts in 1 volume. 4to. 18th-century calf, gold-tooled spine. [32], [32] lvs. Full description

€ 17,500

40 years of correspondence between two leading orientalists in Russia, often concerning Georgian matters

[AUTOGRAPHS]. DORN, Bernard. [21 autograph letters, signed, to Marie-Félicité Brosset].
Saint Petersburg, ca. 1840-1879. 8vo (letters, mostly 21 x 13.5 cm) and folio (list of publications). Letters in French with an occasional (Persian?) word in Arabic script, written in black ink on paper, some with the address on the outside and one with Dorn's (Persian?) red wax seal in Arabic script.
With: (2) [Manuscript chronological numbered list of 34 publications by Dorn, 1843-1865].
[Saint Petersburg, ca. 1865]. 20 letters [4] pp. each (some including blanks); 1 letter [1, 1 blank] pp.; list of publications [4] pp. Full description

€ 7,500

Introduction to Islam by an important Dutch orientalist

DOZY, Reinhart. Het Islamisme. Tweede, herziene druk.
Haarlem, H.D. Tjeenk Willink, 1880. With 13 lithographed plates. Original publisher's gold- and blind-blocked cloth. viii, 357, [3 blank] pp. Full description

€ 250

Letter on the Mamluk-Ottoman power struggle in Egypt that would bring Muhammad Ali to power in 1805

[AUTOGRAPH]. DRUMMOND, William. [Letter on the fighting between the Ottomans and Mamluks in Egypt].
Bucharest, 13 December 1803. 4to (23.5 x 18.5 cm). Autograph letter in English, signed, written in brown ink on laid paper. [2] pp. Full description

€ 1,950

Scenes from the camel market in Dubai.

[DUBAI CAMEL MARKET]. Dubai camel market.
No place, [ca. 1930]. 2 photos (ca. 8.5 x 11 cm). Mounted on backing cardboard. In black picture frame (22 x 27 cm). Full description

€ 5,000

Photographs of the ruling family of Dubai during a state visit to Pakistan

[DUBAI – ROYAL FAMILY]. Photograph album.
Pakistan, Early 1970s. 40 photographs (29 in colour and 11 black-and-white). Various sizes (300 x 207 mm to 125 x 125 mm). Includes 51 original colour slides. Stored in large, six-leaf self-adhesive tan leather album (oblong folio, 43 x 34 cm). Full description

€ 35,000

First European biography of Timur derived from an Arabic source

DU BEC-CRESPIN, Jean. The historie of the great emperour Tamerlan wherein are expressed, encounters, skirmishes, battels, sieges, assaults, skalings, taking of cities and strong places, defended, and assaulted, with diverse stratagems of warre, the which this great and renowned warriour hath conducted and accomplished, during his raigne of fortie or fiftie yeares: with other instructions for the warre, which should not be unknowen of them that would attaine unto the knowledge of armes. Drawen from the auncient monuments of the Arabians, by messire Jean du Bec, abbot of Mortimer. Newly translated out of French into English, for their benefite which are ignorant in that language. by H.M.
London, R. Field for Willam Ponsonby, 1597. 4to. With a woodcut device on the title-page, woodcut initials, head- and tail-pieces.17th-century calf, 19th century gold-tooled spine. [4], 265, [1] pp. Full description

€ 35,000

1572 pharmaceutical work on medicines from the Greeks and Arabs

DU BOYS (SYLVIUS), Jean (Joannis de BOIS). In methodum miscendorum medicamentorum, quae in quotidiano sunt usu observationes, ex Graecic, Arabibus, & Neotericis.
Paris, Jaques Kerver, 1572. 8vo. With Kerver's woodcut device on title-page, depicting a unicorn with the family's arms, and a large cast ornament on the otherwise blank last page. Contemporary limp vellum, traces of ties. [8], 134, [10] ll. Full description

€ 4,500

Portugal's political and economic decline, with extensive chapters on France and the Umayyad Caliphate

DULAC, Antonio Maximino. Genuina exposição do tremendo marasmo politico em que cahio Portugal, com desenganada indicação dos unicos remedios apropriados a' sua cura radical... Tomo I [-II].
Lisbon, Imprensa Nacional, 1834. 2 volumes bound as 1. 4to. With lithographed frontispiece, and a small woodcut Portuguese royal coat of arms on title-page of each part. Contemporary half sheepskin, gold-tooled spine. VIII, 219, [1 blank], [4]; 206, [6] pp. Full description

€ 2,800

First edition of a leading medical-pharmaceutical work, with stunning woodcut headpieces and initials

DUPUIS (PUTEANUS), Guillaume. De medicamentorum quomodocunque purgantium facultatibus, nusquam anteà neque dictis, neque per ordinem digestis libri duo ...
Lyon, Macé Bonhomme, 1552. 4to. With a woodcut device on the title-page no doubt made for this edition (showing Hypocrates and Galenus, with motto, "In omnem terram exivit doctrina eorum"), finely executed arabesque woodcut headpieces and numerous woodcut initials with pictorial decoration (4 series, the two largest especially fine). Contemporary limp vellum with remnants of ties. [8], 179, [1] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Secret correspondence between Tipu Sultan and the French, published by the British

[EAST INDIA COMPANY]. [TIPU SULTAN, Zaman Shah DURRANI, NAPOLEON BONAPARTE and others]. Official documents, relative to the negotiations carried on by Tippoo Sultaun, with the French Nation, and other foreign states, for purposes hostile to the British nation; to which is added, proceedings of a Jacobin club, formed at Seringapatam, by the French soldiers in the corps commanded by M. Dompart, with a translation ... Printed by order of the ... Governor General ...
Calcutta, Honorable Companys Press, 1799. Super Royal 4to (33.5 x 25 cm). Never bound, but side stitched through 3 holes. XX, [2], 195, [1] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Reconstructing a pre-Islamic calendar

EFFENDI, Mahmoud. Mémoire sur le calendrier arabe avant l'Islamisme, et sur naissance et l'age du prophète Mohammad.
[Brussels, 1861?]. 4to. Modern paper wrappers. 45, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Famous limited edition leaf book "Ege portfolio", containing 15 beautiful oriental manuscript leaves including texts in Arabic, Persian, and Ethiopic

EGE, Otto F (compiler & author of the annotations). [Drop-title:] Fifteen original oriental manuscript leaves of six centuries. [Binding title:] Fifteen original oriental manuscripts.
[Cleveland, Ohio?], [Cleveland Institute of Art or Western Reserve University?], [ca. 1952]. 15 manuscript leaves (in one case a fragment of a scroll) of various formats and sizes, some glazed (see the detailed list of contents for specific dimensions), 7 written on straight-forward laid paper (European and non-European), 6 more problematic (probably all non-European), 1 on straight-forward wove paper (no. 14, supposedly made in Russia) and one on vellum (no. 7), most rubricated and/or decorated in various colours, some decorated or highlighted in gold. Each manuscript leaf is mounted (hinged on one edge to allow access to both sides of the leaf) in a passe-partout (46.5 x 33 cm) and each has a letterpress slip (10 x 18 cm) with explanatory text tipped onto the foot of the passe-partout. The publication has no title-page but includes a letterpress folio leaf that serves as a table of contents and has the drop-title given above (the present copy contains two copies of that contents leaf). The display typeface used in the letterpress leaves (and on the portfolio) is the 1938 Libra by the Dutch designer Sjoerd de Roos, inspired by uncial manuscripts. Publishers original portfolio (48.5 x 34 x 4.5 cm) covered with black cloth with on-lays in black and red on the front and the authors name in white and title in red on the spine, with three pairs of black ties (one on the inside) and a label on the inside of the right black flap giving information about the limited edition: "Edition limited to forty numbered sets of which this is No 33". [1] leaf (plus a duplicate) plus 15 original manuscript leaves mounted in white passe-partouts. Full description

€ 18,000

Extremely rare map of Damascus, printed in the field by British and allied troops in 1918

[SYRIA - EGYPTIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE]. Damascus.
[Damascus?], Field Survey Co[mpan]y. R.E., E.E.F., 7 October 1918. Map of Damascus (73.5 x 51 cm) printed in black and tan, on a scale of 1:10,000. Full description

€ 8,500

Egypt captured in 2 albumen photographic prints by the Zangaki brothers

[EGYPT - PHOTOGRAPHY] ZANGAKI BROTHERS. [Photographic prints of the Nile with pyramids in the background and of the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo]. No. 827 Cour de la Mosquee El-Azhar reunion des theologiens Caire; No. 901 Nil et Pyramides.
[Egypt, Zangaki brothers, last quarter of the 19th century]. A single, oblong board (30 x 40 cm). 2 albumen photographic prints mounted on one board, 1 on each side (approx. 22,5 x 28 cm). Full description

€ 600

Unique snapshots of Egypt in 1906-1908: excavations in progress, the Mahmal procession,
the Tanta fair and daily life, probably taken by a female photographer

[PHOTOGRAPHY - EGYPT]. Book I-[II] Egypt 1906-7. Book III Naples, Rome, Florence. Book IV Criccieth N. Wales, Zara, Khargeh Upper Egypt, Cairo, Freshwater Bay I.W.Egypt, Naples, Rome, Florence, Criccieth and the Isle of Wight, 1906-1908. Oblong (23 x 32 cm). An album in 4 volumes with 323 silver gelatin prints (8 x 5.5 cm to 14 x 8 cm, mostly ca. 10 x 7 cm). Side-stitched.
With:
(2) LEHNERT & LANDROCK. Souvenir of Cairo. 12 real artistic photos. Serie A.
Egypt, [late 1920s]. Envelope containing 12 silver gelatin prints (12 x 9 cm).
(3) [PHOTOGRAPHY - SINGAPORE?]. Photograph of a woman and a baby sitting in a rickshaw, with a child in front and the rickshaw puller.
[Singapore?], [late 1920s]. Silver gelatin print (7.5 x 12.5 cm). 9; 7; 12; 11 ll. Full description

€ 4,500

Afghanistan and its dependencies in Persia, Tartary and India, with 14 hand-coloured plates, in original wrappers

ELPHINSTONE, Mountstuart. Tableau du royaume de Caboul, et de ses dépendances, dans la Perse, la Tartarie et l'Inde, offrant les moeurs, usages et costumes de cet empire, ... traduit et abrégé de l'anglais, par M. Breton.
Paris, Nepveu, 1817. 3 volumes. 18mo. With 14 engraved plates depicting various costumes, lords on horseback, etc., all beautifully coloured by hand. Original publisher's printed wrappers, each volume with wood engraved illustrations on front, back and spine. Preserved in a modern gold-tooled green morocco box. XLIV, 189 [3]; [4], 222, [2]; [4], 223 [1] pp. Full description

€ 4,950

Politics of the Arab World as seen by the Labour Party in 1959

ENNALS, David & Ian CAMPBELL. Middle East Issues.
London, Fabian International Bureau, February 1961. 8vo. Original printed paper covers. 29 pp. Full description

€ 200

Erpenius's excellent Arabic grammar

ERPENIUS (VAN ERPE), Thomas. Rudimenta linguae Arabicae.
Leiden, Boneventura and Abraham Elzevier, 1628. Small 8vo (15 x 9.5 cm). With title-page printed in red and black. 19th-century green sheepskin. [10], 172, [48] pp. Full description

€ 2,800

Best edition of a classic Arabic grammar, with fables, proverbs and quotations

ERPENIUS, Thomas. Grammatica Arabica; cum varia praxios materia, cujus elenchum versa dabit pagella.
Leiden, Johannes Maire, 1656. 2 parts in 1 volume. 4to. Mid 19th-century half tan calf, gold- and blind-tooled spine. [12], 172, “282” [= 284] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Greatly enlarged edition of Erpenius's groundbreaking introduction to the Arabic language

ERPENIUS (VAN ERPE), Thomas. Rudimenta linguae arabicae. Florilegium sententiarum arabicarum ut et clavim dialectorum ac praesertim arabicae adjecit Alb. Schultens. Editio altera, aucta indicibus.
Leiden, S. & J. Luchtmans & Jean le Mair, 1770. 4to. With engraved publisher's device on title-page. Contemporary half calf. [6], 374, [174] pp. Full description

€ 850

Eyewitness account of the bombing of Algiers in 1688

ESPINOSA, Antonio de. Copia de una carta que ha escrito desde la ciudad de Argel el padre procurador Fray Antonio de Espinosa, religioso calzado del Orden de la Santissima Trinidad, redencion de cautivos, y administrador de los cinco reales hospitales, que su sagrada religion tiene en aquella ciudad.
(Colophon: Madrid, Sebastian de Armendariz), 12 October [1688]. Small 4to (19 x 14 cm). With a large woodcut initial with a parrot. Disbound. 6 ll. Full description

€ 2,500

A French adventurer in the Middle East

FERRIER, Jean-Paul. Voyages en Perse dans l'Afghanistan le Béloutchistan et le Turkestan.
Paris, E. Dentu, 1860. 2 parts in 1 volume. 8vo. With portrait for frontispiece, printer's device on both titles, and one large folding map. Contemporary dark purple half morocco. [6], XIV, [2], 463; [4], 463 pp. Full description

€ 1,250

The standard handbook on geomancy, a divination system with Arabian origins, including a 12th-century translation of a work by the Arab Alfakini, published here for the first time

FLUDD, Robert, Henri de PISIS and ALFAKINI. Fasciculus geomanticus, in quo varia variorum opera geomantica continentur.
Verona [= Frankfurt am Main], 1687. With 5 (of 6) large folding letterpress tables, 1 double-page engraved folding plate with 2 engraved illustrations, and some woodcut illustrations and numerous letterpress geomantic figures in text.
With: (2) Tabulae geomanticae, seu liber singularis de tribus ultimis ex antiquo manuscripto de anno MDXXXV. Iam primo luci datus, annexis duabus tabellis huic studio mirè inservientibus, caeteroquin utilibus & jucundis.
Frankfurt am Main, Johann David Zunner, 1693. With 2 letterpress folding tables following text, and nearly 200 pages of letterpress tables with geomantic figures. 2 works in 1 volume, bound in reverse order. 8vo. Contemporary vellum. 647, [1 blank]; 197, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

The first world chronicle to include bio-bibliographies of Arab scholars

FORESTI DE BERGAMO, Jacobus Philippus. Supplementum chronicarum.
Brescia, Boninus de Boninis, 1. XII. 1485. Small folio (21 x 31 cm). Double rules along inner margins of text and between table columns, rubricated throughout. Contemporary richly blind-tooled vellum over wooden boards, bound in the monastic shop of the Würzburg Benedictines, two clasps. [1 blank], [18], [1 blank], [3], 358, [1] ll. Full description

€ 65,000

Important study of the Aramaic language and its survival in Arabic loanwords

FRAENKEL (FRÄNKEL), Siegmund. Die Aramäischen Fremdwörter im Arabischen.
Leiden, E.J. Brill, 1886. 8vo. Later cloth with original publisher's printed paper wrappers bound in. [2], XXII, 327, [1] pp. Full description

€ 950

Italian manuscript criticizing contemporary France in a dialogue between Muhammad and Colbert

[MANUSCRIPT - FRANCE]. Colloquio su'gli affari presenti del 1683 fatto nell'Inferno, tra Maometto, e monsieur Colbert, già ministro di Francia.
[Italy, ca. 1684?]. Small folio (29 x 20.5 cm). Manuscript in brown ink on laid paper in a legible hand. Sewn. [54], [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Tolerant comparison of world religions

FRANCK, Sebastian. Werelt-boeck, spieghel ende beeltenisse des gheheelen aerdtbodems, ...
The Hague, Albrecht Heyndricxz., 1595. Folio. 17th-century parchment, new endpapers. CXXXIIII, [4] ll. Full description

€ 8,500

A physician's account of the slave trade

FRANK, Ludwig. Memoire sur le commerce des Negres.
Paris, Migneret, 1802. 8vo. Stitched as issued with a paper spine. 52 pp. Full description

€ 7,500

The first English edition of a famous biography of the fourth Portuguese viceroy of India

FREIRE DE ANDRADE, Jacinto and Peter WYCHE (translator). The life of Dom John de Castro, the fourth Vice-Roy of India. Wherein are seen the Portuguese's voyages to the East-Indies; their discoveries and conquests there; the form of government, commerce, and discipline of warr[!] in the East, and the topography of all India and China. Containing also a particular relation of the most famous siege of Dio, with a map to illustrate it.
London, Henry Herringman, 1664. Folio. With a full-page engraved portrait of D. João de Castro, the fourth viceroy of India as a frontispiece, signed "W. Faithorne sculp.", one full-page engraved illustration of the shrine of St. Thomas in Meliapor - including its inscriptions in Sanskrit - which already existed at the time of the Portuguese arrival in India, and one double page engraved map (view) of Diu and its fortress. Contemporary blind-tooled calf. [1], [1 blank], [18], 272, [19], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 16,500

No more than 16 piastres for a litre of wine

[FRENCH MANDATE FOR SYRIA AND THE LEBANON]. Recueil des Arrêtés et Décisions de la Z. O. (24 Octobre 1918 - 31 Août 1920). Interessant toutes les branches de lAdministration: Administration Civils, Justice, Finances, Hygiène Publique, Agriculture, Douanes.
Beirut, Impimerie des Lettres J. G., 1924. 8vo. Original printed wrappers. 188 pp., 2 final blank leaves. Full description

€ 1,500

6 beautiful views made on a journey to the Middle East to procure Arabian horses

FRISCH, Friedrich. Skizzen aus dem Orient, gesammelt in den Jahren 1840 und 1841. | Esquisses de l'Orient, recueillies dans les années 1840 et 1841.
Darmstadt, Ernst Kern; Paris, H. Gache, 1843. Oblong 1mo (48 x 63.5 cm). With 6 tinted lithographed plates by Frisch, with captions in German and French below. The first three in the deluxe issue printed by B. Dondorf, Frankfurt am Main, the last three in the regular issue printed by G. Küstner. Original publisher's letterpress printed wrappers, with a list of subscribers and advertisements on the back of the front wrapper. Full description

€ 18,000

"one of the most renowned nineteenth-century photobooks"

FRITH, Francis. Egypt and Palestine. Photographed and described.
London, James S. Virtue, [1858-1859]. 2 volumes. Folio (44.5 x 32.5 cm). With 76 photographs on plates by Francis Frith (ca. 14.5-16.5 x 21.5-23 cm), each with a separate leaf of text. Contemporary red morocco, gold-tooled spines and boards, marbled endpapers, gilt edges. Full description

€ 40,000

1565/66 pilgrimage to the Middle East, with author's portrait, coat of arms and 6 illustration plates

FÜRER VON HAIMENDORF, Christoph. Itinerarium Aegypti, Arabiae, Palaestinae, Syriae, aliarumque regionum orientalium.
Nuremberg, Abraham Wagenmann, 1621 (colophon: Nuremberg, printed by Abraham Wagenmann, 1620). Small 4to. With finely engraved full-page portrait of the author by Peter Isselberg, full-page engraved Fürer von Haimendorf coat of arms, 6 folding engraved plates. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment. [16], 118, [114] pp. Full description

€ 12,500

Diplomatic treaty between the UK and North Yemen

FURLONGE, Sir Geoffrey Warren, and Qadi al-AMRI. Exchange of notes regarding relations between the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the government of the Yemen.
London, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1951. With a woodcut British Royal arms on the title-page. In a blue paper wrapper with a clear plastic front. 8 pp. Full description

€ 350

Early French translation of Galen’s simples

GALENUS (GALEN), Claudius. Deux livres des simples de Galien.
Lyon, Etienne Dolet, 1542. 8vo. With a woodcut device on title-page and a larger version on the last page, both partly coloured by hand. Rubricated throughout. 19th-century vellum. “162”[=163], [1] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Rare third French edition of the One thousand and one nights in the first translation
into any European language, by Antoine Galland

GALLAND, Antoine (translator). Les mille et une nuit, contes Arabes, traduits en Français.
Paris, La Compagnie des Libraires (colophon vol. VI: printed by [André-François] Le Breton, imprimeur ordinaire du Roi), 1745. 6 volumes. 12mo in 4s & 8s. Uniform gold-tooled mottled calf. [16], 350; [12], 352; [8], 415, [1 blank]; [4], “369” [= 375], [1 blank]; [4], 419 [1 blank]; [4], “181” [= 183], [3], [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Five treatises in French concerning the Arabs and Turks, including a translation of an account of a pilgrimage to Mecca

GALLAND, Julien-Claude. Recueil des rits et cérémonies du pelerinage de la Mecque, auquel on a joint divers ecrits relatifs à la religion, aux sciences & aux mœurs des Turcs.
Amsterdam; Paris, Jean Desaint and Charles Saillant, 1754. 8vo. Contemporary mottled, tanned sheepskin, gold-tooled spine. VIII, 215, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,950

Wonderful album of 89 early photographs of the most important cultural monuments from the El-Andalus period

GARZÓN RODRÍGUEZ, Rafael. [Photography - Spain]. Toledo, Córdoba, Granada.
1890. Large oblong album (32 x 40 cm). 89 original photographs, mostly 20 x 26 cm. Half blind-tooled greenish brown calf and grey/green net grained cloth over boards, with the title in gold on the front board, red edges and decorated endpapers. [52] ll. interleaved with tissue paper. Full description

€ 28,000

The most accurate map of India and the Gulf region to its time

[GASTALDI, Giacomo]. Seconda tavola.
[Venice], Ferrando Bertelli, 1565 [printed ca. 1570]. Engraved map of the Indian Ocean, Indian subcontinent and most of the Gulf region (28 x 39 cm; margins extended to 50 x 66.5 cm), at a scale of about 1:13,500,000 with north at the foot, with 3 sea monsters, a spouting whale and 3 ships in the ocean; and on the land elephants, lions and 2 people on horseback carrying spears. Although printed from a single copper plate, the present map image is divided into two parts, with a 7 mm gap between the right and left halves, so that nothing would be lost if the map were bound as a double-page plate. Full description

€ 18,000

Treating the plague in Ottoman Turkey, from the library of “le Régent”, Philippe d'Orléans

GAUDEREAU, Abbé Martin. Relation des differentes especes de peste que reconnoissent les orientaux, des précautions & des remedes qu'ils prennent pour en empêcher la communication & le progrès; et de ce que nous devons faire à leur exemple pour nous en préserver, & nous en guerir.
Paris, Jacques Quillau, 1721. 12mo. Contemporary gold-tooled red morocco, with the arms of Philippe d'Orléans (1674-1723) on both boards, richly gold-tooled spine, gold-tooled board edges and turn-ins, gilt edges. 134, [5], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 15,000

Syrian land and water molluscs

GERMAIN, Louis. Mollusques terrestres et fluviatiles de Syrie.
Paris, Baillière and son (colophon: Rouen, Lecerf), 1921-1922. 2 volumes. 8vo. With 118 figures on 23 plates and some smaller illustrations in text. Later blue cloth. 523, [1]; 242, [2] pp. Full description

€ 500

The gastropods of Anatolia, with 17 plates

GERMAIN, Louis. Mollusques terrestres et fluviatiles d'Asie-Mineure.
Paris, Paul Lechevalier (colophon: Rouen, Lecerf), 1936. 8vo. With 17 plates with photographic reproductions and many illustrations in text. Modern brown half morocco, gold-tooled spine; with the original publisher's printed paper wrappers bound in. 492 pp. Full description

€ 375

Classic work on distillation, with dozens of woodcuts

[GESNER (GESSNER), Conrad]. Thesaurus Euonymi Philiatri, de remediis secretis.
Lyon, Balthazar Arnoullet, 1554. 16mo (12.5 x 8 cm). With dozens of woodcut illustrations in text. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment. [44], [4 blank], 499, [8], [5 blank] pp. Full description

€ 5,000

"Most realistic, least moralizing and most informative" account of the Ottoman Empire

GIOVIO, Paolo. Commentario de le cose de' Turchi, ...
(Colophon: Rome, printed by Antonio Blado "in le case de" Gioanbatista di Massimi, 1535). 4to (20 x 14 cm). With Blado's woodcut device on title-page (repeated below the colophon). Modern blue-grey paper wrappers made with ca. 1750 materials. [84] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

Diseases and deformities in Egypt and Palestine, with 27 plates

GODARD, Ernest. Égypte et Palestine observations médicales et scientifiques.
Paris, Victor Masson et fils (back of half-title: printed by Simon Raçon et Comp.), 1867. 2 volumes: 8vo (text) and 4to (plates). With an engraved author's portrait by Jean Charles Le Vasseur and 27 numbered lithographed plates, each preceded by a leaf with a short letterpress caption. Later black half goatskin, with the original boards (text) and the plates loosely inserted in original publisher's portfolio, printed boards, rebacked with black cloth. [6 incl. portrait], XXXI, [1 blank], 438 pp. Full description

€ 4,750

First European description of the Great Timur's court, the precursor of the Mughal Empire

GONZALES DE CLAVIJO, Ruy. Historia del Gran Tamorlan e Itinerario y ennaracion del viage y relacion de la Embaxada que Ruy Gonzalez de Clavijo le hizo por mandado del muy poderoso Señor don Henrique el tercero de Castilla y un breve discurso fecho por Gonzalo Argote de Molina para mayor inteligencia deste libro.
Seville, Andrea Pescioni, 1582. Folio in 8s. With a woodcut vignette on the title-page, woodcut initials and a woodcut device at the end. Modern tree calf. 78 ll. Full description

€ 65,000

On the expediency of British rule in the East Indies

GRANT, Robert. The expediency maintained of continuing the system by which the trade and government of India are now regulated.
London, printed for Black, Parry and J. Hatchard (back of title-page: printed by Cox and Baylis), 1813. 8vo. With 2 letterpress folding tables (1 printed in red and black). Contemporary calf, gold-tooled. [1], [1 blank], XIX, [1 blank], 404 pp. Full description

€ 4,500

British interpretership examination for Arabic

[GREAT BRITAIN - ARABIC]. Civil service commission pamphlet containing the question papers of the preliminary and interpretership tests in Arabic used at an examination held in June 1936 of the officers of the Royal Air Force. Crown copyright reserved.
London, printed and published at Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1936. Folio. Printed in English and Arabic. Original publisher's printed paper wrappers, in later blue paper wrappers. 10 pp. Full description

€ 1,250

British interpretership examination for Arabic

[GREAT BRITAIN - ARABIC]. Civil service commission pamphlet containing the question papers of the preliminary and interpretership tests in Arabic used at an examination held in June 1938 of officers of the Army and Air Force. Crown copyright reserved.
London, printed and published at Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1938. Folio. Printed in English and Arabic. Original publisher's printed paper wrappers, in later blue paper wrappers. 10 pp. Full description

€ 475

Marking the brief golden age of Christianity in the Arabian peninsula

GREGENTIUS, Saint. [Title in Greek followed by:] Disputatio cum Herbano Iudaeo: nunc primùm Graecè edita, cum interpretatione Nic. Gulonii, Carnutis, literarum Graecarum professoris regii, notis illustrata. Hoc dialogo sides Christiana tum divinorum oraculorum exposition, tum miraculorum effectu confirmatur.
Paris, Fédéric Morel, 1586. 8vo. With text in Latin and Greek on facing pages. Contemporary sheepskin parchment. [8], 204 ll. Full description

€ 6,500

A 1780s voyage through Turkey via Aleppo to Basra and via Muscat back to Europe

GRIFFITHS, John. Neue Reise in Arabien, die europäische und asiatische Türkey. Nach dem Englischen für Deutsche bearbeitet von K.L.M. Müller.
Leipzig, J.C. Hinrichs, 1814. 2 volumes bound as 1. 8vo. With an engraved folding frontispiece view and 3 engraved maps (2 large folding), the view coloured, 1 map with the Ottoman-Persian border coloured in blue and red, and all three maps with the route coloured in red. Mid 19th-century boards covered with marbled paper, with the arms of Friedrich Wilhelm IV, King of Prussia in gold on the front board. [10], 125, [3 blank]; [1], [1 blank], 154 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Carpets and rugs from Turkey and Persia, with 120 colour-printed plates

GROTE-HASENBALG, Werner. Der Orientteppich[:] seine Geschichte und seine Kultur.
Berlin, Scarabaeus (colophon: Dr. Selle & Co.), 1922. 3 volumes (26 x 26 cm). The text volume with colour-printed frontispiece, 28 plates numbered I-XXII (13 colour-printed), 139 numbered and 14 unnumbered illustrations in text, and a folding map; the two plate volumes with a total of 120 colour-printed plates mounted on grey-black paper.Original publishers cloth. XVI, [2 blank], 228, [8] pp. plus plates(text). Full description

€ 950

Carpets and rugs from Turkey and Persia, with 120 colour-printed plates

GROTE-HASENBALG, Werner. Der Orientteppich[:] seine Geschichte und seine Kultur.
Berlin, Scarabaeus (colophon: Dr. Selle & Co.), 1922. 3 volumes (26 x 26 cm). The text volume with colour-printed frontispiece, 28 plates numbered I-XXII (13 colour-printed), 139 numbered and 14 unnumbered illustrations in text, and a folding map; the two plate volumes with a total of 120 colour-printed plates mounted on grey-black paper. Original publisher's cloth. XVI, [2 blank], 228, [8] pp. (text) Full description

€ 1,250

Rare album with magnificent lithographed views of an untouched Northeast Algeria (Constantine),
shortly after the French occupation

GUYON, Jean Louis Geneviève. Voyage dAlger aux Ziban lancienne Zebe en 1847. Avec vues des principales oasis et de quelques monuments du Tell, en deça des Aurès, et un portrait du dernier Bey de Constantine. Atlas.
Algeria, Imprimerie du Gouvernement, 1850. Oblong 4to. With 35 plates, namely a portrait of Hadj Hamed (or Ahmet Bey ben Mohammed sherif, the last Bey of Constantine; 1784-ca. 1850), and 34 views of various parts, cities and Roman remains in Algeria (Constantine), Half black morocco, brown cloth sides, gold-tooled spine. [4] pp. Full description

€ 2,250

First edition of the first English translation of the poems by the Persian Sufi poet Hafez

HAFEZ (HAFIZ) [Khwaaja Shams-ud-Din Muhammad Hafez-e Shirazi]. The Dîvân, written in the fourteenth century by Khwâja Shamsu-d-Dîn Muhammad-i-Hâfiz-i-Shîrâzî otherwise known as Lisânu-l-Ghaib and Tarjumânu-l-Asrâr. Translated for the first time out of the Persian into English prose, with critical and explanatory remarks, with an introductory preface, with a note on Sûfîism, and with a life of the author, by: Lieut.-Col. H. Wilberforce Clarke.
Calcutta, Government of India Central Printing Office, 1891. 2 volumes. Large 4to. Titles and mottos printed in red and black. Original publisher's vellum. [2], XLIV, 494; [4], 495-1011 pp. Full description

€ 6,500

British exploration of the South Arabian coast

HAINES, Stafford-Bettesworth. Description des cotes meridionales d'Arabie, depuis l'entre de la Mer Rouge jusqu'a celle du Golfe Persique.
Paris, Paul Dupont, 1849. 8vo. Later library cloth with original publisher's printed paper front wrapper bound in. 92 pp. Full description

€ 3,850

13th-century treatise on falconry, in the original Turkish with a German translation, with two other early falconry treatises

HAMMER-PURGSTALL, Joseph von. Falknerklee, bestehend in drey ungedruckten Werken über die Falknerey. ...
Pest (now part of Budapest), Conrad Adolf Hartleben (verso of title-page: [Vienna], printed by the widow of Anton Strauß), 1840. 8vo. With lithographed frontispiece, elaborately decorated Turkish title-page and opening page. Set in fraktur, Arabic and Greek types with incidental roman. With a modern index of ornithological, zoological and botanical names. Later 19th-century half tanned sheepskin, with the publisher's original tinted lithographed wrappers bound in; the modern index is separately bound in modern goatskin, designed to match the main volume. Frontispiece plus [8], XXXII, [2], 115, [2], [1 blank] pp.; 48 ll. Full description

€ 8,500

Important work on the natural history of Palastine

HASSELQUIST, Friedrich and Carl LINNAEUS. Reise nach Palästina in den Jahren von 1749 bis 1752. auf Befehl ihro Majestät der Königinn von Schweden herausgegeben vond Carl Linnäus aus em Schwedischen.
Rostock, Johann Christian Koppe, 1762 (colophon: Leipzig, Johann Gottlob Immanuel Breitkopf, 1761). 8vo. With woodcut tailpieces. Contemporary half vellum. [18], 606 pp. Full description

€ 1,800

Deluxe copy with a beautiful hand-coloured Arabic miniature on parchment

HEINE, Maurice. L'Islam sous la cendre.
Paris, [Jules Meynial] (colophon: Frazier-Soye), (19 February) 1918. Square 4to (25 x 26 cm). With three different versions of the frontispiece: a lithographed plate, a hand-coloured miniature painting on vellum, highlighted with gold, and an engraved plate; and with the half-title printed in blue and several words in the text printed in green and blue. Original green cloth. 26 ll. Full description

€ 8,500

Official map of the Hejaz railway, from Damascus to Medina
(with the planned extension to Mecca, never built)

[HEJAZ RAILWAY]. [Map and profile of the Hijaz Railway route].
Constantinople, Matba a-i Bahriye, 1320 Rumi [= 1904 CE]. Colour-lithographed map (76.5 x 49.5 cm), trimmed to neat line. Full description

€ 22,000

From the Bohemian mountains to the Arabic Gulf

HENRY, René. Des monts de Bohême au Golfe Persique ... Deuxième édition.
Paris, Plon-Nourrit et Cie., 1908. 8vo. With 5 folding maps. Publisher's original printed paper wrappers. [2 blank], [4], XIV, 566, [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 750

The Desert of Paran and the 42 stations of the Exodus, with a map

HERMANN, Amand. Desertum Pharan mystice explicatum, cum quadraginta duabus in eo mansionibus filiorum Isràél ad Palaestinam pergentium: . . .
Kalisz, printed by the college of the Society of Jesus, 1685. 4to. With an engraved frontispiece, showing a map of the Holy Land and the route of the Exodus with the 42 stations numbered. Contemporary overlapping vellum. [32], 505, [1 blank], [16] pp. Full description

€ 1,950

"Father of History" in elegant & famous first Greek edition by Aldus Manutius, from the Arenberg library

HERODOTUS. [Historiarum] libri novem. Quibus musarum indita sunt nomina.
(Colophon: Venice), Aldus Manutius, (colophon: September 1502). Folio (29.5 x 20 cm). With Aldus's anchor and dolphin device on title-page and the verso of the last leaf. Late 19th-century blind-tooled, polished tan calf, the central panel with the arms of the Dukes of Arenberg. [140] ll. Full description

€ 69,500

A voyage through the Persian Gulf

HEUDE, William. Reis op de Perzische golf, en verder over land, van Indie naar Engeland, in 1817.
Amsterdam, G.J.A. Beijerinck, 1820. 8vo. With 4 aquatint plates, including a frontispiece by W.H. Hoogkamp. Original publisher's boards. XVI, 426, [6] pp. Full description

€ 1,750

The first British trade agreement with Mocha

[HEYNES, Edward]. Scheeps-togt van Mr. Edward Heynes, van Suratte na Mocha, gedaan in het jaar 1618. Verhalende, op wat wijse de Engelsse de koopmanschap, met de inwoonders, aldaar hebben opgerigt, en door schriftelijk verseekeringen (van den Bassa gegeeven) vast-gestelt. Als mede een beschrijving van de stad Mocha, des selfs huysingen, bolwerken en haven-plaats.
Leiden, Pieter van der Aa, [ca. 1707?]. Folio (25.5 × 40 cm). Modern blue-grey paper covers. [5] ll. (text in 2 columns per page, 4 per leaf, 14 cols. in total). Full description

€ 850

Edition of Hippocrates's aphorisms, very popular in the Islamic World

HIPPOCRATES (BOQRAT). Aphorismi, ad mentem ipsius, artis usus, & corpis mechanismi rationem expositi.
Paris, Guillelmum Cavelier, 1724. 2 volumes. 12mo. With a woodcut device on title-page and a tailpiece on the last page. Contemporary calf, gold-tooled spine, red edges, marbled pastedowns and endpapers. [2], xl, [4], 316; [4], 317-“601” [=591], [33] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

A key for the Western knowledge of Arabia at the beginning of the 20th century,
by the man who inspired Lawrence of Arabia

HOGARTH, David George. The penetration of Arabia.
London, Lawrence and Bullen, Ltd., 1904. Large 8vo. With 50 photographs of Medina, Mecca (incl. the Kabah, pilgrims camping outside the city praying in the Great Mosque-Precinct and at the Tomb, mostly after the photographs of Snouck Hurgronje), Maskat, Sana, Jidda; portraits of explorers such as Carsten Niebuhr, J.L. Burckhardt, G.A. Wallin, Richard Burton, J. Snouck Hurgronje, Jos. Halévy, W.G. Palgrave, W.S. and Lady Anne Blunt and others, maps of their routes through Arabia and several maps and plans of Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Mecca, Medina, Sana, Riad, etc.; the Teima stone, the first published Himyaritic inscriptions, etc. At the end are bound two folding coloured maps on one large leaf (345 x 675 mm) containing (1) the orthographical, and (2) the land surface features of Arabia. Original green publisher's cloth, title in gold on the front board with a gold-tooled section of a compass with the signs of the zodiac, title in gold on the spine. XV, 359 pp. Full description

€ 450

The first book printed with roman type in Turkey

[HOLDERMANN, Jean-Baptiste Daniel]. Grammaire Turque ou méthode courte et facile pour apprendre la langue Turque ...
Istanbul, [Ibrahim Müteferrika & Zaïd Aga Effendi], 1730. 4to. With a double-page engraved table of Arabic letters in 7 different styles. Set in roman type with frequent Turkish words and phrases in naskh Arabic type. Contemporary blind-tooled calf. [16], 194, [6] pp. Full description

€ 25,000

Law in Arabic sources

HOMMEL, Karl Ferdinand. Bibliotheca juris rabbinica et Saracenorum Arabica instructa.
Bayreuth, Joh. Andr. Lubekus, 1762. 8vo. Later sprinkled paper boards. 63, [17] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

1472 incunable encyclopaedia of the world,
containing references to Arabia, Syria, Palestine and the Saracens

HONORIUS AUGUSTODUNENSIS (HONORIUS OF AUTUN). [Incipit:] ... de ymagine mundi.
[Nuremberg, Anton Koberger, 1472(?)]. Folio (31 x 22 cm).Rubricated throughout and about half of the spaces left for initials filled in by hand in red ink. 19th-century red sheepskin. [46], [1 blank] ll. Full description

€ 45,000

An excellent source on Iraq and the Gulf

HOPE, William Edward Stanton. Arabian adventurer. The story of Haji WIlliamson.
London, Robert Hale, 1951. 8vo. With 23 half-tone photographic illustrations, one as a frontispiece. Original purple-blue cloth with gold lettering on the spine. 335 pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Massive navigational directory for the East

HORSBURGH, James. The India directory, or, directions for sailing to and from the East Indies, China, New Holland, Cape of Good Hope, Brazil, and the interjacent ports ... third edition.
London, printed for the author and sold by Kingsbury, Parbury and Allen, booksellers to the East India Company (back of title-page: printed by Plummer & Brewis), 1826-1827. 2 volumes. 4to. Contemporary half calf, rebacked with the original backstrips laid down. [8], XXVI, 503, [1], 16; [8], 642, [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 15,000

Massive navigational directory, with sections on the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea and the Gulf

HORSBURGH, James, Gerrit KUIJPER and D. BOES LUTJENS. Zeemans-gids, naar, in en uit Oost-Indiën, China, Japan, Australiën, de Kaap de Goede Hoop, Braziliën en tusschenliggende havens, volgens de vierde Engelsche uitgave van James Horsburgh, ...
Amsterdam, C.F. Stemler, (back of half-title: printed in Haarlem by H. Bakels), 1841. 4to. Contemporary half calf, spine lettered in gold, marbled sides. I-XII, [2], XIII-XXIV, XXVIII, 1376 pp. Full description

€ 3,750

Massive navigational directory, this edition updated with information on the northeast coasts of Africa and Arabia

HORSBURGH, James. The India directory, or, directions for sailing to and from the East Indies, China, Australia, and the interjacent ports of Africa and South America ... Seventh edition.
London, Wm. H. Allen & Co. (back of title-pages: printed by Cox and Wyman), 1855. 2 volumes. Large 4to (28 x 23 cm). Contemporary half calf; rebacked with the original backstrips laid down. XII, XXXIV, [2], “681”[=683], [1 blank]; VIII, 978 pp. Full description

€ 18,000

Ancient Hebrew & other Middle Eastern, Greek, Roman and Arabic numbers, coins, weights and measures

HOST, Matthäus (Matthaeus HOSTUS). Historiae rei nummariae veteris scriptores aliquot insigniores ...
Including:
HOST, Matthäus. Tres libros de veteribus mensuris ...
HOST, Matthäus. Quaedam opuscula variae ...
[SARDI, Alessandro] (misattributed to John SELDEN). Liber de nummis ...
LABBE, Philippe. Bibliotheca nummaria ...
BUDÉ, Guillaume. De asse et partibus ejus libri quinque.
Leiden, Pieter van der Aa, 1695 (colophon at the end of Hosts works: Jena, Johann Zacharias Nisius, 1692). 15 works in 5 volumes, paginated as 3 and bound as 2. 4to. With 2 engraved portraits (vol. I) and 3 folding tables. Contemporary or near contemporary vellum. [36], 372, [8]; [26], “637” [= 535], [7], [2 blank], [lacking 1-2], 3-716, [86] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

On Assab, Eritrea, and the first years of the Italian government

[HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT - ASSAB - ERITREA]. Egypt. No. 15 (1882). Correspondence respecting Assab Bay.
London, Harrison and sons, 1882. Folio. Modern blue paper wrappers. X, 195, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,950

The Arabian nights fairy tales illustrated with jewel-like images by Edmund Dulac.

HOUSMAN, Laurence; Edmund DULAC (ills.). Stories from the Arabian nights.
London, Hodder and Stoughton, November 1907. 4to. With 50 full-page coloured illustrations after drawings by Edmund Dulac, with descriptions on the flyleaves. Original publishers orange cloth with gilt title in gold on decorated spine and front cover. xvi, 133 pp. Full description

€ 300

With a folding map situating the Garden of Eden near Al Basrah, Iraq

HUET, Pierre Daniel. Trattato della situazione del Paradiso terrestre ... Tradotta dalla lingua Francese.
Venice, Giambatista Albrizzi, 1737. Small 8vo (15.5 x 10 cm). With an engraved frontispiece incorporating a map, the engraved arms of the dedicatee Marc'Antonio Morosini above the dedication, and a folding engraved map (22.5 x 19 cm). Contemporary sprinkled tanned sheepskin, gold-tooled spine. [48], 234, [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Origin and development of earth, continental drift and radiometric dating

HUME, William Fraser. Terrestrial theories. A digest of various views as to the origin and development of the earth and their bearing on the geology of Egypt.
Cairo, Government Press, 1948. Large 8vo. With a chromolithographed folding geological map of the Atlantic Ocean, South America and Africa (loosely inserted in a pocket), 45 plates (some line drawings, maps, diagrams, etc.; some photographs probably reproduced by photogravure) and 37 figures in the text. Contemporary half cloth with original publisher's printed paper sides. XLIX, [1], 522, 160 pp. Full description

€ 500

British military terrain map of the Persian Gulf, published in Calcutta

HUNTER, Frederic Fraser (editor); Sir Sidney Gerald BURRARD (director). Southern Asia series - Southern Persia sheet - Persia, Arabia and Turkey in Asia
[Dehradun, Survey of India Office], sold at the Map Record and Issue Office, Calcutta, 1912. 61.5 x 88 cm. Large photozincographed (heliozincographed) folding map on a scale of 1:2,000,000 in black, blue and red, with relief shown by contours, hachures and gradient tints. Folded. Full description

€ 15,000

Pamphlet advertising the independance of Hedjaz

[HUSSEIN BIN ALI, Sharif of Mecca and Frederick Stanley MAUDE]. The king of Hedjaz and Arab independence ... together with the proclamation issued at Baghdad by Lieut.- General Sir Stanley Maude, after the occupation of that city by the British forces.
London, Hayman, Christy and Lilly Ltd., 1917. 8vo. With a photographic portrait of Hussein bin Ali for frontispiece and a folding facsimile proclamation (38 x 28 cm). Original stapled wrappers with red lettering on front wrapper. 14, [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,000

Revised and enlarged edition of a 1933 master's thesis on Arabian-Far Eastern relations to ca. 1500

HUZAYYIN, S.A. Arabia and the Far East. Their commercial and cultural relations in Graeco-Roman and Irano-Arabian times.
Cairo, printed by l'institut français d'archéologie orientale, 1942. 27.5 x 18 cm. With 12 relief-printed folding maps with trade routes, some regions, etc. printed in several colours and with the coat of arms of King Fouad I of Egypt on the title page. Original brown publisher's printed paper wrappers with the title of the work and the coat of arms of King Fouad I of Egypt on the front wrapper and the logo of "la Société Royale de Géographie d'Égypte" on the back wrapper. [2 blank], XXIX, [1 blank], 319, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,800

First substantial English translation of Ibn Batuta's travels through the Islamic world and beyond

IBN BATUTA and Samuel LEE (editor). The travels of Ibn Batuta; translated from the abridged Arabic manuscript copies, preserved in the public library of Cambridge. With notes, illustrative of the history, geography, botany, antiquities, &c. occurring throughout the work.
London, printed for the Oriental Translation Committee (colophon: by J.L. Cox). Large 4to (32 x 26). With various passages including the original Arabic text. Later half calf. "XVIII" [=XX], [2], 243, [1] pp. Full description

€ 17,500

10 Mediaeval works on health, medicine, food and wine in a rare early edition, including notes by Ibn Sina

IBN SINA (AVICENNA), Maynus de MAYNIS, Arnaldus de VILLANOVA, [Roger BACON] et al. Regimen sanitatis Magnini Mediolanensis ... Insuper opusculu[m] De flebothomia editum ... Reginaldo de Villa Nova. Additur quoq[ue] Astronomia Hippocratis ... de variis egritudinibus et morbis. Item Secreta Hippogratis. Item Averrois De venenis. Ite[m] Quid pro quo apothecariorum ... Nicolaum ... Cum no[n]nullis insuper Avicenne: ...
[Lyon, Barthélemy Trot] (colophon: Lyon, printed by Jacques Myt, 6 February 1517). Small 4to (19 x 14 cm). With title-page in red and black with Trot's woodcut publisher's device, 12 decorated woodcut initials plus 3 repeats. 17th-century(?) calf, gold-tooled spine; rebacked with the original backstrip laid down. CI, [3] ll. Full description

€ 25,000

First edition of Mantino's Latin translation of book 1, part 4 of Ibn Sina's magnum opus The Canon of Medicine

IBN SINA (AVICENNA) (and Jacob MANTINO, translator). Avicennae quarta fen primi libri de universali ratione medendi: nunc primum. m. Iacob Mantini medici hebrei: opera Latinate donata.
(colophon:) Venice, Lucantonio Giunti, 8 April 1530. 8vo. With Giunti's printer's device on the title page (a Florentine lily with the L. A. initials). Later vellum with more recent end leaves. 60 ll. Full description

€ 8,500

A commentary on Ibn Sina

[IBN SINA (AVICENNA)]. ODDIS, Oddus de (Oddo degli ODDI). In primam totam fen primi libri canonis Avicenn[a]e dilucidissima & expectatissima expositio. Nunc primum in lucem edita, illustrata, & completa assiduo labore, & longo studio Marci Oddi medici eiusdem filii.
Venice, Paolo and Antonio Meietti, 1575. 4to. With woodcut device on title-page, a woodcut headpiece, 3 large and 17 smaller woodcut decorated initials, and a small woodcut decoration (plus 1 repeat). Contemporary limp vellum, with manuscript title on spine. [8], 499, [33] pp. Full description

€ 7,500

Al-Idrisi's geographical account of northern Africa

AL-IDRISI, Muhammad and Joannes Melchior HARTMANN (translator). Africa.
Göttingen, Johann Christian Dieterich, 1796. 8vo. Slightly later black half goatskin. CXXIV, 530, [50] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

First and only edition of one of the earliest works on Persian grammar

IGNATIUS a Jesus (Carlo LEONELLI). Grammatica linguae Persicae. Auctore Patre Fratre Ignatio à Jesu Carmelita Discalceato missionario, & vicario residentiae Tripolis, & Montis Libani.
Rome, Propaganda Fide, 1661. 4to. With a device on the title-page, 1 woodcut decorated initial, decorations built up from arabesque typographic ornaments and a 4-page letterpress table showing the Persian alphabet with the initial, medial, final and stand-alone forms of the letters. Modern ivory vellum in the style of the time, manuscript title on spine. [2], 60 pp. Full description

€ 8,500

"Confidential"

[INDIA – ARMY, GENERAL STAFF BRANCH]. Operations in Waziristan 1919-1920. Confidential. Compiled by the General Staff, Army Headquarters, India, 1921.
Calcutta, Superintendent of Government Printing, 1921. 8vo. With frontispiece, 31 plates, 7 maps (3 in pocket on inside of back board), and 8 panoramas, mostly folding.Contemporary half calf, green cloth sides, gold-stamped red spine labels. X, 187, [1] pp. Full description

€ 2,800

The Gallipoli Campaign, extremely detailed map drawn in Cairo under the direction of Lawrence of Arabia

INTELLIGENCE OFFICE [ARAB BUREAU], CAIRO. Chanak.
Cairo, Survey Department Egypt, 1915 Colour-lithographed map (79 x 62.5 cm), printed in black, brown, red, blue and green. Mounted on contemporary cloth, with the key on the back (printed on or printed and pasted onto). Folded. Full description

€ 3,500

A rare pamphlet incriminating the Shah of Iran

[IRANIAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION NEW YORK]. WANTED. SHAH of IRAN by the Iranian people for the murders committed below (only after 1953).
New York, Iranian Student Association, [ca. 1974]. Folio. With 4 illustrations of the Shah.Pamphlet. Full description

€ 1,250

Map of Iran and Iraq in the 1930s

[MAP - IRAN - IRAQ]. PHILIP & SON. Iran (Persia) and Iraq.
London, George Philip & sons, [1930s]. Colour printed map, 54 x 68 cm, with yellow covers (19.5 x 11 cm). Full description

€ 650

British colour-printed aerial maps of Iraq for use in the Persian war

[MAPS - IRAQ]. [Reconnaissance maps of Iraq].
[UK Government], Survey Directorate HQ Tenth Army / Indian Field Survey Co., 1942 42 chromolithographed topographic maps of parts of Iraq, made from aerial photographs during World War II, on a scale of 1:100,000 and 1:253,440 (a quarter-inch to a mile). 68 x 50.5 cm & 60 x 47 cm. Full description

€ 6,500

Photographic impression of middle class life in England and the military in Iraq

[IRAQ -ENGLAND - PHOTOGRAPHY]. Life in England and Military Snap Shots in Iraq and Turkey, 1912-1920.
4to. Approximately 120 mounted (usually 2-4 to a page) snap shots ranging in size from 60 x 40 mm to 120 x 100 mm. Brief captions in black ink under almost all the photos. 1/4 leather album. Full description

€ 850

Historical narrative of a voyage to India and Persia written by a surgeon of the British Royal Navy

IVES, Edward. Reize naar Oost-Indië en Persië, en de daar omliggende landen. Ondernomen langs een' ongewoonen weg.
Amsterdam, De Compagnie, 1779. 2 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With 2 engraved title-pages, 2 folding engraved maps, one of India, the other tracking Ives's journey from Basra to Latakia, and 9 engraved plates (including 1 large folding). Contemporary blind-tooled vellum. [16], 324; [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], 379, [1] pp. Full description

€ 3,950

Historical narrative of a voyage to India and Persia written by a surgeon of the British Royal Navy

IVES, Edward. Reize naar Oost-Indië en Persië, en de daar omliggende landen. Ondernomen langs een' ongewoonen weg.
Amsterdam, De Compagnie, 1779. 2 volumes bound as 1. 4to. With 2 engraved title-pages, 2 folding engraved maps, one of India (44 x 51 cm), the other tracking Ives's journey from Basra to Latakia (ca. 42 x 56 cm), and 9 engraved plates (including 1 large folding). Early 20th-century boards. [16], 324; [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], 379, [1] pp. Full description

€ 2,950

A teenage sailor’s adventures in Arabia, Mumbai and elsewhere

JAMES, Silas. A narrative of a voyage to Arabia, India; &c; ...; with remarks on the genius and disposition of the natives of Arabia Felix; ...
London, printed by William Glindon, sold by the author, [1797]. 8vo. With a frontispiece portrait of the author engraved by William Newman. Modern dark brown calf, gold-tooled spine. “VI” [= VIII], 7, [1 blank], [1], 10-232 pp. Full description

€ 8,500

Well-illustrated report of an archaeological expedition
to the 7th & 8th-century "desert castles" of the Umayyad Caliphate

JAUSSEN, Antonin & Raphael SVAIGNAC Mission archeologique en Arabie III. Les chateaux arabes Qeseir 'Amra, Harâneh et Tûba.
Paris, Paul Geuthner, 1922. 2 volumes (text and atlas). Small folio (21 x 29.5 cm). Text volume with 21 illustrations in the text (mostly photographs). Atlas volume with 58 loose plates (mostly plans and photographic views) as issued. Text volume in modern half cloth, kept with the plates in a modern half cloth portfolio. [6], 134, [2] pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Extremely rare Syrian liturgical work by the Archbishop of Damascus, printed at the Dominican Press at Mosul

[LECTIONARY - SYRIAC]. [JOSEPH DAVID, Clemens]. Lectionarium Syriacum seu collectio orationum et lectionum quae in horis canonicis per totum anni decursum excepto jejunio quadragesimali ab ecclesiae Syriacae clero adhiberi solent.
Mosul, typis Fratrum Praedicatorum (= Dominican printing office), 1879. Folio. With a Latin title-page set in roman type and a Syriac title-page set in Syriac type, both within a red and blue ornamental frame. Preliminary leaves also set within a red ornamental frame. Text set in Syriac type and printed in black and red. With a few religious illustrations throughout the text. Contemporary half blue sheepskin, blue cloth sides, gold-tooled spine lettered (in Syriac) in gold, marbled endpapers. 648 pp. Full description

€ 12,500

Important collection of voyages to America and Africa, together with a standard work on Constantinople

[JUSTEL, Henri]. Recueil de divers voyages faits en Afrique et en l'Amerique.
Paris, Louis Billaine, 1674. With 17 engraved plates: 5 maps (4 folding), 3 folding plans and 9 other illustrations.
With: (2) GRELOT, Guillaume-Joseph. Relation nouvelle d'un voyage de Constantinople.
Paris, Nicolas Belley, 1689 (colophon 1680). With engraved portrait of a saint on title-page, 13 engraved plates, 4 engravings in text and engraved coat of arms. 2 works in 1 volume. 4to. 18th-century tan calf, gold-tooled spine. [16], 262, 35 [1 blank], 23 [1 blank], 49 [1 blank], [2], 81 [1 blank]; [12], 306, 1 [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 18,000

First edition in Arabic of the Samaritan book of Joshua

JUYNBOLL, Theodorus Willem Johannes. Chronicon Samaritanum, Arabice conscriptum cui titulus est liber Josuae. Ex unico codice Scaligeri nunc primum edidit, Latine vertit, annotatione instruxit, et dissertationem de codice, de chronico, et de quaestionibus, ...
Leiden, Samuel and Johannes Luchtmans, 1848. 4to. With a folding lithographed plate. Set in roman and italic types with the 55-page transcription in Arabic type and shorter passages in Hebrew, Samaritan and Syriac type. Modern half cloth, gold-tooled spine, marbled sides and decorated endpapers. XII, 369; [1], [1 blank], 55 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Very rare Dutch picaresque novel, with the female protagonist getting caught by pirates
and ending up in the household of an Arabic slave trader

[KERSTEMAN, Petrus Lievens]. De vermakelyke avanturesse, of de dienstmaagd van fortuin. Vervattende hare zonderlinge levensgevallen, ontelbare wederwaardigheden en rampen; zeltzame ontmoetingen, en koddige vryagien; deszelfs driejarige dienst als lakye, gevangenneming op de Moorsche kusten, en hare slavernye in Asia by de Arabieren.
Amsterdam, Steven van Esveldt, 1754. 8vo. With engraved frontispiece. Contemporary mottled half calf, gold-tooled spine, later endpapers. [4], 360 pp Full description

€ 3,500

A landmark of hadith scholarship: rare first English edition of a noted Sunni text, printed in Calcutta

KHATIB AL-TIBRIZI, Muhammad ibn ’Abd Allah (Arnold N. Matthews, trans.). Mishcàt-ul-Masábìh, or, A collection of the most authentic traditions, regarding the actions and sayings of Múhammed; exhibiting the origin of the manners and customs, the civil, religious and military policy of the Muslemàns.
Calcutta, T. Hubbard at the Hindoostanee Press. 1809-1810. 2 volumes. Small folio (23.5 x 31 cm). Contemporary sheepskin, flat spines with red morocco labels. [6], IX, [1], VI, 665, [1]; [2], VI, 817, [13] pp. Full description

€ 15,000

Lively watercolour view of Tophane Quay in Istanbul with the Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque

[ISTANBUL]. [KING, Helena Caroline or Adelaide Charlotte]. [Prominent Ottoman and entourage boarding boats before the Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque].
[Istanbul?, ca. 1830/50?]. Watercolour drawing on wove paper (29.5 x 45 cm) with highlights in shellac and a thin black border. Mounted on a larger sheet of paper in a passe-partout. Full description

€ 8,500

World atlas including one 6-sheet and eleven 4-sheet wall maps

KITCHIN, Thomas and others. Kitchin's general atlas, describing the whole universe.
London, Robert Laurie, James Whittle, 1808. Imperial folio (53 x 39.5 cm). With 28 engraved maps (numbered in 41 parts) assembled from 67 sheets. Most include elaborate cartouches with pictorial decoration. With the maps coloured in outline. Contemporary half calf. 1 leaf plus maps. Full description

€ 18,000

On Ibn Khaldun's cultural history

KREMER, Alfred von. Ibn Chaldun und seine Culturgeschichte der Islamischen Reiche.
Vienna, Karl Gerold's son (back of title-page: Adolf Holzhausen), 1879. 8vo. With 4 leaves with Arabic text. Contemporary paper wrappers. 62, [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,750

The past and present of the oral traditions of Bedouin tribes in Arabia,
discussed by a renowned Dutch scholar of Arabian languages and cultures

KURPERSHOEK, Paul Marcel. Oral poetry & narratives from Central Arabia.
1. The poetry of ad-Dindân A Bedouin Bard in Southern Najd.
2. The story of a Desert Knight The legend of Sçwîh al-'Atâwi & Other 'Utaybah Heroes.
3. Bedouin poets of the Dawâsir Tribe Between Nomadism & Settlement in Southern Najd.
Leiden, New York, Köln, Brill, 1994-1999. 3 volumes. Large 8vo. With 2 portraits as frontispieces in vols. 1 and 2. 16 pages with illustrations and 2 maps at the end of vols. 2 and 3. Red cloth with title information in gold on front cover and spine of all 3 vols. All 3 vols. have a dust jacket. XVII, [5 368, [4]; XIV, [4], 512, [2]; XX, 506, [4] pp. Full description

€ 850

Guide for new employees of the Kuwait Oil Company arriving in Al Ahmadi

KUWAIT OIL COMPANY. Information for new engagements on joining the Kuwait Oil Company, Limited, Kuwait.
Al Ahmadi, Kuwait Oil Company, 18 June 1952. Small folio (33 x 20.5 cm). Duplicated typescript, printed on the rectos only in purple ink, probably with a spirit duplicator. Loose sheets, stapled together at the left top corner with holes punched in the left margin. [2], 22 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Photos of Polish Arabian horses

[KWIATKOWSKI, Wojciech]. Polish Arabian horses before the year 1940.
[No place, ca. 1995]. 5 volumes. Oblong 4to. With 253 original photographs mounted on cardboard with accompanying text. Cloth-bound volumes with stamped titles. Full description

€ 4,500

Explorations in Arabia and vicinity, with 69 spectacular plates

LABORDE, Léon Emmanuel Simon Joseph de. Voyage de l'Arabie Pétrée.
Paris, Giard (colophon: printed by the Imprimerie Normale/Jules Didot l'ainé), 1830[-1834]. Royal 1mo (42 x 59.5 cm). With lithographic title-page (with a large lithographed title vignette separately printed on "India" paper and mounted on the title-page) and lithographed coat of arms of the dedicatee Wilhelm II of Hesse printed directly on dedication leaf, 69 lithographed plates (3 double-page and 1 larger folding) showing views, maps and plans after Laborde and Linant de Bellefonds, most separately printed on "India" paper and mounted on the leaves. With 1 zoological plate (of a marmot and young: "El Oueber") subtly coloured as published. Period-style half calf with gilt title to spine. Full description

€ 45,000

Travels through the Middle East, India and Europe, with 34 woodcut illustrations, including several trees

LA BOULLAYE LE GOUZ, Francois de. Les voyages et observations du sieur de la Boullaye-le-Gouz gentil-homme Angevin...
Paris, Francois Clousier, 1653. 4to. With a woodcut and an engraved author's portrait, 34 woodcut illustrations in text, including several full-page, and some woodcut initals, head- and tailpieces. Contemporary calf, gold-tooled spine. [16], 540, [10], [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 18,000

Freeing Christian slaves in Algiers and Tunis in 1720

[LA FAYE, Jean Baptiste de]. Voyage pour la redemption des captifs, aux royaumes d'Alger et de Tunis. Fait en 1720. Par les PP. François Comelin, Philemon de la Motte, & Joseph Bernard de l'Ordre de la sainte Trinité, dits Mathurins.Including: La tradition de l'eglise.
Paris, Louis-Anne Sevestre and Pierre-François Giffart, 1721. 2 parts in 1 volume. 12mo. With an engraved frontispiece portrait of Louis XV, engraved by P.F. Giffart, folding engraved plate of the court of the Dey (Regent) of Algiers, and a regular engraved plate in the second part. Contemporary mottled calf, richly gold-tooled spine. [8], 169, [1 blank]; [10], LX, 306, [5], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,000

Photographic portrait of future King Saud of Saudi Arabia, with very high quality colouring turning it largely into a painting

[PHOTOGRAPH - HAND COLOURED]. LAFAYETTE STUDIO. [Crown Prince Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia].
[London, 1935]. Matt silver print (ca. 28 x 36 cm), watercolour, pastel, gouache and oil paint. Mounted on paper in a passe-partout. Signed "Lafayette" in pencil on the mount. In a wooden frame (ca. 53 x 64 cm), under glass. Full description

€ 35,000

French account of the Siege of Candia (Heraklion) in first edition with engraved fortification plan

[LA FEUILLADE, François Aubusson de]. Journal de l'expedition de Monsieur de la Feuillade, pour le secours de Candie. Par un volontaire.
Lyon, Jean Thioly, 1669. 12mo. With woodcut printer's device on title-page, some woodcut initials and head-and tailpieces and 1 engraved folding plan of the fortification of Candia (20 x 28.5 cm). Contemporary calf, gold-tooled spine and sprinkled edges. [8], 198, [2] pp. Full description

€ 4,750

Arabic inscriptions in Granada

LAFUENTE Y ALCANTARA, Emilio. Inscripciones Arabes de Granada, precedidas de una reseña histórica y de la genealogía detallada de los reyes Alahmares.
Madrid, Imprenta Nacional, 1859 (issued 1860). 4to. With a folding family tree.
Near contemporary gold-tooled vellum with spine title, endpapers with a floral pattern. With the original publishers 1860 front wrapper bound in. XIII, [1], 15-242, [2] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Colour-printed emblematic polemics for and against war with the Ottoman Empire

[LA HAYE, Jean de]. Peristromata Turcica, sive dissertatio emblematica, praesentem Europae statum ingeniosis coloribus repraesentans.
With:
(2) [HARSDÖRFFER, Georg Philipp]. Germania deplorata, sive relatio, qua pragmatica momenta belli pacisque expenduntur.
(3) [MILAG, Martin]. Aulaea Romana, contra Peristromata Turcica expansa: sive dissertatio emblematica, concordiae Christianae omen repraesentans.
(4) [Anonymous French critic of Cardinal RICHELIEU]. Gallia deplorata, sive relatio, de luctuoso bello, quod rex Christianissimus contra vicinos populos molitur.
[Nürnberg, Wolfgang Endter] (ad 1 with a false colophon: Paris, Toussaint du Bray), [each title-page with a chronogram:] 1641 (ads 1-2, 4) & 1642 (ad 3). 4 editions published together in 1 volume. 4to. With 4 letterpress title-pages in red and black, each with the date in a chronogram, 2 engraved title-plates plus 12 full-page engraved emblematic illustrations, all on integral leaves, each with a small plate nested in a larger plate (7 in the Peristromata with a varying rectangular central plate in dark blue or black and the same outer plate of a Persian carpet in orange; 7 in the Gallia with a varying oval central plate and the same outer plate representing peace with the palm tree in a landscape device of the Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft and a border representing war with military attributes). Further with 5 woodcut head- and tailpieces (plus 8 repeats), 21 "woodcut" decorated initials (5 series, at least some actually metal castings made from woodcuts) plus 8 repeats, and cast vine-leaf ornaments, acorns and other fleurons. Set in roman and italic types with incidental Greek and Hebrew. Light brown calf (ca. 1820?) by Charles Murton (ca. 1795?-ca. 1860?) in London, with his stamp on the front paste-down, sewn on 5 cords, gold-tooled spine with black morocco label, gold thick-thin fillets on boards, gold-tooled board edges, blind-tooled turn-ins, curl-marbled endpapers (white, red, blue, yellow and blue-green in that order), and an orange silk ribbon marker. 46, [1], [1 blank]; [3], [1 blank], 34; 64; 51, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 25,000

150 beautiful chromolithographs of 19th-century Tunis with ca. 100 proofs without letterpress text bound in

LALLEMAND, Charles. Tunis et ses environs.
Paris, Quantin, 1890. Large 4to (31 x 24 cm). With 150 detailed chromolithographs (most in the text; some on separate plates), with extra ca. 100 duplicates without text of the illustrations. Contemporary half morocco. 245 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

First edition of an account of the Arabic interpreter who accompanied a Napoleonic spy on his mission throughout the Middle East

LAMARTINE, Alphonse de & Henri Bosch (editor). Récit du séjour de Fatalla Sayeghir chez les Arabes Errans du grand désert, manuscrit acquis et traduit en Français.
Brussels, Sociétés de Paris, Londres et Bruxelles, 1835. 8vo. With a small vignette of a harp with a star in the background on the title page. Browned paper wrappers, with a white label on the spine with "68" in brown ink. [1], [1 blank], [2], VII, [1 blank], 109, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 350

A leading French Armenologist studies Armenian and Arabic manuscripts at the Bibliothèque Nationale

[AUTOGRAPH]. LANGLÈS, Louis Mathieu. [6 autograph letters, signed, mostly to Antoine-Jean de Saint-Martin].
[Paris], 7 April [1820?]-13 January 1824. 8vo & 4to. Signed autograph letters in brown ink on laid paper, the 1824 letter on a letterpress "Bibliothèque du Roi" letterhead with the royal arms. 7 letters, each written on 1 side of a single leaf. Full description

€ 3,500

The pre-Islamic coinage of the Arabs

LANGLOIS, Victor. Numismatique des Arabes avant l'islamisme.
Paris, C. Rollin and Druand; London, J. Curt (colophon and back of half-title: printed by Pommeret and Moreau, Paris), 1859. 4to. With 4 numbered engraved plates and 1 lithographed "bis" plate. Publisher's letterpress printed paper wrappers. XII, 158 pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Linschoten's nautical chart of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and surroundings, engraved in 1596

LANGREN, H. F. van. Deliniantur in hac tabula, orae maritimae Abexiae, freti Mecani: al Maris Rubri-Arabiae ...
Engraved map of Arabia, India and surroundings in 2 sheets (38.5 x 53.5 cm as assembled), engraved for J. Huygen van Linschoten, Itinerario, 1596). Matted. Full description

€ 9,500

Around the world in 1180 days, with 2 folding maps and 31 steel-engraved views

LAPLACE, Cyrille Pierre Théodore. Campagne de circumnavigation de la frégate l'Artémise, pendant les annéees 1837, 1838, 1839 et 1840, ... Tome premier[-sixième].
Paris, Arthus Bertrand, 1841-1854. 6 volumes. 8vo. With 2 large folding engraved maps and 31 steel-engraved views. With the maps coloured in outline or partly coloured, and with the routes indicated and coloured. Contemporary boards, covered with the publisher's original green printed paper. XXXIX, [1 blank], 343, [1 blank], [3], [1 blank]; [3], [1 blank], 467, [1 blank], [3], [1 blank]; [3], [1 blank], 548, [1], [1 blank]; [3], [1 blank], 464, [3], [1 blank]; [3], [1 blank], III, [1 blank], 542, [2]; [3], [1 blank], 400 pp. Full description

€ 22,500

A French voyage to the Levant

LA ROQUE, Jean de. Voyage de Syrie et du Mont-Liban.
Paris, André Cailleau, 1722. 2 volumes. 12mo. With 9 engraved plates (5 folding), including a folding map showing the course of the Orontes river; dedication with woodcut coat of arms of De Fleury. Contemporary sprinkled calf, gold-tooled spines with gilt-stamped crest of Henry Edward Bunbury. [12], 347, [1 blank]; [2], 321, [3] pp. Full description

€ 4,950

Algeria and its notorious pirates

LAUGIER DE TASSY, Jacques Philippe. Beschryving van het koningryk en de stadt Algiers, met den tegenwoordigen staat dier regeeringe, landt- en zeemagt, inkomsten, staatswetten, werreltlyk recht en koophandel.
Including: Lyst der schepen, welke sedert den 24 december 1715, tot het einde des jaars 1724 door de Algiersche roovers van den staat der Vereenigde Nederlanden genomen zyn.
Amsterdam, Marten Schagen, 1725. 3 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With engraved title-page, folding engraved map of Algeria, folding engraved view and a folding engraved bird's eye view of Algiers. Contemporary calf, richly gold-tooled spine, gold-tooled boards, gold-tooled board edges. [16], “300” [=298], [16] pp. Full description

€ 3,750

Capturing the beauty of Islamic architecture in 19th-century Spain

[PHOTOGRAPHY - ALHAMBRA - ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE]. LAURENT, Jean (photographer). [Photograph album containing pictures of Spain and its Islamic architectural treasures].
[Madrid, ca. 1870s]. Oblong folio (62 x 46.5 cm). With 72 large size albumen photographic prints with architectural views, including numerous views of Spanish and Western Islamic architectural treasures, 3 large composite photographic panoramas, and 5 photographs of people. 58 of the 72 photographs contain the name of photographer, title and number of the image in the negative. Contemporary gold- and blind-stamped green leather, green watered silk endpapers, gilt edges. [1 blank], [36], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], [24], [1 blank], [6], [1 blank], [1], [4 blank], [1], [13 blank] ll. Full description

€ 35,000

T. E. Lawrence's anonymous account of the Arab movement in the Great War

[LAWRENCE, Thomas Edward]. Harry PIRIE-GORDON (editor). A brief record of the advance of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force under the command of General Sir Edmund H.H. Allenby. July 1917 to October 1918. Compiled from official sources and published by the Palestine News.
Cairo, Government Press and Survey of Egypt, 1919. Small folio (22.5 x 29.5 cm). With a frontispiece portrait of Allenby, mounted on cloth, and 56 coloured maps with explanatory texts on the facing pages. Contemporary half linen. [6], 113, [1] pp. Full description

€ 3,000

Illustrated eye-witness accounts and tall tales: sixty years of a sailor's world travels

LE BLANC, Vincent. De vermaarde reizen van de heer Vincent Le Blanc van Marsilien, die hy sedert d'ouderdom van veertien jaren, tot aan die van zestig, in de vier delen des werrelts gedaan heeft ...
Amsterdam, Jan Hendricksz. Boom, Jan Rieuwertsz., 1654. 2 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With engraved title-page and 7 engraved plates. 19th-century boards. [1], [1 blank], 152, 116 pp. Full description

€ 4,500

Journal of a 1674/75 overland voyage through India, Iran, Iraq and Syria to Amsterdam

LEEUWENSON, Joannes (Pieter Arend LEUPE, ed. & intro.). Eene overlandreis uit Indië naar Nederland, in 1674-1675.
[Amsterdam, Frederik Muller, 1863]. 8vo. Offprint, retaining the original pagination and collation, of an article in Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde van Nederlandsch-Indië, 6 (1863). 20th-century stiff paper wrappers, with a printed label on the front. pp. [89], 90-142. Full description

€ 1,250

Revived Mediaeval prophesies supposedly predicting the fall of the Ottoman Empire

LEO VI (the Wise) of Byzantium and Antonius SEVERUS of Rome (attributed). Vaticinium Severi, et Leonis Imperatorum, in quo videtur finis Turcarum in praesenti eorum imperatore, una cum aliis nonnullis in hac re Vaticiniis ...
Brescia, Pietro Maria Marchetti, 1596. Small 8vo (14.5 x 10 cm). With 16 numbered engraved emblematic illustrations. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment. 106, [6 blank] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

Wonderful account of the geography and development of Palestine and Syria during the Muslim rule

LE STRANGE, Guy. Palestine under the Moslems. A description of Syria and the Holy Land from A.D. 650 to 1500. Translated from the work of the mediaeval Arab geographers.
Boston and New York, Houghton, Mifflin and Company, The Riverside Press, Cambridge, 1975. Illustrations, maps, plans (some fold-out) throughout. Original cloth binding. XXII, [2], 604 pp. Full description

€ 650

A rare Czech translation of a Turkish chronicle

LEUNCLAVIUS, Joannes. Kronyka Nowa O Narodu Tureckem, na dwa Djili rozdelena.
Prague, Daniel Adam, 1594. 2 volumes bound as 1. Small 4to (19.5 x 15.5 cm). With the title-page of volume 1 printed in red and black, and the colophon with large woodcut printer's device; the 2nd volume with woodcut ornament on the title-page, and the colophon with a woodcut vignette. Contemporary blind-tooled vellum, with 2 leather straps with brass clasps (later). [12], 28, [1], [3 blank]; [16], 385, [18], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Crucial, state of the art research into new ways of storing oil and gas underground
at the beginning of the 1980s

LINDBLOM, Ulf and Wissam S. AL-HASHIMI (editors). First Arab seminar on underground storage of oil and gas.
Stockholm, 1981. Large 8vo. With approximately 150 figures, illustrations, photographs, maps, graphs, formulas and tables in the text, and 24 pages of Arabic text including a separate title-page at the end of the work. Original publisher's green cloth. XIX, [5], 261, [3], 22, [2] pp. Full description

€ 650

Treatise on a posthumously published map of the Holy Land

L'ISLE (DELISLE), Joseph-Nicolas de. Memoire sur la carte de l'ancienne Palestine ou de la Terre Sainte.
Paris, Chez l'auteur, 1763. 4to. With woodcut vignette on title-page and a large woodcut headpiece. Modern brown half calf, richly gold-tooled spine. 21 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Detailed observations of life in the Ottoman Empire, Egypt
and elsewhere in the Levant and Middle East ca. 1610

LITHGOW, William. Willem Lithgouws 19 jaarige lant-reyse, uyt Schotlant nae de vermaerde deelen des werelts Europa, Asia en Africa.
Amsterdam, Jacob Benjamin (colophon: printed by Christoffel Cunradus), 1653. 2 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With engraved frontispiece by Crispijn de Passe, 1 engraved plate and 6 engraved illustrations in the text. 19th-century half vellum. [8], 186, 98 pp. Full description

€ 1,950

Detailed observations of life in the Ottoman Empire, Egypt and elsewhere in the Levant and Middle East ca. 1610

LITHGOW, William. Nineteen years travels through the most eminent places in the habitable world.
London, for John Wright & Thomas Passinger, 1682. 8vo. With a folding woodcut frontispiece and 6 folding woodcut plates and 1 woodcut in the text. 19th-century dark brown sheepskin, sewn on 3 recessed cords, brown spine label, Stormont on shell marbled endpapers. [8], 481, [7] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

British admiral's eye witness report of Arab slavers activity in Zanzibar

LLOYD, Rodney Maclaine. Reporting proceedings on detached boat service.
Zanzibar, 9 July 1886. Folio (ca. 20 x 32 cm), with the Britannia watermark. Signed manuscript letter. Loose single sheet. [1] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

A Swiss jurist’s account of Algeria

LOCHER, Friedrich. Nach den Oasen von Laghuat.
Bern, Haller, 1864. 8vo. With a tinted lithographed frontispiece showing the palace of the khalif in Laghouat and a folding lithographed map of the northern part of Algeria. Contemporary red half cloth. VIII, 208 pp. Full description

€ 800

Unique views of Cairo and Alexandria

LONGHI, Gioseffo. Gran Cairo.
With: (2) Alessandria.
Bologna, Longhi, 1670 [and 1670s]. 94.5 × 62 cm, 106.5 × 57.8 cm. Engraved views, each on 2 sheets joined; letterpress text pasted below with publisher's imprint. Both views matted, framed and glazed. Full description

€ 48,000

History of the British Navy’s engagements with the Arabs of the Gulf

LOW, Charles Rathbone. History of the Indian navy (1613-1863).
London, Richard Bentley & Son, 1877. 2 volumes. 8vo. Modern half calf over marbled boards, giltstamped labels to spine. Full description

€ 2,500

The conquest of Spain by the Moors and a biography of its Islamic ruler Almanzor

LUNA, Miguel de. Histoire des deux conquestes d'Espagne par les Mores, ... Par Abdulcacim Tarif Abentarique, ... Avec la description de l'Espagne, ..., la vie du grand Almansor par Ali Abensufian, et quelques lettres & pieces originales.
Paris, Widow of François Muguet, 1708. 12mo. Contemporary mottled calf, with richly gold-tooled spine. [24], 485, 4, [3 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Arabic fables by “the greatest figure in the whole corpus of pre-Islamic myth and legend”, second edition, incorporating Erpenius’s manuscript revisions to his first edition

LUQMAN al-Hakim (notes by Thomas ERPENIUS). Fabulae et selecta quaedam Arabum adagia. Cum interpretatione latina & notis Thomae Erpenii.
Leiden, Joannes Maire (colophon: "excudebat" Willem Christiaens van der Boxe, "typis" Johannes Janssonius), 1636. 4to. With Maire's woodcut device on the title-page and Van der Boxe's woodcut device above the colophon. Early 19th-century boards covered with blue brocade paper. 60, [2] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Famous work on the Middle East, illustrated with very early photogravures of the Holy Land

LUYNES, Honoré d'Albert de. Voyage d'exploration à la mer Morte, à Petra et sur la rive gauche du Jourdain. ... Oeuvre posthume publiée par ses petit-fils sous la direction de M. le Comte de Vogüé.
Paris, Arthus Bertrand (on back of half-title: printed by E. Martinet (vols. 1-2) and Arnous de Rivière (vol. 3)), [1874]. 3 volumes of text and 1 atlas of plates. Imperial 4to (35.2 x 26.5 cm). With 14 numbered lithographed plates in volume 3 (4 double-page chromolithographed maps, views and geological sections; 2 further geological plates and 8 plates showing archaeological specimens), 85 plates in the atlas volume (including 65 photogravures and double-page chromolithographed maps) and numerous wood-engravings in the text. Set in roman and italic types with occasional passages in Greek and especially Arabic. Text volumes in original publisher's letterpress-printed light blue wrappers, atlas in half cloth portfolio with the original publisher's letterpress-printed paper sides, matching the text volumes; the 4 volumes preserved in 2 modern black half calf clamshell boxes. [8], 388; [6], 226; [4], VI, 326; [4] pp. Full description

€ 35,000

Exploration of Iran's major river

LYNCH, Henry Blosse. Notes on the present state of the Karun river, between Shushter and the Shat-el-Arab.
[London, Wiley, October 1891]. 4to. With a lithograph illustration in the text. Modern blue wrappers. 592-595 pp. Full description

€ 395

Discovery of the Canary Islands in classical Greek and Roman, Arabic and Portuguese sources

MACEDO, Joaquim José da Costa de. Memoria em que se pertende provar que os Arabes não conhecerão as Canarias antes dos Portuguezes.
Lisbon, printing office of the Academia Real das Sciencias, 1844. Folio. With a woodcut Portuguese coat of arms on the title-page. Modern brown paper wrapper. [4], 232 pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Illustrated description of the famous Al-Ahsa oasis

MACKIE, J.B. Hasa: an Arabian oasis.
[London, W. Clowes, March 1924]. 4to. With 9 black and white photograph illustrations. Modern blue wrappers. 189-207 pp. Full description

€ 850

Standard work on Hindu and Muslim law

MACNAGHTEN, William Hay (Girish Chandra TARKALANKAR, ed.). Principles of Hindu and Mahomedan law.
Calcutta, Sreenauth Banerjee and brothers (back of the title-page: printed by B.M. Sen, "Tomohur" Press, Serampore), 1873. 2 parts in 1 volume. Large 8vo. 20th-century half black morocco, black cloth sides, title and author in gold on spine, new endpapers. [6], LXIII, [1 blank], [10], 139, [1 blank]; [4], 88, XX pp. Full description

€ 1,250

French translation of Maffei's renowned description of the East and West Indies

MAFFEI, Giovanni Pietro. l'Histoire des Indes Orientales et Occidentales ...
Paris, Robert de Ninville, 1665. 2 volumes bound as 1. 4to. Contemporary vellum. [32], “353” [= 351], [1 blank]; [2], "292" [= 296], [24] pp. Full description

€ 2,750

Maffei's account of the East and West Indies

MAFFEI, Joan Petro. Historiarum Indicarum libri XVI. Selectarum, item, ex India epistolarum libri IV...
Antwerp, Martinus Nutius, 1605. 8vo. With woodcut device on title-page and woodcut initials. Contemporary vellum with faint manuscript title on spine and a small gilt-stamped rooster in the centre of the boards, remains of ties. [72], 478, [2 blank]; 401, [7] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Italian friar captured by Ottoman pirates

MAGGIO, Francesco Maria. Vita, e morte del venerabil P. F. Alipio di S. Giuseppe Scalzo di S. Agostino Palermitano della congregazione d'Italia, in odio della confessione della S. Fede di Giesù Cristo, crudelissimamente ucciso da' Turchi di Barberia, nella città di Tripoli, a 17 di febbraio l'anno 1645 ...
Rome, Ignatio de' Lazzari, 1657. 4to. With 3 engraved plates. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment. [40], 24, [4], 25-234, [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

The wisdom of Ibn Sina, Ibn Rushd, and Abu Ma'shar al-Balkhi, received in an early incunable

MAGNI, Jacobus [Jacques Legrand]. Sophologium.
[Strasbourg, R-printer (Adolf Rusch), ca. 1468]. Folio (21 × 28.2 cm). With the text set in 35 lines, spaces for initials show tiny guide letters, rubricated throughout, with 3- and 5-line blue or red Lombardic initials. 18th-century gold-tooled red morocco, gilt edges, marbled endpapers. 217 (of 218) ff. (lacking the final blank).Roman type, Full description

€ 75,000

Extremely rare example of the largest globe engraved by Malby (45.5 cm diameter), with lines of magnetic variation, London 1848, showing “Debai” (Dubai)

[GLOBE - TERRESTRIAL]. MALBY & CO. Malby's terrestrial globe.
[London], Malby & Co. (engraved by Chas. Malby), 1 January 1848. Diameter: 45.5 cm (18 inch), height in stand: 64.5 cm. An engraved terrestrial globe with 12 gores and 2 polar caps over a plaster-covered core, and the engraved horizon ring on the wooden stand, all coloured by a contemporary hand. In a contemporary wooden stand with 3 turned legs supporting the horizon ring, and 3 turned stretchers with a cylindrical centrepiece with a knob on the underside. Further with a contemporary brass hour circle and a slightly later iron meridian ring (and probably the axis pivots). Full description

€ 35,000

Adventurous travels in the East

MANDELSLO, Johann Albrecht von. Morgenländische Reyse-Beschreibung.
Hamburg, Christian Guth, printed by Johan Holwein, Schleswig, 1658. Folio. With engraved frontispiece by Christian Rothgiesser, engraved author's portrait, double-page engraved map, and 21 large engravings in text, mostly signed by Rothgiesser. Contemporary pigskin, with boards blind-tooled in a panel design. [32], 248, [36] pp. Full description

€ 11,000

An Arabist advocating archaeological research of the Near East

MANGER, Samuel Hendrik. Oratio inauguralis, de incremento philologiae sacrae ab idonea Arabiae atque Palaestinae exploratione sperando.
Franeker, Willem Coulon, 1762. Folio. With the woodcut coat of arms of Friesland on the title-page. Mid-19th-century marbled wrappers. [4], 67, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Rare early edition of a classic commentary on ancient Arabic and Greek pharmacological works

[MANLIO, Giovanni Giacomo (Johannes Jacobus MANLIUS or MANLIIS)]. Luminare maius. Cinthius ut totum radiis illuminat orbem. Illuminat latebras sic medicina tuas.
(Colophon: Venice, Gregorio de Gregori, 8 January 1513). Folio (30.5 x 21 cm). With 13 woodcut decorated initials (6 series?) plus 8 repeats, 4-line typographic "Lombarbic" initials. Set in rotunda gothic types in 2 columns, with a preliminary note in roman type. With contemporary pen decorations in brown ink added to about half of the initials and occasional similar pen decorations in the margins, an occasional manuscript paragraph mark, some rubrications in brown ink and some initials coloured with a transparent ochre wash. Early 20th-century vellum. 77, [2], [1 blank] ll. Full description

€ 28,000

Exceptionally rare work on Persian heart medicine by a famous 13th-century physician

[MANUSCRIPT - ARABIC]. AL-SAMARQANDI, Najib Al-Din. [Arabic title in red]. [Fi-qawanin tarkib al-adwiyat al-qalbiya, minkalam Mawla-na Najib ad-in al-Samarqandi = Rules for the making of heart drugs from the words of our Revered Master Najib ad-Din al-Samarqandi].
[Iran/ Iraq?], (colophon:) 11 Rabi ath-Thani 894 AH [= March 1489 CE]. 8vo. Arabic manuscript written in black ink, rubricated throughout, in a small and neat naskh Arabic hand (19 lines per page with corresponding blind ruling visible in the paper). 18th-century(?) sprinkeled brown calf with a gold- and red-tooled arabesque center-piece on both boards, modern reddish-brown calf spine. [4] pp. Full description

€ 12,000

Muslim prayerbook from Quanzhou, glosseed in xiaojing script

[MANUSCRIPT - CHINESE MUSLIM PRAYERBOOK]. Al-salamu 'alayka. [= Peace be unto you].
Quanzhou, 990 AH [= 1582 CE]. Folio (ca. 20.5 x 30 cm). Arabic manuscript on paper. Black sini script in nine lines with red verse markers, titles in red, glossing in black. With beautifully illuminated full-page 'Unwan with Chinese influence on designs, in gold, blue, red, green, and black. 18th-century cloth and paper wrappers. 46 ll. Full description

€ 35,000

a summary of Ibn Sina's famous Canon of Medicine">Illustrated manuscript of the Qanunceh, or "small canon":
a summary of Ibn Sina's famous Canon of Medicine

[MANUSCRIPT - IBN SINA (AVICENNA)]. [Mahmud ibn Muhammad ibn Umar AL-GAMINI and others]. [Qanunceh (= Small canon)].
[colophon: 1279 AH (= 1862 CE)]. (ca. 17.5 x 10.5 cm). Manuscript on paper, written in a cursive, Persian-Arabic script in 15 to 23 lines per page. With 1 leaf containing 8 hand coloured illustrations, with captions, of medical instruments (4 instruments on respectively the recto and verso of leaf 26). Contemporary brown calf, with blind-stamped decorations. [29] ll. Full description

€ 28,000

The Ottoman Turkish calendar of histories: a rare, 18th-century manuscript of one of Katip Çelebi's most important works

[MANUSCRIPT - TURKISH]. ÇELEBI, Katip. Taqwim al-Tawarikh.
[Turkey, early 18th century]. 8vo. Ottoman Turkish manuscript written in red and black ink, in a small and neat nastaliq hand within a gilt frame (ca. 27 lines to the page). With a hand-drawn gilt floral headpiece at the start of the work. Contemporary(?) Ottoman gold-tooled brown goatskin, with an oval medallion (şemse) within a decorative frame (zencirek) on both boards, a gold-tooled front flap. [89], [2 blank] ll. Full description

€ 15,000

A collection of Venetian voyages to the Near and Middle East, printed at the Aldine press

[MANUZIO, Antonio (ed.)]. Viaggi fatti da Vinetia, alla Tana, in Persia, in India, et in Costantinopoli: con la descrittione particolare di città, luoghi, siti, costumi, & della porta del Gran Turco: & di tutte le intrate, spese, & modo di governo suo, & della ultima impresa contra Portoghesi.
Venice, sons of Aldus Manutius, 1545. 8vo. With Alduss woodcut anchor device on the title-page. 18th-century English polished calf. 163 ll. Full description

€ 7,500

One of the fullest descriptions of life in Sana'a and Turkish-occupied North Yemen

MANZONI, Renzo. El Yèmen. Tre anni nell'Arabia felice. Escursioni fatte dal Settembre 1877 al Marzo 1880.
Rome, Botta heirs, 1884. 8vo. With a frontispiece portrait, 21 plates (including 7 double-page sized; the last single-page plate included in pagination), 2 folding colour-printed maps of Yemen, folding plate of the game "abdùr", folding coloured plan of Sana'a, folding view of Sana'a, folding view of Aden, as well as numerous woodcut illustrations in the text. Contemporary half calf over marbled boards with blind-stamped spine and gold-stamped spine-title. Marbled endpapers. [8], VI, [2], 446 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Ottoman map of Iraq, Kuwait and southwestern Iran, used by its army in World War I

[MAP - OTTOMAN ARMY]. [Iraq, Kuwait and Iran].
Istanbul, [Erkan-i Harbiye-i Umumiye], 1331 Rumi [= 1915 CE]. Colour-lithographed map of Iraq, Kuwait and southwestern Iran (65.5 x 66 cm) in black, brown, blue and green at a scale of 1:1,000,000, dissected into 12 sections and mounted on contemporary cloth. Full description

€ 3,500

Unpublished French study of Islamic coins and medals,
with about 157 drawings and engravings, many in colour

[MARCEL, Jean-Joseph?]. [Islamic coins and medals].
[Paris?], [ca. 1791-ca. 1817?]. Mostly folio (31.5 x 21 cm). A manuscript compilation of loose leaves and bifolia, with about 104 drawings (some in ink; some in coloured gouaches, many including gold, silver and other metallic colours) and about 53 engravings (some black on white; some white on black) each drawing and engraving showing the obverse and reverse of an Islamic coin or medal (except for about 3 that show only one side). Most of the drawings and engravings are on slips attached to leaves with notes in Arabic and French.Loose leaves and bifolia. [ca. 150] ll. Full description

€ 28,000

Recommending a rising star for the chair of Arabic at Algiers

[AUTOGRAPH]. MARCEL, Jean-Joseph. [Autograph letter, signed, of recommendation for Louis Bresnier].
Paris, 9 September 1836. Folio (36 x 23 cm). Letter in brown ink on wove paper. [2] pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Antwerp celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, commemorating the Battle of Lepanto (1571)

[MARITIME HISTORY]. Beschryving van de konstryke verciering en voortreffelyken toestel, ... ter gelegentheyd van het twee honderd-jaerig jubilé van de ... victorie, ... over een veel talryker Turksche vloot by Lepanten in 't jaer 1571. den 7. October, gemeenelijk genaemd, den zeeslag van Don Jean, van Oostenrijk, ... van den 6. tot den 13. October, van dit ... jubeljaer [chronogram 1771].
Antwerp, Pieter Johannes Parys, (approbation: 1771). 4to. With 3 engraved illustrations in the text. Lacking the integral frontispiece. 19th-century chemical-marbled glazed paper wrappers. 79, [1] pp., lacking frontispiece (pp. 1-2). Full description

€ 1,750

The best Malayan grammar, with 89 pages of Malay texts with translations

MARSDEN, William. A grammar of the Malayan language, with an introduction and praxis.
London, printed for the author by Cox and Baylis, sold by Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, and by Black, Parry and Co., booksellers to the British East India Company, 1812. 4to. Set in roman and Arabic types with incidental italic. Modern dark green cloth. [1], [1 blank], L, [2], 225, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,500

The best Malay dictionary, with detailed definitions and noting related Hindi words

MARSDEN, William. A dictionary of the Malayan language, in two parts, Malayan and English and English and Malayan.
London, printed for the author by Cox and Baylis, 1812. 4to. Set in roman and Arabic types with incidental Devanagari and italic. Modern blue cloth with a morocco spine label, retaining the nonpareil-marbled edges from the previous contemporary binding. [1], [1 blank], XV, [1], 589, [1], [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,950

Well-made Lyon 8vo Latin edition of Europe’s principal source for Arabic pharmacology

MASAWAIH al-MARDINI (MESUE the younger). De re medica libri tres, Jacobo Sylvio interprete.
Lyon, Guillaume Rouillé (colophon: printed by Philibert Rollet), 1550. 8vo. With Rouillés woodcut device on the title-page (eagle on a globe, flanked by 2 snakes), numerous woodcut decorated initials, and an arabesque decoration below the colophon. 19th-century marbled boards, manuscript spine label. [16], 421, [1], [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Venice edition of Ibn Masawaih's pharmacological handbook with a false Paris imprint

MASAWAIH AL-MARDINI (MESUE the younger). De re medica libri tres. Jacobo Sylvio medico interprete. Cum annotationibus & scholiis eiusdem. Index locupletissimus cum capitum, tum omnium quae scitu digna sunt operi praefixus est.
"Paris" [= Venice], [Girolamo Scotto], 1553. 8vo. With Scottos woodcut device on the title-page (showing what are probably two of the wild mares of King Abderus being devoured by the mares of King Diomedes of Thrace devouring either Abderos or Diomedes himself) and about 22 woodcut decorated (nearly all pictorial) initials (7 series) plus a few repeats. Contemporary vellum, traces of ties. 248, [4] ll. Full description

€ 7,500

The misfortunes of the Algerians and Ottomans during the 1732 siege of Oran by the Spanish

[MASCARENHAS, Jose Freire de Monterroyo]. Noticia da destruiçam da Armada Argelina, que foya Turquia buscar soccoro para sitiar Oran por mar, e terra.
Lisbon, Pedro Ferreira, 1733. 4to. Disbound 8 (p. 2 blank), [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 850

Unrecorded trilingual Hong Kong publication of Ya Sin, the chapter that is considered to be "the heart of the Qur'an"

[QUR'AN]. MA TAT NG, Imam Muhammad Yaqub bin Ibrahim, editor. Ya-Sin. A chapter in the Holy Quran.
Hong Kong, [on the back wrapper:] Hong Kong Muslim Press, 1385 AH [= 1965 CE]. 8vo (19 x 13 cm). With the upper half of each page opening with the text in Arabic, followed by a transliteration in the Latin alphabet and the Chinese, while the lower half has 2 columns of text: translations into English (right column) and Chinese (left column). With a small overview of the system of transliteration on the inside of the front wrapper and a vignette of the Hong Kong Muslim Press on the back wrapper. Original publisher's orange printed wrappers. [1], 26, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,250

Pilgrimage from Aleppo to Jerusalem, with 10 engraved plates

MAUNDRELL, Henry and G. MUNTENDAM (translator) Reize van Aleppo naar Jeruzalem, op Paasschen, in 't jaar 1698.
Utrecht, Willem van Poolsum, 1705. 4to. With engraved frontispiece and 9 engraved plates (including 5 folding). Later half vellum, marbled sides. [6], 188 pp. Full description

€ 950

Bedouins in Egypt and Syria, with 25 steel-engraved plates
beautifully coloured by a contemporary hand

MAYEUX, F. J. Les Bédouins, ou Arabes du désert. Ouvrage publié d'après les notes inédites de Dom Raphaël, sur les mœurs, usages, lois, coutumes civiles et religieuses de ces peuples.
Paris, Ferra jeune, 1816. 3 volumes. 12mo. With 24 steel engraved plates, coloured by a contemporary hand. Contemporary long-grained gold-tooled red morocco, each board with fillets and decorative frames, decorations on the raised bands, gilt edges. X, 238; [4], 166; [4], 279 pp. Full description

€ 9,500

About 135 lithographic paper cut-outs (not cut out) for a caravan to Mecca

[MECCA - PAPER CARAVAN CUT-OUTS]. Carawane nach Mecca.
Vienna, Matthias Trentsensky (printed by E. Sieger), ca. 1855. Oblong folio (25 x 40 cm). With 19 (of 24) numbered leaves containing about 135 lithographic pen-drawings, each drawing including a base so that one can cut them out, paste them on card stock, stand them up and arrange them in three-dimensional scenes. Loose leaves in a later paper folder. ll. 6-24 (of 24). Full description

€ 8,500

The first Roman geography of the world, including the Arabian peninsula and the Gulf,
in the rare 1502 edition of its first accurate printed text

MELA, Pomponius. De situ orbis Hermolai Barbari fideliter emendatus.
[Venice], (colophon: printed by Albertino da Vercelli, 14 May 1502). Small 4to (20.5 x 15.5 cm). With printed guide letters left for manuscript initials (not filled in). Gold-tooled red half sheepskin (ca. 1820?). XXIIII ll. Full description

€ 6,500

Satire disguising the French elite as Arabs

MELON, Jean-François. Mahmoud le Gasnevide, histoire orientale. Fragment traduit de l'Arabe, avec des notes.
Rotterdam, Jean Hofhoudt, 1730. 8vo. Contemporary marbled calf, gold-tooled spine, boards, board edges and turn-ins, both boards with the gold-tooled coat of arms of Louis Marie Alexandre, Duc d'Aumont, gilt edges. [2], VI, 162, [4] pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Very rare important history on the recovery of Egypt from the French by Muhammad Ali Pasha

MENGIN, Felix. Geschiedenis van Egypte, onder de regering van Mohammed-Ali of verhaal der staatkundige en militaire gebeurtenissen, die plaats gehad hebben sedert het vertrek der Franschen tot in 1823.
Amsterdam, Johannes Christoffel van Kesteren, 1828. 2 volumes. 8vo. With 8 engraved plates and 2 engraved folding maps. Contemporary half sheepskin, marbled sides, red morocco spine label with title in gold. [2], XL, 462, [1], [1 blank]; [4], 515, [1] pp. Full description

€ 1,750

8 extremely rare sets of French Republican regulations for Egypt, promulgated by General "Abdallah" Menou, printed on the first printing press of the Arabic-speaking world

MENOU, Jacques-François ("Abdallah") de Boussay de. Copie de lordre du général en chef ... 5 Fructidor an 8 [= 23 August 1800] [and six more to] 16 Brumaire an 9 [= 7 November 1800].
Cairo, Imprimerie Nationale, [23 August - 7 November 1800]. Folio (22 x 31.5 cm). 8 sets of regulations issued in 10 weeks, printed in French and Arabic in two parallel columns, each set with 2 to 24 pages. Each with a drop title with a woodcut vignette (either of 2 different blocks) representing the French Republic personified as Marianne with the motto "Liberté Egalité". [24]; [16]; [2]; [3], [1 blank]; [4]; [10]; [6]; [2] pp. Full description

€ 28,000

Third copy located of an enormous broadside proclamation by the French Republican government in Cairo in French and Arabic, intended for posting on public walls

MENOU, Jacques-François ("Abdallah") de Boussay de. Proclamation aux habitans de lEgypte.
Cairo, Imprimerie Nationale, 6 brumaire an 9 [28 October 1800 CE]. Folio (141 x 42.5 cm). Five small oblong sheets, printed in French and Arabic in parallel columns, pasted together one above the other to form a single long broadside. Full description

€ 25,000

Peace announcement between Napoleon and Algiers and Tunis from the first printing press in the Arab world

MENOU, Jacques-François de Boussay de. Ordre du jour, du 29 nivôse an 9 [19 janvier 1801].
Cairo, Imprimerie nationale, [19 January 1801 CE =] 29 nivôse an IX. Small folio (21.5 x 31 cm). Printed in French and Arabic in two columns. 2 pp. Full description

€ 5,800

Life (and death in Morocco) of King Sebastião I of Portugal (1554-1578)

MESA, Sebastian de. Jornada de Africa por el Rey Don Sebastian y union del reyno de Portugal a la corona de Castilla.
Barcelona, Pedro Lacavalleria, 1630. 4to. Each page framed with thin printed rules. Contemporary gold-tooled leather (blackened and flaking), each board with the helmed and mantled arms of the Mazarin family in the centre. [2], 169, [1] ll. Full description

€ 12,000

Field guide for officers during the Mesopotamian campaign (1914-1918), with a folding map

[MESOPOTAMIA]. [Indian Army General Staff]. For official use only. Field notes. Mesopotamia. General staff, India. February 1917.Including: Index to field notes, Mesopotamia, 1917.
Calcutta, Superintended government printing, 1917. Small 8vo. With 1 folding heliozincographed map of "Lower Mesopotamia", with some routes in red, and three folding letterpress tables. Original green cloth. [3], [1], 326(=325), [1]; [1], [1 blank], XX pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Mesue in Italian - the third known (second complete) copy

MASAWAIH AL-MARDINI (MESUE the younger). Opus quibuslibet aromatariis: necessariu[m]. Mesue in vulgare rescripto. Primo che se rechercha allarte della aromataria como se conosseno le medicine simplice & composte li quattro canone p[er] arte in vulgare declarate alla antidotario: li dubie al configere qlle resolute.
[Napels or Venice, ca. 1500?]. 4to (14.5 x 19.8 cm). Half calf over marbled boards [ca. 1900], gold-tooled spine, gold-tooled red spine label, red sprinkled edges. [34] ll. Full description

€ 45,000

by the esteemed Arabic physician Masawaih al-Mardini">"The most popular compendium of drugs in medieval Europe"
by the esteemed Arabic physician Masawaih al-Mardini

MESUE the younger (MASAWAIH AL-MARDINI). Opera. De medicamentorum purgantium delectu, castigatione, & usu, libri duo ...
Venice, Lucantonio Giunta, 1581. 2 parts in 1 volume. Folio (23 x 34 cm). With 39 woodcut illustrations in the text. Near-contemporary vellum, black morocco spine label with title in gold. [8], 272; [6], 277, [1 blank], [12] ll. Full description

€ 8,500

The climate of the East African coast

[ARABIAN GULF]. Weather in the Indian Ocean to Latitude 30° S. and Longitude 95° E. Including the Red Sea and Persian Gulf. Volume II. Local information. Part 9 Coast of East Africa from the equator to Cape Delgado [...].
London, Meteorological Office, Air Ministry, 1940. 8vo. With map frontispiece and several illustrations and tables in the text. Original publisher's printed red wrappers. 63 pp., final blank page. Full description

€ 1,500

A landmark in Arabic ophthalmology: an 11th-century cataract operation by one of the most important Arab oculists

'AMMAR IBN 'ALI AL-MAWSILI (Max MEYERHOF, translator). Las operaciones de catarata de 'Ammâr ibn 'Alî al-Mausilî. [= The cataract operations of ... = Les opérations de cataracte de ... = Die Staroperationen des ...]
El Masnou (Barcelona province), Laboratorios del Norte de España, 1937. Large 8vo. With the text printed in Spanish, English, French and German, each with its own title-page and each with some passages in Arabic (set in Arabic type). With 6 photographs of the original Arabic manuscript bound at the end of the book. The main text for each language opens with a coloured decorated initial, mounted on the first page. With the device of the Laboratorios del Norte de España at the end. Original publisher's printed wrappers. [2 blank], 110, [2 blank], [16], [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Instructions for Carsten Niebuhr's expedition to Arabia

MICHAELIS, Johann David. Recueil de questions, proposées à une société de savants, qui par ordre de Sa Majesté Danoise font le voyage de l'Arabie.
Amsterdam, S.J. Baalde; Utrecht, J. van Schoonhoven & comp., 1774. 4to. Set in roman type with incidental Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, Syriac and 1 word in Coptic. Near-contemporary tanned sheepskin, gold-tooled spine. [4], XLIV, 256, [16], 38, [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Enormous panoramic Middle Eastern view with ruins, nearly 6 metres long

[VIEW - MIDDLE EAST]. [Mountainous landscape with Middle Eastern and classical Roman ruins, 6 shepherds with their flocks, several figures riding dromedaries and one riding a donkey, (date?) palms, lakes, etc.].
[Palestine?, ca. 1910?]. An enormous panoramic view drawn in coloured gouaches on a single, continuous roll of paper (70 x 583 cm), the drawing running to the edges of the paper. Full description

€ 35,000

The Arabian oil fields and pipelines in the late 1930s

[MAP - MIDDLE EAST]. Geographical Publishing Company. Arabia and near bordering countries.
Including:
- Palestine
- Iran (Persia) and surrounding territory
Chicago, Geographical publishing company, [ca. 1936-1941]. Colour printed map, 54 x 40 cm. Full description

€ 1,500

A monthly promoting dialogue between Arabs and Jews

[MIDDLE EAST]. New outlook: Middle East monthly.
Tel Aviv, Tazpioth, 1957-1975. 18 instalments, plus 1 duplicate. 8vo. Original wrappers. Full description

€ 1,250

Middle East through North American eyes

MIDDLE EAST STUDIES ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERCA. Middle East Studies Association Bulletin [8 issues].
New York, Middle East Studies Association of North America, 1973-1978. 8 volumes. Each volume ca. 100 pp. Full description

€ 650

Two British voyages to the Middle East and the Moghul Empire

MILDENHALL, John, John CARTWRIGHT and [Samuel PURCHAS (editor)]. Oost-Indise voyagien van Johan Mildenhal en Johan Cartwright; onder veel avontuuren en opmerkelyke waarnemingen, (in de jaren 1599 en 1606) te water en te lande, gedaan na de landen van Persien en den Grooten Mogol.
Leiden, Pieter van der Aa, 1706. Folio. With an engraving on the title-page by Jan Goeree, 2 engraved illustrations in text and a woodcut tailpiece. Modern decorated cloth, dark blue title-labels. 10 ll. Full description

€ 750

Best edition of a standard work on Islam

MILLS, Charles. An history of Muhammedanism: comprising the life and character of the Arabian prophet, and succinct accounts of the empires founded by the Muhammedan arms: an inquiry into the theology, morality, laws, literature, and usages of the Muselmans, and a view of the present state and extent of the Muhammedan religion.
London, Printed for Black, Kingsbury, Parbury, and Allen, booksellers (back of title-page: printed by Cox and Baylis), 1818. 8vo. Contemporary red half sheepskin. [2], XXI, [1 blank], 484, [12 blank] pp. Full description

€ 750

Standard work on Islam

MILLS, Charles. Histoire du Mahométisme ... traduite de l´Anglais sur la deuxième édition ...
Paris, Boulland et Cie, 1825. 8vo. With hand-coloured lithographed frontispiece (''L'Evèque ou Wladika''). Late 19th-century textured cloth, gilt edges. [2], IV, 544 pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Rare first editions of an Aleppo dialogue on medicinal barley infusions (1584/91)
and a surgical handbook (1612)

MINADOI, Giovanni Tommaso. Philodicus, sive Dialogus de ptisana, ...
Venice, "ad signum Leonis" [= heirs of Curzio Troiano Navò], 1591 [all but the prelims printed by Francesco Osanna, Mantua, 1584]. With title-page in an illustrated woodcut border (showing equipment for distilling, forging and other trades plus in a cartouche at the foot Navò's rampant lion device).
With: (2) PARMA, Ippolito. Introductionis ad chirurgiam libri duo. ...
Padova, Pietro Paolo Tozzi (printed by Lorenzo Pasquato), 1612. With Tozzi's(?) woodcut Minerva device on the title-page. 2 works in 1 volume. 4to. Half calf (French, ca. 1750), gold-tooled spine. [8], 124, [2 blank]; [8], 196 pp. Full description

€ 12,500

A history of the British, Dutch and Portuguese colonial activities in the East Indies

MÖKERN, Philipp van. Ostindien, seine Geschichte, Cultur und seine Bewohner. Resultate eigener Forschungen und Beobachtungen an Ort und Stelle. Deutsche Original-Ausgabe.
Leipzig, Hermann Costenoble, 1857. 2 parts in 1 volume. 8vo. Contemporary half sheepskin, gold-tooled spine. XII, 395; [6], 327 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

First specimen of 2 Arabic printing types, by a great French punchcutter directed by France's leading orientalist

MOLÉ, Joseph. Épreuves de caractères Arabes, gravés et fondus par Molé Jeune, sous la direction de M. L. Langlès.
Paris, (back of title-page: Imprimerie d'Éverat), 1823. 4to. Modern boards. 14 ll. Full description

€ 12,500

Excellent, attractively coloured large map of the Ottoman Empire at its height

MOLL, Herman. The Turkish empire in Europe, Asia and Africa, divided into all its governments, together with the other territories that are tributary to it, as also the dominions of the Emperor of Marocco.
London, Herman Moll, John Bowles, Thomas Bowles & John King, ca. 1730. A large engraved map in two sheets (61 x 101 cm as assembled) at a scale of about 1:7,100,000, with 3 insets containing 6 topographic and architectural views. Coloured. Full description

€ 8,500

The pinnacle of Coptic church architecture in Egypt:
the churches the Red and White Monastery near Sohag

MONNERET DE VILLARD, Ugo. Les couvents près de Sohâg (Deyr el-Abiad et Deyr el-Ahmar).
Milan, Tipografia Pontif. Arciv. S. Giuseppe, 1925-1926. 2 volumes. 4to. With 222 numbered illustrations on coated paper (photographic half-tone views, and architectural plans reproduced sometimes in line and sometimes in half-tone) bound at the end of each volume, and numerous small line illustrations printed with the text. Contemporary half green cloth, beige paper sides, grey endpapers. 135, [5] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

First complete edition of Cosmas's Christiana topographia describing his travels
in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf

MONTFAUCON, Bernard de (editor). Collectio nova patrum et scriptorum Graecorum, Eusebii Caesariensis, Athanasii, & Cosmae Aegyptii.
Paris, Claudius Rigaud, 1707. 2 volumes. Folio. With 4 engraved plates, and 3 woodcut illustrations in the text. Each volume with an engraved headpiece, the first incorporating the coat of arms of Pope Clement XI, and the second that of Jean-Paul Bignon. Contemporary calf, richly gold-tooled spine and binding edges. [14], XL, [1], [1 blank], 732, [26], [2 blank]; [16], LXVIII, 112, [2], I-XXIV, 113-593, [26], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 25,000

Rare "oriental" pastiche

MORELL, Charles (pseudonym of James Kenneth RIDLEY). The tales of the Genii; or the delightful lessons of Horam, the son of Asmar.
London, printed for G. and T. Wilkie, 1786. 2 volumes. 12mo. With 2 letterpress title-pages and 14 engraved plates (including the 2 frontispieces) illustrating the various tales. Near contemporary, uniform calf (ca. 1800?), gold-tooled smooth spines in 6 fields, with a green (title) and red (volume) label in the 2nd and 4th fields, gold-tooled board edges, blind-tooled turn-ins. xxxvi, 285, [3 blank]; [1], [1 blank], 338 pp. plus 2 frontispieces and 12 other plates. Full description

€ 1,500

1752 treaty between the Dutch Republic and the Sultan of Morocco

[MOROCCO - TREATY - STATES GENERAL]. Tractaat van vreede en commercie, geslooten tusschen sijne Majesteit den Keiser van Marocco en de ... Staaten Generaal der Vereen. Nederlanden.Including:[drop-title:] Formulier van het pasport ...
[drop-title:] Translaat van de brief van Muley Abdala, Keiser van Marocco, ...
The Hague, Jacobus Scheltus, 1777. Small 4to. With the woodcut arms of the States General on the title-page. Disbound. 26, [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Loans by the UK for major infrastructure development in Jordan

MU'AMMAR, Sayid Ya'coub; B.L. STRACHAN. Exchange of notes concerning an interest-free development loan by the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
London, Her Majestys Stationery Office, 1970. 4to. With the UK coat-of-arms on title-page. Text in English and Arabic in naskh type. Stapled. 8 pp. Full description

€ 450

Arabic ABC primer

MUHAMMAD ALI UTAY. [Egyptian ABC book].
[Cairo, ca. 1925]. 8vo. Illustrated throughout with numerous black and white illustrations in the text. The title-page with a frame of foliage (oval inside, rectangular outside) and part of its text printed from a woodblock. Further with a portrait of King Fuad I of Egypt and illustrations of animals, etc. Original publishers printed-paper wrappers, matching the title-page but with the frame in green and the text in red. 46, [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 950

Handbook to western Arabia, intended for British naval officers only

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE DIVISION, [SCOTT, Hugh, a.o.]. Western Arabia and the Red Sea, B.R. 527 (restricted) geographical handbook series for official use only.
(Colophon: Oxford, University press), Naval Intelligence division, 1946. 8vo. With 357 reproductions of photographs on 90 plates, numerous (folding) maps and illustrations in text and 1 separate folding map. Original publisher's green cloth. XIX, [1 blank], 659, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 600

One of the limited official copies of the British Allied War Effort
of a geographical handbook on Palestine and Jordan

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE DIVISION. Palestine and Transjordan. Geographical handbook series.
(colophon:) Oxford, University Press, December 1943. 2 parts in 1 volume. Large 8vo. With 1 large folding map stored in a pocket on the back board of the communications of Palestine (air fields and landing grounds, railways, roads and sea plane moorings), 2 other folding maps (geological map of Palestine; map of Haifa Harbour), 1 double-page plan of the church of Holy Sepulchre and 58 other figures in the text. Also with 154 half-tone photographs, inserted on separate leaves and all numbered and captioned. Original publisher's green cloth, gilt-lettering on front board and spine. XV, 621, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,000

For official use only: Royal Navy wartime handbook on Iraq and the Persian Gulf

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE DIVISION. [MASON, Kenneth, a.o.]. Iraq and the Persian Gulf. September 1944. B.R. 524 (restricted) geographical handbook series for official use only.
[Oxford,] Naval Intelligence division, 1944. 8vo. With numerous diagrams, reproductions of photographs and (folding) maps, including a loose map in the pocket at the back. Publisher's green cloth. 682 pp. Full description

€ 3,500

One of the limited official copies of a geographical handbook on Persia and Arabia

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE DIVISION. Persia. Geographical handbook series for official use only.
(colophon:) Oxford, University Press, September 1945. Large 8vo. With 1 large folding map of Iraq, Arabia and Persia bound at the end of the book, 11 smaller folding maps and 50 illustration figures in the text (smaller maps, current and wind charts, sections, diagrams on the rainfall, etc.). Also with 337 half-tone photographs, inserted on separate leaves and all numbered and captioned. Original publisher's green cloth, gilt-lettering on front board and spine. XIX, [1 blank], 638 pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Navigating the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

[NAVIGATION - RED SEA]. Red Sea and Gulf of Aden pilot comprising the Suez canal, the gulfs of Suez and 'Aqaba, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, ...
Including: Supplement no. 1-1957 relating to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden pilot, tenth edition ...
London, published by the Hydrographic Department, Admiralty, 1955-1957. 8vo. With a folding map (printed on both sides), 2 coloured plates with diagrams (printed on both sides), 28 plates showing coastlines and occasionally a map (many printed on both sides), and many some illustrations in text. Original blue cloth; supplement with original printed paper wrappers. LI, [1 blank], 518, [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,750

Sailing directions for the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,
intended for practical use by naval and merchant ships

[NAVIGATION - RED SEA - PILOT GUIDE]. Red Sea and Gulf of Aden pilot comprising the Suez Canal, the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the South-East coast of Arabia from Ras Baghashwa to Ras Al Hadd, the coast of Africa from Ras Asir to Ras Hafun, Socotra and its adjacent islands.
London, United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, 1967. Large 8vo. The main work with 3 maps (including 2 folding) and 82 views of coastal profiles on 52 plates. The supplement with 2 folding maps (on the two sides of a single folding leaf) and 4 views of coastal profiles on 3 pages.
With: [NAVIGATION - RED SEA - PILOT GUIDE]. Supplement No. 7 - 1977 to Red Sea and Gulf of Aden pilot (eleventh edition, 1967) corrected to 4th March, 1977 Whenever reference is made to the pilot this supplement must be consulted.
London, United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, 1977.
Grey-blue back wrapper; the two quires, map and back wrapper held together by two metal staples. Blue cloth with title information in yellow on front cover and spine, the supplement loosely inserted at the end of the volume. [4], XV, [1 blank], 599, [1]; [2], 60, [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Eyewitness account of the horrors of the Napoleonic campaigns:
Germany, Poland, Moldavia & Turkey in aquatint

NEALE, Adam. Travels through some parts of Germany, Poland, Moldavia, and Turkey.
London, (back of title-page: printed by A. Straham), 1818. 4to. With 15 hand-coloured aquatints on 11 plates by I. Clark after drawings by author. 19th-century half morocco (Root bookbinders, London), richly gold-tooled spine. XIII, 295 pp. Full description

€ 1,950

1728 treaty between the Dutch Republic and the semi-autonomous state of Tripoli

[NETHERLANDS - STATES GENERAL - TREATY]. Tractaat tusschen haar hoog mog. de Heeren Staten Generaal der Vereenigde Nederlanden, en de regeeringe van Tripoli. Geslooten in het jaar 1728.
The Hague, Jacobus Scheltus II, 1729. 4to. Modern paper-covered boards. 8 pp. Full description

€ 1,250

First German edition of the first independent gemological book by a British author

NICOLS, Thomas. Edelgestein-Büchlein, oder Beschreibung der Edelgesteine. Derer Gestalt, Kräffte und Tugenden, Eigenschafften, Preis und Werth. Samt bengefügten Warnungen für Betrug an alle diejenigen, so mit Edelsteinenen handeln und umbgehen ... Übersetzet und herausgegeben von Johann Langen.
Hamburg, Johann Naumans and Georg Wolff, 1675. 8vo. Contemporary vellum. [16], 249, [7] pp. Full description

€ 1,700

A superb set of two lavishly illustrated descriptions of Arabia and the Middle East

NIEBUHR, Carsten. Beschryving van Arabie.
Amsterdam, Steven Jacobus Baalde; Utrecht, Johannes van Schoonhoven & comp. (colophon: printed by Johan Joseph Besseling, Utrecht), 1774. With engraved title-page and 25 engraved plates, including 7 folding showing 1 view of military exercises, 2 Kufic inscriptions (coloured by hand) and 4 maps. The unnumbered map of Yemen (plate size 58.5 x 39 cm) is coloured by hand in outline.
With: (2) NIEBUHR, Carsten. Reize naar Arabië en andere omliggende landen.
Amsterdam, Steven Jacobus Baalde; Utrecht, Johannes van Schoonhoven & comp. (colophons: printed by Johan Joseph Besseling, Utrecht), 1776-1780. With 2 engraved title-pages and 125 engraved plates (38 folding). 2 works in 3 volumes. Large 4to (28.5 x 22.5 cm). Contemporary sprinkled and polished half calf. Untrimmed. [6], XXXXI, [1], 408, [14]; [2], VIII, [6], 484, [2]; [16], 455, [1] pp. Full description

€ 10,000

Niebuhr's description of Arabia: an important contribution to the study of the Middle East

NIEBUHR, Carsten. Beschrijving van Arabie, uit eigene waarnemingen en in 't land zelf verzamelde narigten opgesteld door Carsten Neibuhr. Uit het Hoogduits vertaald, en vermeerderd met een volledig register van 't geheele werk.
Amsterdam and Utrecht, S.J. BAalde and J. van Schoonhoven & Comp., MDCCLXXIV [= 1774]. 2 works in one volume. 4to. With engraved title-page, 24 (partly folding, a few coloured) maps and views, including a long folding map of the Red Sea, a folding genealogical table of the rulers of Sana, and the large map of Yemen (coloured in outline). With some parts (some sentences) of the text printed in Arabic script.
With: (2) MICHAËLIS, Johann David [transl. Jacob van EKERS]. Vragen aan een gezelschap van geleerde mannen, die op bevel zynder majesteit des konings van Denemarken naar Arabie reizen. Voorgesteld door den hooggeleerden en wydberoemden heer Johann David Michaëlis. Koninglyken Grootbrittanischen en keurvorstlyken Brunswyk- Lunenburgschen hofraad, hoogleeraar in de wysbegeerte te Gottingen, en bestierder van de societeit der wetenschappen aldaar. Waarby gevoegd is, beoordeling van Niebuhrs beschryving van Arabie door den zelfden schryver, getrokken uit deszelfs orientalische en exegetische bibliotheek , IV. deel. In 't Neerduitsch vertaald en uitgegeven door Jacob van Ekers, bedienaar des goddelyken woords te Medenblik.
Amsterdam and Utrecht, S.J. Baalde and J. van Schoonhoven and Comp., MDCCLXXIV [=1774].
Contemporary half calf marbled sides, gold-tooled spine, red and black spine labels with the two titles lettered in gold. [6], XXXXI, [1], 408, [14]; [2 blank] XLVI, 270, [2] pp. Full description

€ 2,800

Important contribution to the study of the Middle East

NIEBUHR, Carsten. Voyage en Arabie & en d'autres pays circonvoisins. Tome premier[- second]. Traduit de l'Allemand.
Amsterdam, Steven Jacobus Baalde; Utrecht, Barthelemy Wild (colophon: printed by Joh. Jos. Besseling, Utrecht, 1775), 1775-1780. 2 volumes. 4to. With 2 engraved integral title-pages, 124 engraved plates (many folding) and a folding map of Yemen (in partial colour). Contemporary gold-tooled calf. VIII, [6], 409, [1], [1 blank]; VI, [10], 389, [1] pp. Full description

€ 6,000

Account of the first scientific expedition to the Middle East, Egypt, Persia and India

NIEBUHR, Carsten. Reize naar Arabië en andere omliggende landen.
Amsterdam, S.J. Baalde; Utrecht, J. van Schoonhoven and company (vol. 1) and Bartholomeus Wild (vol. 2) (colophons: Utrecht, printed by J.J. Besseling), 1776-1780. 2 volumes. 4to. With 2 engraved title-pages, each with a vignette, 31 engraved maps and plans and 94 other engraved plates. 19th-century half calf. Untrimmed. VIII, [6], 484, [2]; [16], 455, [1] pp. Full description

€ 6,000

First Dutch edition of Niebuhr's detailed and extensively illustrated description of his travels
in Arabia and surrounding regions

NIEBUHR, Carsten. Reize naar Arabië en andere omliggende landen.
Amsterdam, S.J. Baalde; Utrecht, J. van Schoonhoven & Comp. (vol. 1) and Bartholomeus Wild (vol. 2) (colophons: printed in Utrecht by Johan Joseph Besseling), 1776-1780. 2 volumes. 4to (27.5 x 22 cm). With 2 engraved title-pages, each with the same vignette, 35 maps and plans (9 folding and the large map of Yemen coloured by hand in red and green outlines), 21 views (12 folding) and 69 other illustrations (19 folding) of people, sculptures and examples of ancient script, engraved by C. Philips, Th. and C.H. Koning, C.J. de Huyser, C.F. Fritsch, C. Brouwer and others. Half calf, sprinkled paper sides, gold-tooled spine with a red title label with gold lettering. VIII (I and III blank), [6], 484, [2]; [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], [12], 455, [1] pp. Full description

€ 5,000

Manuscript compilation on Arabia and vicinity with 39 pages of illustrations, especially inscriptions,
but including views of the Great Mosques at Mecca and Medina

NIEBUHR, Carsten, and others (Johan Louis GERLAGH, compiler and draftsman). Aanteekeningen uit de Reise naar Arabie, en andere omliggende landen, van Carsten Niebuhr, geteekent en geschreeven door Joh. Louis Gerlagh.
[Hoeven? (near Breda)], 1785. Folio (29 x 22 cm). Manuscript in Dutch, written in ink on paper, with two loosely inserted supplements (2 bifolia), with a calligraphic title-page and 39 pages of (mostly) ink and grey ink wash drawings, plus a small drawing of an inscription and a few written examples in the text. Contemporary half canvas, sides covered with printed pattern paper. 63, [10] ll. Full description

€ 75,000

From India to Egypt, with 19 hand-coloured plates and 2 maps

NOÉ, Louis Pantaléon Jude Amédée, Comte de. Mémoires relatifs a l'expédition Anglaise partie du Bengale en 1800 pour aller combattre en Égypte l'armée d'orient.
Paris, Imprimerie Royale (back of half-title: [Auguste] Nepveu), 1826. 8vo. With 2 folding lithographed maps, partly coloured by hand, and 19 hand-coloured lithographed plates. Contemporary red half morocco, gold-tooled spine, marbled sides. [3], [1 blank], III, [1 bank], 288 pp. Full description

€ 1,750

Early Western printing in Aden: Arab dictionary

NORBURY, Paul Fitzgerald. An abridged Arabic grammar with one hundred and fifty simple conversational scentences and a vocabulary of two thousand five hundred words.
Aden, printed at the Aden Special Prison Press, [1917]. Square 8vo. Printed in English and Arabic type. With a tipped-in paper slip on the title-page: "Since the issue of the first edition it has been possible to test this grammar in regard to its utility in Mesopotamia. The result has been to confirm the correctness of the claim made in para four of the preface". Original publisher's printed hard board covers with red cloth spine. IV, 68 pp. Full description

€ 850

Rare handbooks of the British naval intelligence division on Arabia, Palestine, and Syria

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE DIVISION. Syria. April 1943.
With:
(2) IDEM. Palestine and Transjordan. December 1943.
(3) IDEM. Western Arabia and the Red Sea. June 1943.
Stationery Office, University Press Oxford, 1943-1946.
3 volumes. Many plates, tables and photographs. Each volume including separate fold-out maps, one in colour. Contemporary green cloth with the title in gold on the front boards and the spines. [2], XVI, 485, [1]; [2], XV, [1], 621, [1]; [2], XIX, [1], 659, [1] pp. Full description

€ 1,750

Pioneering Arabic, Syriac and Latin glossary

OBICINI, Tommaso and Elija bar SHINAJA (Elias BARSINAEUS) of Nisibis. Thesaurus Arabico-Syro-Latinus.
With: Index alphabeticus. ...
Rome, Propaganda Fide, 1636. 2 parts in 1 volume. 8vo. Set in Arabic, Syriac, roman and italic types. Contemp. reversed sheep, blank spine in five compartments. [2 blank], [5], [1 blank], 447, [1 blank], [43], [5 blank]; "70" [= 66] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

Historical work on the Saracens

OCKLEY, Simon. The conquest of Syria, Persia, and Aegypt, by the Saracens: containing the lives of Abubeker, Omar, and Othman, the immediate successors of Mahomet, giving an account of their most remarkable battles, sieges, &c. ...
London, for R. Knaplock, J. Sprint, R. Smith and J. Round, 1708. 8vo. Contemporary panelled calf with gold-stamped red label to gilt spine, leading edges gilt, red sprinkled edges. XXIV, [4], 391, [1 blank], [19], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,800

The history of the Austro-Hungarian region from 1395-1612

OERTEL (ORTELIUS), Hieronymus. Chronologia oder historische Beschreibung aller Kriegsempörungen unnd Belägerungen der Stätt und Vestungen auch Scharmützeln und Schlachten so in Ober und Unter Ungern auch Siebenbürgen mit dem Turcken von Ao. 1395 biss auff gegenwertige Zeit denckhwürtig geschehen.
Nuremberg, Christoff Lochner for Johann Sibmacher, 1604.
With:
(2) OERTEL, Hieronymus. Continuatio des Hungerischen und Sibenbürgischen Kriegwesens vom 1. Januari anno 1603 bis auf jetziges 1604.
Nuremberg, Christoff Lochner for Johann Sibmacher, 1604. With engraved title in elaborately decorated border with cavalry, arms and armour, large engraved folding map (28×51 cm), 30 double-page engraved views, 26 full-page engraved portraits, woodcut initials and head- and tailpieces.
(3) OERTEL, Hieronymus. Viertter Thail des Hungerischen und Sibenbürgischen Kriegswesens, was sich seithero Anno 1604 bis auf Ao. 1607 inn der ausgestandnen Rebellion mit dem Türcken, Rebellen und ihrem Anhang . . . zugetragen . . .
[Nuremberg, ca. 1613]. With engraved title-page, and engraved portrait of the author signed "H.V."
(4) OERTEL, Hieronymus. Appendix partis quartae Chronologiae Ungaricae, das ist; warhafftige ausführliche historische Beschreibung: was gestallt der aller durchleuchtigist Fürst und Herr herr Matthias Ertz Herzog zu Oesterreich, etc. Montags den 19 Novembris anno 1608 . . . und zum Römischen Kayser erkäret worden (ist; 1612) . . .
Nuremberg, Wolffgang Endter for the heirs of the author, 1622. With engraved portrait of author on the back of the title-page, and a folding engraved plate showing cavalry. 4 volumes bound as 1. 4to. Contemporary vellum. [6], 581, [34], [10]; [2], 35, [1]; [12], 195, [12]; [2], 302, [7] pp. Full description

€ 17,500

Extensive and rare study of Smyrna (Izmir), printed on site and signed by the translator and editor

OIKONOMOS, Konstantinos (Bonaventure F. SLAARS, translator and editor). Etude sur Smyrne.
Smyrna, Boghos Tatikian, 1868. Large 8vo. Set in roman type with some phrases in Greek type. Original publisher's blue printed paper wrappers. VIII, 152 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Extensive article on the Middle East oil industry around 1948

[OIL - MIDDLE EAST]. The Petroleum Times. [drop-title]: Review of Middle East oil. A comprehensive illustrated review of all aspects of current developments based on a recent extended tour by Dr. C.T. Barber, ...
London, Brettenhem house, June 1948. 30 x 23.5 cm. With many reproductions of photographs, ground plans, maps, and cross-sections. Later cardboard binder. V-XXX, 115, XXXA-XLVI pp. Full description

€ 1,750

The only Portuguese manual on the typesetting of Greek, Hebrew and Arabic, for compositors of the royal printing office in Lisbon

OLIVEIRA, Custodio José de. Diagnosis typografica dos caracteres gregos, hebraicos, e arabigos, addiccionada com algumas notas sobre a divisão orthografica da linguage latina, e outras da Europa, ...
Lisbon, Impressão Regia, 1804. 4to. Text set in roman, Hebrew, Greek and Arabic type. With a small Portuguese woodcut coat of arms on the title-page and 4 engraved plates on 2 leaves bound at the end of the book. Later blue paper wrappers. 72, [14], VIII pp. plus [2] ll. with engravings. Full description

€ 4,850

Two magazines issued by the Embassy of Oman

[OMAN]. Oman news.
With: Oman report.
Washington, D.C., Embassy of Oman, 1976-1978. 4to. One issue of the Oman News and three issue of the Oman Report. Full description

€ 275

Manuscript log of a voyage from Suez through the Red and Arabian Seas to Bombay, Karachi and Colombo, with 8 excellent nautical charts and 5 beautiful sketches, including one of the city of Muscat

[OMAN NAVIGATION LOGBOOK]. MCKINNELL, Thomas, assistant master. Log of the proceedings. HMS "Cyclops". W. J. S. Pullen Esq. Captain. Commencing Monday 7th February 1859, ending Wednesday 22nd of May, 1861. Kept by Thos. McKinnell, Mast. Asst.
HMS Cyclops: Oman, Khuriya Muriya Islands, Yemen, Egypt, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and other places, 1857-1861. Folio (20 x 31.5 cm). Over 360 pp. of manuscript entries, written with brown ink in a legible hand on watermarked laid paper with a blue cast. With 8 pen and ink nautical charts and 5 sketches of coastal sites, including the city of Muscat (8 on the logbook pages and 5 on separate thick album leaves). Contemporary brown cloth over boards, rebacked in period-style black calf with the spine lettered in gold: "Log H.M.S. Cyclops". [ca. 360], [32 blank] pp. Full description

€ 45,000

Rare travel account

OPPENHEIM, Max von. Vom Mittelmeer zum Persischen Golf durch den Hauran, die Syrische Wüste und Mesopotamien.
Berlin, Dietrich Reimer, 1899-1900. 2 volumes. Large 8vo. With 2 (of 3) folding maps in pockets on the inside of the back board and numerous illustrations in the text and on photographic plates. Original illustrated green cloth. XV, [1], 334; [1], 434 pp. Full description

€ 8,500

Impressive plan of the important archaeological excavation site of Tell Halaf, probably unique

[OPPENHEIM, Max von]. Tell-Halâf-Stadt 1913.
[Tell Halaf], 1913. 92 x 126 cm. Whiteprint (diazotype) on thick paper. Title, scale and compass executed in manuscript in blue pen. Full description

€ 4,500

Prospectus for the first professional journal for Islamic studies and the Middle East

[JOURNAL FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES - PROSPECTUS]. Mines de l'Orient, exploitées par une société d'amateurs.
Vienna, Antoine Schmid, 1809. Folio. Folded, strengthened with a decorated paper strip. 10 pp. Full description

€ 2,250

The learnedness of Middle Eastern rulers; forty dissertations

[ORIENTAL STUDIES IN SCANDINAVIA]. [A collection of 38 academic theses plus 2 duplicates].
Lund, Uppsala, Copenhagen, Helsinki and Turku, 1747-1854. 40 volumes. Mostly 4to. Full description

€ 18,000

Propaganda poster for the unity of Arab peoples and the nationalization of oil

[OSPAAAL]. MARTINEZ, Olivio. Unity of the Arab peoples - Nationalization of oil.
[Cuba, 1972]. Poster (ca. 52.5 x 32.5 cm) printed in black and red, with an image of four armed Arabian horsemen, with Arabic text above and below, and with the title in Spanish, French and English at the foot of the poster, together with the logo of the OSPAAAL. Full description

€ 1,500

The first publication of the Ethiopic Genesis

OTHO, Georg. Palaestra linguarum orientalium, hoc est: quatuor primorum capitum Geneseos, I. Textus originalis tam ex Judaeorum quàm Samaritanorum traditionibus. II. Targumim seu paraphrases orientales praecipuae, nempe I. Chaldaicae, (Onkelosi, Jonathanis et Hierosolymitana) II. Syriaca, III. Samaritana, IV. Arabica, V. Aethiopica, VI. Persica. Omnia cum versione Latinâ ...
Including: OTHO, Andreas. Glossarium linguarum orientalium octuplex: Hebraicum, Chaldaicum, Syriacum, Samaritanum, Arabicum, Aethiopicum, Persicum et Rabbinicum ...
Frankfurt am Main, published by Friedrich Knoch, printed by Martin Jacquet, 1702. 4to. With one woodcut initial. Set in roman, Arabic, Hebrew, Samaritan and Ethiopic types. 2 parts in 1 volume. Nineteenth-century half calf with marbled sides. [18] 140, 147, [3] pp. Full description

€ 3,950

Ottoman manuscript atlas of the western (mostly European) parts of the Ottoman Empire, with 10 maps

[OTTOMAN ATLAS - MANUSCRIPT]. [Atlas of the western Ottoman Empire].
Ottoman Empire, ca. 1910. Oblong 4to (26.5 x 19.5 cm). 14 leaves with 10 pen-and-ink maps, hand coloured with watercolours. Tissue guards. Gold-stamped cloth with the tughra of Mehmed V (ruled 1908-18) on the front board (when reading right to left) and "Album" on the back board (the front when reading left to right), with an inscription below the tughra and the European numerals "16" and "2" flanking an ornament below the inscription, the whole framed by 4 large floral cornerpieces. Full description

€ 8,500

Very rare (first?) edition of an Ottoman-French treaty that solidified French influence in the Ottoman Empire during the 18th century

[OTTOMAN CAPITULATIONS OF 1740]. [Kitabi-i ahdname-i hümayun-u saadet-makrun].
[Paris or Istanbul?], [1816 or 1835?]. Large 4to (31.5 x 24 cm). The text of an Ottoman-French treaty, set in the Ottoman Turkish alphabet, a version of the Arabic script. Half calf, marbled paper sides, gold-tooled spine. 45, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 15,000

Ottoman ambassador's audiences before the Emperor Charles VI and Prince Eugene of Savoy

[OTTOMAN EMPIRE]. [Drop-title:] Distinto ragguaglio della solenne udienza che alli 4. Settembre ebbe dall' Augustissimo Imperatore Carlo VI. re della Spagne, d'Ungheria &c. a Vienna nel Palazzo Cesareo della Favorita l'ecc[ellentissi]mo sig[nor]. grande ambasciatore Ottomano visire Mückerem Ibrahim Pascia, ...
Including:
Racconto della solenne visita, che alli 7. Di Settembre 1719. Il Sig[nor]. Grande Ambasciatore Ottomano Ibrahim Pascià diede al Seren[issimo]. Prencipe Eugenio di Savoja, ...
(Colophon: Rome, Giovanni Francesco Chracas, 1719). 4to. With a hatched roman capital used as an initial. Set in roman types with extensive italic. Modern boards covered with chemical-marbled paper, black morocco spine label. 8 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

The Ottoman-Mamluk war and the conquest of Mecca and Medina

[OTTOMAN-MAMLUK WAR]. Omnia que gesta sunt in Orie[n]te inter Sophi & Maximum Turcarum & Suldanum, & que[m]admodum dux Turcaru[m] caepit Alepum & Damascum & Hierusalem cum om[n]ibus circumiace[n]tibus oppidis, & quo[rum] maximus Turcaru[m] voluit audire una[m] missam apud sanctu[m] sepulchru[m] Iesu Christi.
[Basel, Pamphilus Gengenbach, 1518]. 4to. With woodcut illustration on title-page. 19th-century pink wrappers. [6], [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 35,000

Shipwrecked Americans as slaves of Islamic hunters and nomads in the western Sahara in 1800

PADDOCK, Judah. A narrative of the shipwreck of the Oswego, on the coast of South Barbary, ...
London, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown (printed by Andrew Strahan), 1818. 4to. 20th-century tan goatskin morocco. XVI, 372 pp. Full description

€ 1,500

"For Official Use Only."

PAGET, William Henry, MASON, A. H. & others (editors). Frontier and overseas expeditions from India. Compiled in the intelligence branch of the divisions of the chief of the staff army head quarters India. In six volumes. For official use only.
Simla, Government Monotype Press, 1907-1911. 8 volumes (6 plus 2 supplements). 8vo. With 43 maps and 8 plans.
Uniform contemporary half calf, green cloth sides, gold-stamped spine labels. Full description

€ 75,000

Detailed report on British-controlled Palestine and Transjordan

[PALESTINE]. UNITED KINGDOM COLONIAL OFFICE. Report by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Council of the League of Nations on the Administration of Palestine and Trans-Jordan for the Year 1932 ... Colonial no. 82, 58-82.
London, His Majesty's Stationary Office, 1933. 4to in 16s. With two folding maps showing parts of the Palestine territory that had been surveyed in detail.Original publisher's printed wrappers. XII, 267 pp. Full description

€ 2,250

Warmly inscribed by the author

PALGRAVE, William Gifford. Personal narrative of a year's journey through Central and Eastern Arabia (1862-63).
London and New York, Macmillan and Co., 1871. 8vo (ca. 13 x 19 cm). With a linen-backed folding map and 3 extending plans. Contemporary half morocco with maroon cloth over boards, gilt, front board stamped with the owner's initials "G.W.T.", marbled endpapers. [2], VI, [4], 421, [1] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

One of the first accounts of a Spanish Muslim’s journey to Mecca

PAÑO Y RUATA, Mariano de. Las coplas del peregrino de Puey Monçón viaje á la Meca en el siglo XVI.
Zaragoza, Comas Hermanos, 1897. 8vo. With a facsimile of one page of the Arabic manuscript, a photographic view of the Kaaba, a double-page map and at the end a list of the books available in the Bibliotheca Arabico-Hispana. Contemporary black half sheepskin, letterpress title-label on spine. XLVI, [2], 303, [1 blank]; [8] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

Richly illustrated work on astronomy and the modernization of the Islamic calculation of time, together with a very rare appendix

PASHA, Ahmed Muhtar Riyaz ül-muhtar, mirat ül-mikat ve 'l-edvar.
Cairo, Bulaq Matbaasi, 1303-1313 AH [= 1885-1896 CE]. 3 volumes bound as 1 (plates, text, and appendix). Large 4to (29.5 x 21 cm). Text in Ottoman Turkish, set in a naskh Arabic type, most pages in a thin-thick-thin-rule frame. With a separate title-page and 36 full-page, numbered plates (including 1 double-page) on 36 leaves at the beginning of the book and 1 folding plate at the end. Later elaborately gold- and blind-tooled brown calf, each board with a blind ornamental frame with corner pieces and a gold centre piece. Spine with the title in gold Arabic lettering in the 2nd of 6 compartments, the other 5 with blind ornaments and gold fillets on the 5 raised bands, marbled endpapers, red ribbon marker. [10], 378, [1 blank]; 58 pp. Full description

€ 8,500

International weights, measures and monetary units in the 16th century

PASI, Bartolomeo. Tariffa de i pesi, e misure corrispondenti dal Levante al Ponente.
Venice, per Paolo Gherardo (colophon: per Comin da Trino), 1557. 8vo (15.5 x 11 cm). With the title in a woodcut border of 4 matching parts, and with a crowned eagle device. 18th-century half green morocco, gold-tooled spine. [12], 200 ll. Full description

€ 4,750

Pen and ink wash drawing of the harbour of the Ottoman port city Edremit

[OTTOMAN PORT]. [PEETERS, Johannes (Jan) (after)]. [Ladimistri nel' archipelago].
[The Netherlands(?), ca. 1720?]. Oblong folio (19.5 x 31.5 cm). Pen and blue-black ink-wash drawing on laid paper, showing the city of Edremit, its harbour and fortifications, with an Ottoman and a Dutch(?) ship, and a lighthouse, in a brown thick-thin-thin border, signed in the border below right, but difficult to read (I. P. Sto...?, I. P. Ste...?). Framed (37 x 49 cm). Full description

€ 2,750

A major historical novel set in medieval Granada, capturing its multiculturalism

[PÉREZ DE HITA, Ginés (ABENHAMIN)]. Historie van Granada, van de Borgherlijcke Oorlogen, ende andere, die in het Granadijnsche coninckrijcke geschiet sijn, van de Mooren tegens de Christenen, tot dat de stadt ghewonnen wert van den koninck Don Fernando de vijfde. Met een discours van de incomste der Mooren in Spaengien (ende hare geschiedenissen) met haren uytgang. Getraduceert uyt de Spaensche in Nederduytsche tale, door Isaac Jansz. Bijl.
Haarlem, Vincent Casteleyn, for Jan Evertsz.Cloppenburch, Amsterdam, 1615. 8vo. Woodcut vignette on the title-page. Contemporary overlapping vellum. 504 pp. Full description

€ 4,500

Negotiating an alliance between the Prince of the Bezancudos tribe and the Emperor of Persia

[PERSIA - ANONYMOUS]. Relacam da celebre embaixada, que o Principe dos Bezancudos mandou ao Schach da Persia, Tha'mas Kouli-khan, para o conciliar seu Aliado temendo o seu poder; e se fez esta funçao em 8 de Junho deste presente anno de 1744. com huma breve noticia dos Bezancudos, e seu Paiz.
Lisbon, Pedro Ferreira, 1744. 4to (19.5 x 13.5 cm). With a printer's device on the title-page. Modern half red morocco. 8 pp., with 28 additional blank, modern leaves. Full description

€ 2,500

An exceptional series of 50 meticulously executed miniatures

[PERSIAN MINIATURES]. A series of miniatures showing Persian scribes.
Persia, mid-Qajar period, [soon after 1852]. Folio (32 x 21 cm). 50 watercolour miniatures on paper, ca. 9 x 14 cm, pasted on coloured paperboard within multiple-rule frames in gold and black ink, bound as a fan-fold book with cloth hinges. Near-contemporary black leather, stored in a blind-stamped black slipcase with a flap at the head. Full description

€ 75,000

Traversing Qajar Persia with a manuscript guide

[PERSIA - TRAVEL GUIDE]. [Manuscript travel guide].
[Qajar Iran, ca. 1850s]. 8vo (12.5 x 22 cm). Persian manuscript on polished paper. Black nasta'liq script in 15 lines per page, ruled in green and blue, with rubricated chapter headings and marginal medallions. Contemporary limp leather and woven floral-patterned cloth. 26 ll. Full description

€ 8,500

Trade in Venetian cloth in early 18th-century Cairo

[AUTOGRAPH]. [PETEA(?)], Michiel. [Letter, signed, to Nicolò Caragiani in Venice concerning the trading conditions in Cairo for different woolen and silk fabrics].
Cairo, 22 October 1732. Manuscript letter in Italian, opening with a duplicate of an earlier letter, in a different hand, dated 26 September 1732, written in ink on one page of a bifolium originally folded 4 more times for sending (to 8.5 x 14 cm) with the address on one side and traces of a red wax on the other. Full description

€ 3,500

Map of Alios Musil's journeys

PEUCKER, Karl. Musils explorations in Northern Arabia, 1908-9.
[London, W. Clowes, May 1910]. With a full-page black and white lithographed map (19x12.5 cm). 4to. With a full-page lithographed black and white map. Modern blue wrappers. 579-581 pp. Full description

€ 300

The first European crossing the Rub' al-Khali (Empty Quarter) of Arabia from east to the west

PHILBY, Harry St. John Bridger and Alfred Felix Landon BEESTON. Sheba's daughters beign a record of travel in southern Arabia. With an appendix on the rock inscriptions by A.F.L. Beeston.
London, Methuen & Co., [1939]. 4to. With photographic frontispiece, 46 photographic plates (1 of which double-page), 1 folding map of southern Arabia, and several photographic illustrations in the text. Contemporary light yellow cloth with giltstamped title and ornament to the spine. XIX, [1 blank], 485, [1] pp. Full description

€ 350

First edition of Philby's description of Rub' al Khali

PHILBY, Harry St John Bridger. The empty quarter, being a description of the Great South Desert of Arabia known as Rub' al Khali.
London, Constable, 1933. 8vo. With 3 folding maps an 47 illustrations on 32 plates. Original publisher's gilt-stamped green cloth. XXIV, 433, [1] Full description

€ 950

Travelling in the Hadramaut: the longest journey of Philby through southern Arabia

PHILBY, Harry St John Bridger. The land of Sheba (The Geographical Journal Vol. 92, no. 1).
[United Kingdom, The Royal Geographical Society], July 1938. 8vo. With 1 large folding coloured map, 1 smaller uncoloured folding map, and numerous photographs on 7 plates. Later half black cloth. 21, 107-132 pp. Full description

€ 300

Joseph Halévy’s journey through the Jawf region of Yemen

PHILBY, Harry St John Bridger. Halévy in the Yaman (The Geographical Journal Vol. 102, no. 3).
[United Kingdom, The Royal Geographical Society], September 1943. 8vo. Contemporary blue cloth with gilt-stamped abbreviated title to front cover: "Philby - Yaman". 115-124 [=10] pp. Full description

€ 300

A celebration of the life and career of Ibn Sa'ud, founder and first king of Saudi Arabia

PHILBY, Harry St John Bridger. Arabian jubilee.
London, Robert Hale Limited, 1952. 8vo. With a portrait of king 'Abdul-'Aziz Ibn Sa'ud as the frontispiece, 1 map of Arabia in 1950, and 16 double-sided plates. Black cloth. XIV, 280 pp. Full description

€ 800

Highlights of the life and career of the founder and first king of Saudi Arabia: Ibn Sa'ud

PHILBY, Harry St John Bridger. Arabian jubilee.
London, Robert Hale Limited, 1954. 8vo. With a portrait of king 'Abdul-'Aziz Ibn Sa'ud as the frontispiece, 1 map of Arabia in 1950, and 16 double-sided plates. Black cloth with title information in gold on spine. XIV, 280 pp. Full description

€ 400

A late 19th century souvenir album by the Zangaki brothers,
with 34 albumen prints of Egypt and its inhabitants

[PHOTOGRAPHY - EGYPT]. ZANGAKI BROTHERS. [Cover title:] Aegypten 1891.
[Egypt, Zangaki brothers, 1891]. Oblong album (31.5 x 41 cm). With 34 large albumen prints mounted on heavy cardstock leaves. Most of the photographs are numbered and captioned in French in the negative and signed 'Zangaki'. The last one is signed Sebah & Joallier. The Zangaki prints measure 22.5 x 28.5 cm; the Sebah & Joallier one is 20.5 x 26.5 cm. Original gold-stamped bubble-grained maroon cloth over boards. [36] ll. Full description

€ 4,500

Western tourists in Israel shortly after the Six-Day War in 1967 captured by a Dutch photographer

[PHOTOGRAPHY - THIRD ARAB-ISRAELI WAR - ISRAEL] DONY, Bianca. [Album with photographs showing parts of Israeli captured territories including the Golan Heights, the West Bank, parts of Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula].
Israel, 1967. Oblong album (ca. 20 x 26 cm); photographs in slightly varying sizes (ca. 18.5 x 24 cm). 44 silver gelatin photographs (including 2 duplicates and 1 other loosely inserted). Grey faux-leather photo album with a small white label on the front board: "42 x Israël 1967 23-24-25 Juli". 44 photographs in an album with 30 clear plastic inserts. Full description

€ 4,500

One of the earliest sources on the Congo and central Africa, complete with all plates and maps

PIGAFETTA, Filippo and Duarte LOPEZ. Relatione del reame di Congo et delle circonvicine contrade tratta dalli scritti & ragionamenti di Odoardo Lopez.
Rome, Bartolomeo Grassi, [1591]. 4to. With an integral engraved architectural title-page (with the coat of arms of the dedicatee Antonio Migliore, Bishop of San Marco), large folding engraved general map of Africa (64×44 cm), large folding engraved map of the Congo (43.5×51.5 cm) and 8 numbered folding engraved plates of plants, animals and inhabitants of the country, by Natalis Bonifazio. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment. [8], 82, [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 60,000

The British admiralty’s pilot guide for the South Indian Ocean

[PILOT GUIDE]. South Indian Ocean pilot. Comprising Madagascar, Iles Comores, Ile de la Réunion, Mauritius, the Seychelles, the Chagos Archipelago, and other islands lying westward of longitude 80° East. Sixth edition.
London, hydrographic department, admiralty (colophon: printed by Butler & Tanner), 1946. 8vo. With two maps, to be used as an index, 10 plates and a few illustrations in text. Publisher's beige cloth.
With: Supplement no. 5-1956 relating to the South Indian Ocean pilot sixth edition, 1946 corrected to 23 April, 1956.
London, hydrographic department, admiralty (colophon: printed by Tinlling & Co., Liverpool), 1946. 8vo. With a loosely inserted folding plate illustrating the system of buoyage. Publisher's wrappers. XXX, 403, [1]; 46 pp. Full description

€ 750

Only published edition of the original 1521 text of the navigation book of the great Ottoman admiral

PIRI REIS (Paul KAHLE, ed.). Bahrije. Das türkische Segelhandbuch für das Mittelländische Meer vom Jahre 1521.
Berlin and Leipzig, Walter de Gruyter & Co., 1926-1927. 3 volumes. Large 8vo (26 x 18 cm). Volume 1 with 137 reproductions of manuscript pages of Ottoman Turkish text and maps and volume 2 with 4 plates. Publisher's original printed wrappers. [1], [1 blank], [2] pp. + 64 ll. + [4], [1 blank], [1] pp.; ll. 65-137; [1], [1 blank], XLVIII, 88 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Detailed studies of plague outbreaks in the Middle East

[PLAGUE]. Papers relating to the modern history and recent progress of Levantine plague; prepared from time to time by direction of the president to the local government board, with other papers. Presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of Her Majesty, 1879. C.-2262.
London, George Edward Eyre & William Spottiswoode, 1879. Folio. With two folding lithographed maps, one centered on the Middle East and the other detailing the seats of the plague in Mesopotamia and south-west Persia.Original publishers blue printed paper wrappers. [2], 76 pp. Full description

€ 4,500

Praised edition of Pliny's "Natural history", with sections on pearl fishery in the Middle East

PLINIUS SECUNDUS, Gaius (PLINY the Elder). Historiarum naturae libri XXXVII, post omnes omnium editiones, ...
Paris, Jean Parvum (index: Jean Petit), 1532. Folio. 18th-century cat's paw calf, richly gold-tooled spine. [36], 671, [188] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

Pliny's “Historia naturalis”, edited by Caesarius, friend of Erasmus

PLINIUS SECUNDUS, Gaius. Naturalis historiae opus ...
(Colophon: Cologne, Eucharius Cervicornus, 1524.) Folio. With both title-page and part-title in a decorated woodcut border in four pieces. Calf (ca. 1700?), with gold-tooled spine; rebacked with original backstrip laid down. [16], 311, [60] ll. Full description

€ 22,500

and of permanent scholarly value" (Toomer)">Pococke's celebrated edition of Abu'l-Faraj's Islamic history: "It is his greatest work,
and of permanent scholarly value" (Toomer)

POCOCKE, Edward. Specimen historiae arabum; ... Accessit historia veterum Arabum ex Abu'l Feda: cura Antonii I. Sylvestre De Sacy. Edidit Josephus White, ...
Oxford, Clarendon Press [= Oxford University Press], 1806. 4to. Title-page with engraved view of the Clarendon Building, aquatint author's portrait and 1 full-page etched plate. Contemporary boards. XV, [1 blank], 573, [3 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Augmented Dutch edition of Pocockes celebrated description of the Near and Middle East,
with 205 engraved plates

POCOCKE, Richard. Beschryving van het Oosten, en van eenige andere landen, ...
Utrecht, Gijsbert Tieme and Abraham van Paddenburg; Rotterdam, Jacobus Bosch and Reinier Arrenberg; Amsterdam, Martinus de Bruyn, 1776-1786. 3 volumes (in 6 parts) bound as 6. 4to. With 205 engraved folding plates (irregularly numbered I-CIII), including maps, plans, views and other illustrations, depicting temples, antiquities, plants, animals, etc. Contemporary half calf. XXXVI, 219, [1 blank], [11], 224-491, [1 blank]; [12], 262, [2 blank], VIII, [3], 268-376, 397-519, [1 blank]; VIII, 262, [2 blank], VIII, [3], 268-403, [1 blank]; [4], 115, [1], 124 pp. Full description

€ 15,000

An important source of knowledge of the Near East

POCOCKE, Richard. Beschryving van het Oosten, en van eenige andere landen. Uit het Engelsch overgezet en met aantekeningen voorzien, door Ernst Willem Cramer.
Utrecht, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, G.T. en A. van Paddenburg, J. Bosch, R. Arrenberg, and M. de Bruyn, 1776-1786. 3 volumes (in 6 parts) bound as 6. 4to. With 205 folding engraved maps, plans, views and plates. Contemporary half calf. Full description

€ 12,000

First Dutch editions of 8 accounts of the Middle & Far East, from Marco Polo’s voyages to the capture of Formosa by the pirate Zheng Chenggong

POLO, Marco. Reisen, en beschryving der Oostersche lantschappen; ...
Including:
-HETOUM of Corycus. Historie der Oostersche lantschappen; ...
-[BRACCIOLINI, Poggio, and Girolamo di SANTO STEFANO]. Reysen naar Indien, en d'oostersche landen; gedaan by Nicolaus Venetus, en Jeronymus van St. Steven.
-[Anonymous VOC officer in Formosa]. Verhaal van de verövering van 't eylant Formosa door de Sinesen.
Amsterdam, Abraham Wolfgang, 1664. With 4 engraved plates.
With:
(2) BOURGES, Jacques de. Naaukeurig verhaal van de reis des Bisschops van Beryte uit Frankryk te lant en ter zee naar China.
Amsterdam, Abraham Wolfgang, 1669. With 8 half-page engraved illustrations in text.
(3) Verhaal van drie voorname reizen naar Oostindien, te weten van Johan Jacobsz Saar, Volkert Evertsz, en Albrecht Herport.
Comprising:
-SAAR, Johann Jacob. De reisbeschryving ... naar Oostindien, sedert ... 1644. tot ... 1659. ...
-OLEARIUS, Adam. De beschryving der reizen van Volkert Evertsz. [= Volquard Iversen] naar Oostindien. ... uitgevaren in ... 1655. en in ... 1668 ... gekeert.
-HERPORT, Albrecht. De beschryving der Oostindische reizen ... sedert ... 1659. tot ... 1668. ...
Amsterdam, Jan Rieuwertsz & Pieter Arentsz, 1671 (works 2 and 3 dated 1670 on their title-pages). With 8 engraved plates, the last 4 sometimes attributed to Romeyn de Hooghe or his school.
3 editions (the 1st containing 4 works and the 3rd containing 3 works) in 1 volume. 4to.Contemporary vellum. [12], 99, [8], [1 blank], 70, [2], 25, [1 blank], 12; [2], 126; [6], 198 pp. Full description

€ 28,000

Pamphlet satirising Portuguese notables associated with the Persian wars

[PORTUGAL - PAMPHLET]. Noticia breve das novidades da Azia mandadas de Ali-Xarife da cidade de Babilonia; para Soliman morador na Corte de Constantinopla, e desta para a cidade de Sevilha a hum contratador de vidros.
(Colophon: Madrid, heirs of Juan Garcia Infanzon, 1742). 4to (20 x 14.5 cm). Disbound. 7, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Unusually favourable introduction to Islam and the Ottoman Empire

POSTEL, Guilliaume. De la republique des Turcs: & là ou l'occasion s'offrera, des meurs & loy de tous Muhamedistes, ...
Including:
-Histoire et consideration de l'origine, loy, et coustume des Tartares, Persiens, Arabes, Turcs, & tous autres Ismaelites ou Muhamediques, dits par nous Mahometains, ou Sarrazins.
-La tierce partie des orientales histoires, ou est exposee la condition, ... de l'empire Turquesque: ...
Poitiers, Enguilbert de Marnef, 1560. 3 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With Marnef's printer's device on title-page (repeated on the 2 part-titles). Contemporary blind- and gold-tooled calf, restored and rebacked with a large part of the original backstrip laid-down, modern endpapers. [8], 127, [1 blank]; 57, [3 blank]; [8], 90 pp. Full description

€ 22,500

Magnificent de luxe issue, with 31 hand-coloured lithographs

PRISSE D'AVENNES, Achille Constant Théodore Émile. Oriental album. Characters, costumes, and modes of life, in the valley of the Nile.
London, James Madden, 1848. Imperial folio (52.5 x 37.5 cm). With an additional decorative title-page, separately chromolithographed in black, gold and 7 colours, tinted and hand-coloured lithographed frontispiece portrait of the dedicatee, and 30 tinted and hand-coloured lithographs. Numerous wood-engraved illustrations in the text. Modern half calf, richly gold-tooled spine. [6], 60 pp. Full description

€ 65,000

31 splendid coloured plates of life in the Nile Valley

PRISSE D'AVENNES, Achille Constant Théodore Émile. Oriental album. Characters, costumes, and modes of life, in the valley of the Nile.
London, James Madden (back of title-page: printed by John Wertheimer & Co.), 1851. Super Royal folio (33 x 45.5 cm). With 31 tinted and hand-coloured lithographed plates, including the frontispiece, and a black-and-white illustration on the title-page. Contemporary gold-tooled red half morocco. [5], [1 blank], 60 pp. plus plates. Full description

€ 15,000

Important survey of ancient Egyptian and Nubian sites now submerged, with a very large and detailed map: a fine copy, partly unopened

PROKESCH, Anton, Ritter von Osten. Das Land zwischen den Katarakten des Nil. Mit einer Karte, ...
Vienna, Carl Gerold, 1831. 12mo (the book) and 17.5 x 25 cm (the folder with the folded map). With a separate large folding lithographed map (98 x 69 cm; image area 93 x 64 cm) assembled from 2 sheets, with the cultivated areas along the river hand-coloured in green as published, also showing 17 floor plans of temples and a plan of a Roman wall. The book in the publishers original light green paper wrappers and the map in a matching green paper folder. [8], 181, [3 blank] pp. plus folding table and separate map. Full description

€ 3,750

On Muhammad Ali, Pasha of Egypt, from the memoirs of an Austrian diplomat

PROKESCH, Anton, Ritter von Osten. Mehmed-Ali Vize-König von Aegypten. Aus meinem Tagebuche 1826-1841.
Vienna, Wilhelm Braummüller (colophon: Adolf Holzhausen), 1877. 8vo. Contemporary blind-blocked cloth. [4], 173, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 750

The First Anglo-Afghan War: an extraordinary snapshot of the North-West Frontier of British India
between 1840 en 1845.

[PUNJAB-BRITISH SECRETARIAT]. Press lists of old records in the Punjab Secretariat - Volume VII. - North-West Frontier Agency. Correspondence with Government, 1840-1845.
Lahore, printed by the superintendent, Government Printing, Punjab, 1915. 1 volume bound as 2. Folio. With an addendum slip facing p. 197. Brown calf, with "Book 1" and "Book 2" in gold on the spines. [2?], 993 pp. Full description

€ 6,500

A kind Muslim, an English mummy snatcher and John Smith before Pocahontas

[PURCHAS, Samuel], John SANDERSON, Henry TIMBERLAKE and others. Seer gedenckwaerdige vojagien, van Johan Sanderson, Hendrick Timberly, en Capt. Johan Smith, door Europa, Asia en America. ...
Amsterdam, Joachim van Dyck, 1678. 4to. With engraved title-page, letterpress title-page with a woodcut floral ornament, 4 folding engraved illustration plates (including 1 with 4 small views). 18th-century half vellum. [12], 158 pp. including integral frontispiece. Full description

€ 4,500

Dutch translation of the Quran and the life of Mohammed, with 6 engraved plates by Caspar Luyken

[QURAN]. Mahomets Alkoran, door de hr. Du Ryer uit d'Arabische in de Fransche taal gestelt; benevens een tweevoudige beschrijving van Mahomets leven; en een verhaal van des zelfs reis ten hemel, gelijk ook zyn samenspraak met de Jood Abdias.
Amsterdam, Timotheus ten Hoorn, 1696. 8vo. With an integral engraved title-page, and 6 engraved plates showing the Prophet Mohammed, engraved by Caspar Luyken. Contemporary vellum, manuscript title on spine. [12], 547, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

First accurate printed Quran (both the Arabic text and the Latin translation), with extensive valuable notes
from Islamic commentaries and anti-Islamic "refutations" of every sura! plus a life of Muhammed

[QURAN - ARABIC & LATIN]. MARRACCI, Ludovico, ed. Alcorani textus universus ex correctioribus Arabum exemplaribus summa fide, ... Eadem fide, ... in Latinum translatus; appositis unicuique capiti notis, atque refutatione: ...
[vol. 2 title:] Refutatio Alcorani, in qua ad Mahumetanicae superstitionis radicem securis apponitur; ...
Padova, Typographia Seminaria, 1698. 2 volumes bound as 1. Folio (35.5 x 25 cm). Blind-tooled vellum (ca. 1800?), reusing and retooling vellum from a slightly earlier blind-tooled binding. [5], [1 blank], 45, [2], [1 blank], 46, [2], 81, [3], 94, [10], 126, [3] [1 blank] [13], [1 blank]; [8], 17, [3], “838” [= 836], [11], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 25,000

From a famous private collection

[MANUSCRIPT - QURAN]. [A splendid illuminated Quran manuscript].
Iran, AH 1204 [= 1783 AD]. 8vo (15 x 9 cm) Illuminated Arabic manuscript on paper, 19 lines per page, written in a neat naskh script in black ink with diacritics in red, margins ruled in gold and colours. Gold discs or florets between verses, sura headings written in white in gold cartouches flanked by panels with alternating floral motifs in gold and various colours. Brown morocco with a flap and gold-tooled borders and central ornaments. 243 ll. plus 2 end-leaves. Full description

€ 18,000

Fourth editon of the first English Quran to be translated directly from the Arabic

[QURAN - ENGLISH]. SALE, George, (translator). The Koran, commonly called the Alcoran of Mohammed. Translated from the original Arabic with explanatory notes, taken from the most approved commentators to which is preffixed a preliminary discourse. A new edition.
Bath, Printed by S. Hazard for J. Johnson, Vernor and Hood, Ogilvy and Speare, J. Sewell, H. Gardner and C. and G. Kearsley, 1795. 2 vols. 8vo. Engraved fold-out map of Arabia, 3 genealogical tables of which two folding, 1 plate illustrating the Temple of Mecca, all taken from the first editon of 1735. Old calf. Full description

€ 3,500

Persian music theory from "The Pearly Crown"

QUTB AL-DIN AL-SHIRAZI. Durrat al-taj wa-khulasat al-nitaj fi ilm al-musiqa.
Shiraz, 1151 AH [= 1738/39 CE]. 4to (ca. 16.5 x 21 cm). Persian manuscript on gold-flecked paper. In tidy black naskh script in 22 lines, with highlights and important words and phrases picked out in red. WIth numerous tables and diagrams. Contemporary leather-backed patterned boards. 57 ll. Full description

€ 35,000

Diplomatic treaty to calm down a dormant conflict between Yemen, Britain and Saudi Arabia

RAGHEB-BIN-RAFIQ, Muhammed & Bernard Rawdon REILLY. Treaty of friendship and mutual co-operation between His Majesty in respect of the United Kingdom and of India and the king of the Yemen (with exchange of notes).
London, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1934. With a woodcut British Royal arms on the title-page.In a blue paper wrapper. 5, [1] pp. Full description

€ 950

First systematic treatise on occupational diseases

RAMAZZINI, Bernardo. De morbis artificum diatriba.
Modena, Antonius Capponus, 1700. 8vo. Modern calf, gold-tooled spine. VIII, 360 pp. Full description

€ 9,000

16th-century travel account of a journey from Venice to the Ottoman Empire

RAMBERTI, Benedetto. Delle cose de Turchi. Libri tre. ...
(Colophon:) Venice, Bernardino Bindoni, 1541. 8vo. With a small typographical ornament on the title-page. Modern vellum, sewn on 4 tapes, laced through the joints. 37, [1], [2 blank] ll. Full description

€ 7,500

Manuscript chronicle of the Islamic World 635-1453

[RAMPOLDI, Giovanni Battista]. [Annali Musulmani].
[Tuscany?, ca. 1825]. 4to (20.5 x 14 cm). Manuscript in Italian, written in dark brown ink on (mostly) laid paper. Contemporary or near contemporary half maroon cloth. [531], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

A Danish traveller in Kuwait, Saudi-Arabia and Bahrain, meets Mubarak al-Sabah and Ibn Saud, presentation copy

RAUNKIAER, Barclay. Gennem Wahhabiternes land paa kamelryg. Beretning om den af det Kongelige Danske Geografiske Selskab planlagte og bekosterde forskningsrejse i Ost- og Centralarabien 1912.
Copenhagen, Gyldendalske boghandel, Nordisk forlag, 1913. 8vo. With a frontispiece showing the author in Arab garb, 88 illustrations in text, most of them reproductions of drawings and photographs by the author, and a folding map loosely inserted in a pocket at the end. Publisher's green cloth. [1], [1 blank], [2], 304 pp. Full description

€ 5,000

Radical critique of European overseas expansion in 10 volumes. Extremely rare second Dutch edition

RAYNAL, Guillaume Thomas François. Wysgeerige en staatkundige geschiedenis van de bezittingen en den koophandel der Europeaanen, in de beide Indiën.
Amsterdam, Matthijs Schalekamp, 1792-1803. 10 volumes bound as 9. 8vo. With 2 different engraved author's portraits, 8 engraved plates (5 as frontispieces), 12 engraved folding maps and 23 letterpress folding tables. Contemporary half calf, gold-tooled spine. VI, [4], 469, [19]; [8], 533, [1 blank], 11, [1 blank]; [8], 508, [11], [1 blank]; [8], 427, [9], [2 blank]; [8], 365, [9]; [8], 426, [10]; [10], 501, [7]; [8], 458, [11], [1 blank]; [8], 339, [10], [1 blank]; [4], 432, [13], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 7,500

A little-known medical treatise from one of the greatest minds in the history of medicine

RAZI, Abu Bakr Muhammaed ibn Zakariyya al-. [RHAZES]. Taqasim al-ilal. [= Classification of diseases].
Western Persia, 996 AH [= 1588 CE]. 2 volumes. Tall 8vo (18.5 x 10 cm). Arabic manuscript on paper. Black naskh script with important words and phrases picked out in red. Stored in a custom-made red cloth box, disbound, originally bound as one. 109; 89 ll. Full description

€ 65,000

Author’s inscribed presentation copy

REINAUD, [Joseph Toussaint]. Description des monumens Musulmans du cabinet de M. le Duc de Blacas.
Paris, Imprimerie Royale, 1828. 2 volumes. 8vo. With 10 engraved plates (2 folding). Contemporary half mottled calf, gold-tooled spines, marbled endpapers and edges. [4], XV, [1], 400; [4], 488 pp. Full description

€ 9,500

A monumental description of the archaeological expedition to Lebanon and Syria

RENAN, Joseph Ernest. Mission de Phénicie.
Paris, Imprimerie Impériale/Nationale, 1864-1874. 14 volumes bound as 13 (7 of text and 7 of plates, the latter bound as 6). Folio (27,5 x 36,5 and 37 x 55,5 cm). With 70 engraved and lithographed numbered plates (including 1 folding), 1 folding map, and 8 plans(including 3 folding), a few in contemporary hand colouring, and several illustrations in the text.Contemporary wrappers. Plates stored in two half cloth portfolios. [4], 884, [4] pp. Full description

€ 25,000

With portraits of the most celebrated physicians, including Galen, Hippocrates (Boqrat)
and Masawaih al-Mardini (Mesue)

RENOU (RENODAEUS), Jean de. Les oeuvres pharmaceutiques du Sr. Iean de Renou ... augmentées d'un tiers en cette seconde edition par l'auteur; puis traduittes, embellies de plusieurs figures necessaires à la cognoissance de la medicine & pharmacie, & mises en lumiere par M. Louys de Serres.
Lyon, Antoine Chard (colophon: printed by Pierre Colombier), 1626. Folio. With letterpress title in red and black in a richly engraved border. Contemporary richly blind-, black- and gold-tooled calf; rebacked, with original backstrip laid down. [28], 467, [1 blank], [1], 468-762, [24, last 2 pages blank] pp. Full description

€ 12,000

275 photographic views and portraits, mostly made in Iraq 1928 to 1933

[PHOTOGRAPHS - IRAQ]. REYNISH, William. [Views, scenes, monuments, airplanes, military vehicles, British troops and local inhabitants].
[Iraq (plus Malta and Egypt), ca. 1928-1933]. Oblong albums (25 x 34.5 cm & 21.5 x 28.5 cm). Two albums containing about 275 silver halide photographic gelatin prints (6 x 8.5 cm to 16 x 21.5 cm) assembled and mostly taken by a British Royal Air Force pilot while stationed in Iraq and then briefly Malta, with a visit to Egypt. The photos mounted with paper corner-mounts in two contemporary cloth-covered albums, the larger with padded boards covered in alligator-skin patterned dark green cloth, with the photographs on both sides of 24 dark grey album leaves, each leaf with a glassine paper guard-leaf (embossed with a spider-web pattern) bound in before it; the smaller covered in black cloth with a grey-white bird in a cloud painted on the front board and the word "snaps", with the photographs on both sides of leaves 2-35 & 51-52 of 54 light brown album leaves. Full description

€ 8,500

Only copy located of a hand-coloured print series of Arabian horses, after drawings made in Baghdad

RICH, Claudius James and Siegmund Ferdinand von PERGER. Sammlung und Darstellung verschiedener Pferde intressanter Zuchten, Landeskarten und Rassen ...
Vienna, Müllersche Kunsthandlung, 1815. Oblong folio (31 x 42.5 cm). Engraved print series, including a title-page engraved by Dorneck and 6 numbered engravings of horses engraved by Siegmund Ferdinand von Perger, hand-coloured and loose as issued. [1], VI engraved ll. Full description

€ 12,500

Travelogue of Arabia by a distinguished Lebanese Arab-American writer, with 32 plates

RIHANI, Ameen. Around the coasts of Arabia.
London, Constable & Co., 1930. 8vo. With a pictorial map as frontispiece, 31 photographic half-tone plates and a full-page map on an integral leaf. Original publishers black cloth, with title in gold on spine. X, [2], 364 pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Influential book on optics by a noted protégé and collegue of Peter Ramus,
based on the work of Ibn al-Haytham (AlHazen)

RISNER, Friedrich. Opticae libri quatuor ex voto Petri Rami novissimo Fridericum Risnerum per ejusdem in mathematicis adjutorem olim conscripti, ...
Kassel, Wilhelm Wessel (sold by Johann Berner in Frankfurt), 1615. 4to. With numerous optical, astronomical and mathematical woodcut diagrams in text, woodcut headpieces, tailpieces and initials, and headpieces built up from cast fleurons. 18th-century tan calf, gold-tooled double fillets, re-backed in sheepskin. [20], 259, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 19,500

Lecture on the ancient history of Arabia Petrea (now in Jordan and vicinity) during the Roman conquest by one of the founders of modern geography

RITTER, Carl. Zur Geschichte des Petraïschen Arabiens und seiner Bewohner.
[Berlin, Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences], 8 July 1824. 4to. Never bound. 189-223, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Fantastic (partly true?) adventures in Ottoman Africa, by an English merchant captured by Barbary pirates in 1648

ROBERTS, A. The adventures of (Mr T. S.) an English merchant, taken prisoner by the Turks of Argiers, and carried into the inland countries of Africa.
London, Moses Pitt [printed by William Wilson?], 1670. Small 8vo. Blind- and gold-tooled calf (ca. 1800). [8], "252" [= 254], [2] pp. Full description

€ 9,500

Stunning double-tinted views of the Middle East, after drawings made in 1838 and 1839,
with 250 plates

ROBERTS, David, George CROLY and William BROCKEDON. The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt & Nubia.
London, Day & son (vol. 3: New York, D. Appleton & Co.), 1855-1856. 6 volumes bound as 3. Imperial 8vo (30 x 22 cm). With 250 numbered plates (including 6 tinted lithographed title-pages, 2 stone-engraved maps and 239 tinted and double-tinted lithographed and 2 chromolithographed views). Contemporary, richly gold-tooled reddish-brown morocco, gold-tooled turn-ins, marbled endpapers, gilt and gauffered edges. With thin paper guard leaves facing each plate. Full description

€ 18,000

Egypt and Nubia in 45 early drawings and squeezes, preserving images of sculptures and inscriptions

[DRAWINGS - EGYPT]. ROBERTSON, William. Egypt & Nubia.
Cairo [and elsewhere in Egypt and Nubia], 1838-1839. Folio (48 x 36.5 cm). Album containing 42 pencil and other drawings (a few partly coloured) and 3 squeezes, some on the album leaves and some loosely inserted, mostly of ancient Egyptian and Nubian architecture, sculpture, bas-reliefs and hieroglyphic inscriptions, but also with a few botanical drawings and landscapes with buildings. Most have English-language captions in brown ink and are signed and dated 1838 to 1839. New black half morocco, using mid-19th-century marbled paper for the sides. [37] ll. including title-leaf and 7 blanks, plus 16 loosely inserted ll. [37] ll. including title-leaf and 7 blanks, plus 16 loosely inserted ll. Full description

€ 45,000

First and only publication of the original text of the primary logbook of the first Dutch expedition
to the Arabian Gulf by Cornelis Cornelisz Roobacker

[ROOBACKER, Cornelis Cornelisz.] A. HOTZ (publ.). Cornelis Cornelisz Roobacker's scheepsjournaal Gamron-Basra (1645); de eerste reis der Nederlanders door de Perzische Golf. Uitgegeven, met inleiding en noten, door A. Hotz.
In: BEEKMAN, A.A. etc. (eds.), Tijdschrift van het Koninklijk Nederlandsch Aardrijkskundig Genootschap gevestigd te Amsterdam. Tweede serie Deel XXIV. No. 3 (15 Mei).
Leiden, Brill, 1907. 8vo. One folding table and 3 folding maps (1 belonging to another article in the journal). Brown paper wrappers, with title information of the journal on the front and spine, and the contents on the back wrapper. 289-405 [=117] pp. Full description

€ 750

Arabic grammar to replace Erpenius's, followed by a lexicon to Al-Tha'alibi

ROORDA, Taco. Grammatica Arabica, breviter in usum scholarum academicarum conscripta ... Adiuncta est brevis chrestomathia, edita et lexico explanata a P. Cool.
Leiden, Samuel and Johannes Luchtmans, 1835. 8vo. Text set in Roman and Arabic type. Contemporary quarter brown cloth, marbled paper sides, a paper label with the name of the author and the title printed in black on the spine. VIII, 298, [32] pp. Full description

€ 750

"The most perfect [pearls] are fished in the Persian Gulf"

[ROSNEL, Pierre de]. Le mercure indien, ou, Le tresor des Indes.
Paris, Robert Chevillon, 1667. Small 8vo. With an engraved coat of arms on the title-pages. Later vellum. [16], 64; [16], 176 pp. Full description

€ 5,000

Earth sciences of the Red Sea

ROSS, David A., and others. Red Sea research 1970-1975. Mineral resources bulletin 22.
Jeddah, Directorate General of Mineral Resources (colophon: printed by Dar Al Asfahani), 1977. 4to. With a portrait of His Majesty King Khaled Ibn 'Abd Al 'Aziz Al Sa'ud as frontispiece, 6 numbered maps on 5 loosely inserted folding leaves and numerous illustrations in text. Publisher's original green wrappers, decorated front. Ca. 300 pp. Full description

€ 300

Sedimentation in ocean basins: one of the most fertile areas of study for marine scientists

ROSS, D.A. and G. GVIRTZMAN (editors). Sedimentary geology. Special Issue. New aspects of sedimentation in small ocean basins.
Amsterdam, Oxford and New York, Elsevier scientific publishing company, 1979. 24 x 16.5 cm. With approximately 170 maps, graphs, tables, charts and other illustrations in the text. Original publisher's printed paper wrappers. [1], [1 blank], [5], [1 blank], 299, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 350

A compendium for sailing the Indian Ocean, with three charts, second copy located

ROSSER, William Henry. Short notes on the winds, weather, & currents, together with general sailing directions and remarks on making passages; to accompany a chart of the Indian Ocean. With two[=three] illustrations.
London, James Imray and son, 1866. 8vo. With 3 folding lithographed charts (the first as frontispiece and the third possibly extra added). Modern brown cloth, spine with a long vertical leather title-label. [4], 64 pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Sailing routes in the Indian Ocean and a general information about its weather, currents, etc. forecast,
with 2 maps showing the Persian Gulf, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

€ 1,800

A colourful mounted Bedouin falconer by leading orientalist painter

ROUSSEAU, Henri-Émilien. [Bedouin falconer].
[Morocco, 1920s]. Oil on wooden panel (21 x 16 cm), signed at the lower left "Henri Rousseau". Contemporary gilded wooden frame (33 x 28 cm). Full description

€ 28,000

Unique copy in a sumptous Viennese binding

RUDOLF, Archduke of Austria and Hungary. Voyage en Orient. Traduit de lAllemand. Illustrations daprès les dessins originaux de Franz von Pausinger.
Vienna, Imprimerie Imperiale et Royale de la Cour et de lÉtat, 1885. Folio. With 37 etched plates.Contemporary calf, richly gold-tooled front board, spine label, gilt edges. [8], 168, [2] pp. Full description

€ 9,500

Enlarged 2nd edition (with 3 extra plates) of an eye-witness account of Aleppo in the 1740s and 1750s

RUSSELL, Alexander. The natural history of Aleppo.
London, printed for G. G. and J. Robinson, 1794. 4to With an engraved frontispiece and 20 numbered engraved plates (including 5 folding) on 19 sheets. Contemporary calf with gold-tooled spine labels, red edges. XXIV, 446, XXIII, [3]; VII, [1], 430, XXXIV, [26] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

The war on drugs in Egypt: rare illustrated and highly detailed work on drug trafficking in Egypt in the 1930s

CENTRAL NARCOTICS INTELLIGENCE BUREAU - RUSSELL, Thomas Wentworth (or RUSSELL PASHA). Annual report for the year 1932.
Cairo, Government Press, 1933. Imperial 8vo (27 x 18.5 cm). With 14 rotogravure(?) plates, printed in sepia, 1 folding facsimile letter, 2 folding graphs, a plate with 6 pie charts and 1 illustration (also in red) showing schematically a smuggling box. Original publisher's pink paper wrappers, printed letterpress. XVII, [1 blank], 170 pp. (pp. VI and XVIII blank) Full description

€ 8,500

5 original glass lantern slides with the earliest photographs of Mecca and Medina

SADIQ BEY, Muhammad, Christiaan SNOUCK HURGRONJE and Al-Sayyid ‘Abd al-GHAFFÂR. [5 photographic lantern slides of Mecca and Medina (silver gelatin glass positives), taken in the years 1880 to 1889].
Stuttgart, Lichtbilderverlag Theodor Benzinger, [ca. 1910]. 5 glass positive lantern slides (8.5 x 10 cm), each with a black paper mask, paper tape around the edges, a letterpress slip at the foot giving the publisher's name and city, and a slip at the head with the manuscript title. Kept in a contemporary purpose-made wooden box with brass fittings, with the word "Mekka" on the top of the hinged lid. Full description

€ 35,000

First translation into English of stories from Sa'di's famous Gulistan

SA'DI SHIRAZI and Stephen SULIVAN (translator). Select fables from Gulistan, or the bed of roses. Translated from the original Persian of Sadi.
London, J. Ridley, 1774. 8vo. Modern half calf (period style), gold-tooled spine. V, [1 blank], 139, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,950

First Spanish edition of a detailed history of the Ottoman Emperors to 1644

SAGREDO, Giovanni. Memorias historicas de los Monarcas Othomanos, que escriuio en lengua Toscana ... Traduzidas en Castellano por Don Francisco de Olivares Murillo, ...
Madrid, Juan Garcia Infanzón, 1684. Folio. 18th-century tanned sheepskin, gold-tooled spine. [12], 552, [8] pp. Full description

€ 5,000

First and only edition of a detailed history of the Franciscan mission in Morocco, beautifully produced

SAN JUAN DEL PUERTO, Francisco de Jesús María de. Mission historial de Marruecos, en que se trata de los martirios, persecuciones, y trabajos, que han padecido los missionarios, y frutos que han cogido las missiones, que han cogido las missiones, que desde sus principios tuvo la Orden Seraphica en el Imperio de Marruecos, y continùa La Provincia de San Diego de Franciscos descalços de Andalucia en el mismo Imperio.
Sevilla, Francisco Garay, 1708. Folio. With engraved allegorical frontispiece by Joannes Carolus Allet in Rome after Pietro de Pietri, title printed in red and black in a border built up from cast fleurons, and woodcut tailpieces and initials. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment, leather thong ties. [44], 829, [19] pp. Full description

€ 12,500

"Wonderful reproductions of the best known carpets"

SARRE, Friedrich and Hermann TRENKWALD. Alt-orientalische Teppiche.
Vienna & Leipzig, Anton Schroll & Co. and Karl W. Hiersemann for the Österreichischen Museum für Kunst und Industrie, 1926-1928. 2 volumes bound as 4. Imperial folio (60.5 x 44 cm). With 120 collotype plates (67 colour and 53 black & white, 7 of the latter double-page) by Max Jaffé (1845-1939), and 14 wood-engraved full-page illustrations on the integral leaves. Later half calf with cloth sides. 21, [3], [29]; [31]; 43, [28]; [32] pp. Full description

€ 7,500

Road map of Saudi Arabia, with plans of Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam

[SAUDI ARABIA – MAP]. Road map of Saudi Arabia: accurate and most up to date road map.
[Saudi Arabia, 1960s]. Colour-printed folding map (48 x 69.5 cm) of the Arabian peninsula (scale: ca. 1: 5,000,000), with on the back a city map of Jeddah, a plan of the main business quarter of Riyadh, a city plan of Dammam(?), a distance table and 8 photographic city views. Full description

€ 1,800

Road map of Saudi Arabia, with plans of Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam

[SAUDI ARABIA – MAP]. Road map of Saudi Arabia: accurate and most up to date road map.
Karachi, Pakistan, printed at Golden block works, [1970s]. Colour-printed folding map (48 x 69.5 cm) of the Arabian peninsula (scale: ca. 1:5,000,000), with on the back a city map of Jeddah, a plan of the main business quarter of Riyadh, a city plan of Dammam(?), a distance table and 8 photographic city views. Full description

€ 1,750

Annual report of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with 10 maps

[SAUDI ARABIA – MINSTRY OF AGRICULTURE]. Annual report 1382-1383.
Jeddah, Asfahany, [1383 AH (= 1964 AD)]. 8vo. With portraits of His Majesty King Saud Ben Abdulaziz and Prince Faisal Ben Abdulaziz, and 10 maps, including 2 folding. Original publisher's decorated wrappers. [2], 83, [1] pp. English text + maps & 67 pp. Arabic text Full description

€ 1,250

Portrait of John Sturges in Turkish costume

[DRAWING]. SAUNDERS, John. [John Sturges in Turkish costume with turban and gold-trimmed coat].
Peterborough, 1739. Pastel on paper, mounted on canvas (41 x 30.5 cm), stretched over (original?) wooden board. Full description

€ 12,500

Summary of ideas from the Qu'ran in French: bibliophile production on wove paper, published in Paris and Constantinople

SAVARY, Claude-Etienne. Morale de Mahomet; ou recueil des plus pures maximes du Coran.
Constantinople, [no publisher's name]; Paris, Lamy, 1784. 18mo in 2s. With a woodcut flower ornament on the title-page, a woodcut rococco headpiece, small decorated roman capitals used as initials, decorative rules. Brown goatskin morocco (ca. 1865?), gold-tooled spine in 6 compartments, chemical marbled sides, nonpareil marbled endpapers. [4], 91, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Savary’s literary letters on Egypt, in attractive contemporary binding

SAVARY, (Nicolas) Claude Étienne. Brieven over Egypte.
Amsterdam, Martinus de Bruyn, 1788-1789. 3 volumes. 8vo. With 4 numbered engraved folding plates, including maps of Egypt and northern Egypt, a plan of Alexandria, and a cross-section of the Great pyramid. Contemporary mottled calf, richly gold-tooled spines and binding edges. XVI, 446, [1], [1 blank]; XVI, 364, [2 blank], [1], [1 blank]; “XIV” [=XXIV], 390, [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

The first-ever critical edition of an Arabic text

SCALIGER, Joseph Justus and Thomas ERPENIUS. [Kitab al-Amthal] seu proverbiorum Arabicorum centuriae duae.
Leiden, Frans van Ravelingen, 1614. 4to (16 × 20 cm). Ad 1 with a woodcut printers device on the title-page, woodcut initials and tailpieces. Ad 2 with a woodcut printers device on the title-page, woodcut tailpieces and woodcut ornamental frames around typographic Arabic initials. With:
(2) Cogitata nova de [kari] Psalm XXII, 17 & Jes. XXXIIX, 13 censurae philologorum committet ho elachistos ton philologounton.
[ca. 1615?].
(3) [BIBLE - NEW TESTAMENT - ARABIC]. ERPENIUS, Thomas (editor). [Risalat Bulus al-rasul ila ahl Rumija]. Pauli apostoli ad Romanos epistola, arabice.
Leiden, Typographia Erpeniana, 1615. Contemporary marbled calf. [8], 126, [2 blank]; [8]; [48] pp. Full description

€ 18,000

Comparing the calendars of the Greeks, Romans, Persians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Jews and others

SCALIGER, Joseph Justus. Opus de emendatione temporum: hac postrema ed., ex auctoris ipsius ms., emend., magnáque acces. auctius. Add. veterum Graecorum fragmenta selecta.
Including: Computus Arabicus ecclesiae Antiochenae.
Geneva, Pierre de la Rovière, 1629. Folio. With title-page printed in red and black and with woodcut printer's device and several woodcut initials. Set in roman and italic types with long passages set in Greek, Arabic and Hebrew and shorter passages in Syriac. The long passages in Samaritan and Ethiopic, printed from meticulous woodblocks. Contemporary blind-tooled vellum. [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], [9], [1 blank], LII, [4], 784, [46], [2 blank], 59, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

Pioneering work of Arabic bibliography

SCHNURRER, Christian Friedrich von. Bibliotheca Arabica.
Halle, I.C. Hendel, 1811. 8vo. Set in roman types, with occasional passages in Arabic, Hebrew, Syriac and Greek. Contemporary calf, gold-tooled spine. XXI, [3], 518, [515]-529, [1] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Six lithographs depicting people from the Ottoman Empire, Egypt and Athens

SCHÜTZERCRANTZ, Adolf Ulrik. Reseminnen från Orienten.
Stockholm, L.J. Hjerta, 1839. Folio. With 6 lithographed plates by Schützercrantz. Original publisher's printed paper wrappers mounted on a larger sheet serving as a folder. 4 pp. Full description

€ 8,500

Collection of various photographs of Egypt 1880

SEBAH, Pascal and Antoine BEATO. Nine photographs of Egypt.
[Egypt], 1880. 9 albumen prints (approx. 340 x 260 mm), each mounted on backing cardboard (ca. 400 x 340 mm). Three edges gilt. Full description

€ 2,500

Collection of various photographs of Egypt, 1860s-1910s

SEBAH, Pascal, LEHNERT & LANDROCK, Wilhelm HAMMERSCHMIDT, SCHROEDER & Cie and Enrico VAN LINT. [Photographs, mostly of Egypt].
[Egypt and elsewhere], [ca. 1860-ca. 1914]. With 9 carte de visite albumen prints (ca. 8.5 x 5.5 cm) by Hammerschmidt and Van Lint, two albumen prints (9.5 x 12.5 cm) by Sébah mounted on paper, one silver gelatin print (8.5 x 11.5 cm) by Lehnert & Landrock and one silver gelatin print (27 x 21 cm) by Schroeder & Cie in a passepartout. Full description

€ 1,950

Early Egyptian astronomy in a deluxe binding

SEYFFARTH, Gustav. Beitraege zur Kenntniss der Literatur, Kunst, Mythologie und Geschichte des alten Aegypten. Erstes Heft: Bemerkungen ueber die Aegyptischen Papyrus auf der Koeniglichen Bibliothek zu Berlin.
Leipzig, Joh. Ambros. Barth (colophon: printed by W. Haack), 1826. With 4 lithographed folding plates.
With: (2) Beitraege ... zweites, drittes, viertes, fünftes Heft. = Systema astronomiae Aegyptiacae quadripartitum ...
Leipzig, Joh. Ambros. Barth, 1833. With a general title-page, a Latin title-page and 4 part-titles, a hand-coloured frontispiece and 10 large folding plates, lithographed throughout.
5 parts in 2 volumes. 4to (22.5 x 26.5 cm). Contemporary richly gold- and blind-tooled polished red morocco in the Romantic style (by the Leipzig master Anton Stumme with his ticket on the first free endleaf). X, 42; XXX, 445, [10] pp. Full description

€ 18,000

Extremely rare first translation of Macbeth into Ottoman Turkish

SHAKESPEARE, William and Abdullah CEVDET (translator). [Makbet = Macbeth in Ottoman Turkish].
Cairo, Egypt, Kütübhane-i Içtihad, 1909. 8vo. With practically all text set in Arabic type. Half maroon cloth and brown decorated paper sides. [5], 153, [2] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

History of Tamerlane's conquests, with 5 engraved maps

SHARAF AD-DIN ALI YAZDI. Histoire de Timur-Bec, connu sous le nom du grand Tamerlan, empereur des Mogols et Tartares.
Delft, Reinier Boitet, 1723. 4 volumes. 12mo. With an engraved portrait of Timur and 5 folding engraved maps. Contemporary mottled calf, gold-tooled spines. [1], [1 blank], [6], XXXIX, [23], 475, [1 blank]; [1], [1 blank], [6], 431, [1 blank]; [1], [1 blank], 421, [1 blank]; [1], [1 blank], [6], 303, [3 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,950

Stories by an editor of Alf layla wa-layla

SHIRWANI, Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-. Nafhat al-Yaman fi-ma yazulu bi-dhikrihi al-shajan. [= Breezes from Yemen].
Calcutta, printed by Mawlawi Kabir Ud Din Ahmad at the Urdoo Guide Press, 1881. 8vo. Original publisher's pebble-grain lilac cloth. [2], 276, [2] pp. Full description

€ 1,800

Complete run for January 1984 - December 1985

SHUR, Chaim. New Outlook Middle East Monthly [15 issues].
Tel Aviv, Tatzpiot Ltd (under auspices of Jewish-Arab Institute at Givat Haviva), 1984-1985. Original wrappers, staplebound. Various pagination. Full description

€ 450

Complete run for the year 1986

SHUR, Chaim. New Outlook Middle East Monthly [9 issues].
Tel Aviv, Tatzpiot Ltd (under auspices of Jewish-Arab Institute at Givat Haviva), 1986. 9 volumes. Original wrappers, staplebound. Various pagination. Full description

€ 275

First edition of the Arabic Infancy Gospel, with text in Latin and Arabic

SIKE (SIECKE), Heinrich (editor). Evangelium infantiae. Vel liber apocryphus de infantia servatoris. Ex manuscripto edidit, ac latina versione & notis illustravit ...
Utrecht, François Halma, Willem vande Water, 1697. 8vo. With the main text in Arabic with a parallel Latin translation on the facing pages. Contemporary vellum. [22], 161, [7], 93, [1], [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

Correspondence of the "lord of the naval and commercial conquest of Arabia, Persia and India"

SILVA, Luiz Augusto Rebello da (et al.). Corpo diplomatico Portuguez contendo os actos e relações politicas e diplomaticas de Portugal.
Lisbon, Typographia da Academia Real das Sciencias / Imprensa Nacional, 1862-1959. 15 volumes (final volume in 2 parts). Small folio (22.5 x 28.5 cm). Uniformly bound in half tan sheepskin, decorated paper sides, gold-tooled spines, decorated endpapers, sprinkled edges. Some original publishers printed wrappers bound in. Full description

€ 18,500

The antiquities of Persia and on the history of the Arabs before Muhammad

SILVESTRE DE SACY, [Antoine Isaac]. Mémoires sur les antiquités de la Perse et sur lhistoire des Arabes avant Mahomet.
Paris, Eugène Duverger & Jean-Joseph Marcel, Imprimerie Impériale, [1808-1809]. Large 4to (22 x 27.5 cm). With 4 tables. Later red half morocco, marbled sides, title in gold on spine. [6], 47-58, 483-782 pp. Full description

€ 1,800

4 extremely rare series of engraved Turkish and European costume figures, drawn as models for Louis XIV's grandchildren

[SILVESTRE, Charles-François?]. l[']Art de bien dessiner a la plume nouvellement mis au jour pour l[']utilité de la jeunesse.
Including:
(2): [SILVESTRE, Charles François]. Diverses figures Turcs propre à dessiner a la plume.
(3): [SILVESTRE, Charles François]. Second livre de figures Turcs propre à déssiner à la plume.
(4): [SILVESTRE, Charles François?]. Diverses figures de caprice propre a dessigner a la plume.
[Paris?, ca. 1700?]. 4 parts in 1 volume. Oblong 16mo (13 x 16 cm). Each part with engraved title-page and each with 11 unnumbered engraved plates. Contemporary French sprinkled, gold-tooled calf. [12], [12], [12], [12] engr. ll. Full description

€ 28,500

Early history of the Arab people and the birth of Islam

SILVESTRE DE SACY, Antoine-Isaac, and others. Mémoires de littérature, tirés des registres de l'Academie Royale des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres.... tome quarante-huitième.
Including: SILVESTRE DE SACY, Antoine Isaac. Mémoire sur divers événemens de l'histoire des Arabes avant Mahomet.
Paris, Imprimerie Impériale, 1808. 4to. Set in roman, italic, Greek and Arabic type. With a folding engraved plate of a Greek inscription and 5 letterpress tables. Contemporary half calf. [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], IV, 775 784 pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Richly gold-tooled French morocco in the style of "Le Gascon": includes Elichman's Greek, Latin and Arabic Tabula Cebetis and Aurea carmina Pythagoræ

SIMPLICIUS of Cilicia. Commentarius in Enchiridion Epicteti, ex libris veteribus emendatus. Cum versione Hieronymi Wolfii, et Cl. Salmasii animadversionibus, et notis quibus Philosophia Stoica passim explicatur & illustratur.
Leiden, Johannes Maire, 1640. 4 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With three title-pages. Set in roman, Greek and Arabic types. Contemporary French pointillé binding in the style of "Le Gascon", richly gold-tooled in concentric panels on both covers, and in the six compartments of the spine, the second with the title. [20], 332, [12]; [1], [1 blank], 329, [23]; [34], 88, 15 pp. Full description

€ 9,750

Incunabular Arabian Nights: The Book of Sindbad in Western European disguise

[SINDBAD – SEVEN SAGES]. Historia septem sapientum Rome.
Cologne, Johann Koelhoff the Elder, of Lübeck, (before 6 November) 1490. 4to (200 x 128 mm), 34-37 lines, gothic type, rubricated in red. Illustrated with a large armorial woodcut printers device at the end and 23 full-page woodcuts, with two of the woodcuts repeated several times. Bound in contemporary blind-tooled full calf over wooden boards. Remains of clasps. Endpapers from a rubricated incunabular edition of the Biblia cum glossa ordinaria. [50] ff. [a–g6, H8]. Full description

€ 125,000

Newly discovered shells from the Arabian Gulf, Taiwan, China and Japan, with a chromolithographed plate

SMITH, Edgar. Descriptions of five new shells from the Island of Formosa and the Persian Gulf, and notes upon a few known species.Including: BOCK, Carl. Descriptions of two new species of shells from China and Japan.
[London], 18 June 1878. With a chromolithographed plate depicting 14 shells. Modern paper wrappers. 727-732 pp. Full description

€ 850

Presentation copy of the rare 1st edition of an influential work on early Arabian kinship and marriage

SMITH, William Robertson. Kinship and marriage in early Arabia.
Cambridge, C.J. Clay and son, Cambridge University Press Warehouse, 1885. 8vo. Contemporary brown cloth, lettering in gold on the spine. xiv, 322, [2], 16 pp. Full description

€ 850

Very rare examination book for pharmacology students

SODRÉ, Antonio Martins (Antonio DOS MÁRTIRES). Collectaneo pharmaceutico divido em duas partes, nas quaes se acharáõ as melhores perguntas, e respostas, e algumas eleiçoens de simples, com suas explicaçoens ao texto de Mesue, tiradas dos melhores autores antigos, e modernos da arte pharmaceutica. Obra utilissima para se examinarem os novos professores da mesma arte.
Porto, Antonio Alves Ribeiro Guimaraens, 1768. 8vo. Contemporary mottled tanned sheepskin, sewn on 4 supports, gold-tooled spine. [32], 188, [4 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Rare collection of travel accounts, with 12 aquatint views

SOMMER, Johann Gottfried. Merkwaardige bijzonderheden, inhoudende de nieuwste ontdekkingen in de natuurkunde, natuurlijke historie, land- en volkenkunde, op alle gedeelten van den aardbol.
Amsterdam, Ten Brink and De Vries, 1825-1827. 4 volumes. 8vo. With 4 engraved title-pages, each with one of two aquatint views, plus 10 aquatint views on 8 plates, all by H.W. Hoogkamp. Contemporary half calf, gold-tooled spine. VIII, 331, [1 blank]; IV, 316; [IV], 316; [IV], 312 pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Well-informed account of the Ottoman government

SORANZO, Lazzaro. L'Ottomanno ...
Naples, Costantino Vitale, 1600. 4to. 17th-century limp sheepskin parchment. [20], 202, [18] pp. Full description

€ 3,750

Texts of 58 letters to the Portuguese court,
written in Arabic by kings, diplomats and noblemen, 1503 to 1528

SOUSA, João de. Documentos Arabicos para a historia Portugueza...
Lisbon, Academia Real das Sciencias, 1790. 4to. With the academy's woodcut device on the title-page (incorporating the Portuguese coat-of-arms, Athenas owl and Hermess staff). Set in roman, Arabic and italic types. Modern brown paper wrappers. Wholly untrimmed and with most of the bolts unopened, preserving all deckles and point holes. [8], 190, [2] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

First etymological dictionary of Portuguese words derived from Arabic, bound together with the texts of letters written to the Portuguese court in Arabic by kings and diplomats between 1503 and 1528

SOUSA, João de and José de Santo Antonio MOURA. Vestigios da lingoa Arabica em Portugal ou lexicon etymologico das palavras e nomes Portuguezes, que tem origem Arabica.
Lisbon, Typografia da Mesma Academia [= Academia Real das Sciencias], 1830. 2 works in 1 volume. 4to. With the academy's woodcut device on the title-page, incorporating the crowned Portuguese coat-of-arms, Athena's owl and Hermes's staff. With: (2) SOUSA, João de. Documentos Arabicos para a historia Portugueza.Lisbon, Academia Real das Sciencias, 1790. With the academy's woodcut device on the title-page (also incorporating the Portuguese coat-of-arms, Athenas owl and Hermess staff, but not identical to the device on the title page of the Vestigios). Set in Arabic, roman and italic types.
19th-century half calf, marbled paper sides, titles in gold on spine, blue sprinkled edges. [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], XVI, 204; [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], [4], 190, [2] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

From a series of "the finest engravings of flowers ever made" by the teacher of Redouté

SPAENDONCK, Gerard van. Mufle de veau. Antirrhinum majus. L. [From: Fleurs dessinées d'après nature,... Recueil utile aux amateurs, aux jeunes artistes, aux élèves des écoles centrales et aux dessinateurs des manufactures].
[Paris, 1799-1801]. Stipple engraving on unwatermarked wove paper (54.5 x 36.5 cm), printed in colour à la poupée and finished by hand, of a Antirrhinum majus showing a branched stem with flowers in various stages, signed "P.F. Le Grand sculp." In passepartout. Full description

€ 2,750

From a series of “the finest engravings of flowers ever made” by the teacher of Redouté

SPAENDONCK, Gerard van. Anemone double. Anemone coronaria. L. [From: Fleurs dessinées d'après nature,... Recueil utile aux amateurs, aux jeunes artistes, aux élèves des écoles centrales et aux dessinateurs des manufactures].
[Paris, 1799-1801]. Stipple engraving on unwatermarked wove paper (56 x 36.5 cm), printed in colour à la poupée and finished by hand, of a Poppy anemone or Spanish marigold showing six branches with one flower each: three pink-red, two lilac, and one light-green, signed "P.F. Le Grand sculp." In passepartout. Full description

€ 2,750

Dreams supposedly predicting the fall of the Ottoman Empire

[SPEER, Daniël]. Zwey nachdänkliche Traum-Gesichte, von dess Türcken Untergang. Zweifels ohn von göttlicher Direction. Herauss gelassen von mehrmals zugetroffen erfahrnem Designante Somniatore.
[Ulm, Matthäus Wagner], 1684. 4to. With engraved frontispiece, allegorically illustrating the Ottoman defeat in 1683. Modern wrappers. [2], "31" [= 29] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

The bombardment of Alexandria, a night-attack of jihadic troops in Sudan and a survey in the Far East and Australia

SPINKS, Walter. [Album of watercolours drawn aboard HMS Myrmidon].
On board HMS Myrmidon, [1884-]1886[-1887]. Oblong 4to (17.5 x 25 cm). With 25 watercolours (including 1 double-page) and 13 pencil drawings, most of them captioned in pencil. Contemporary half-sheepskin album. [32] ll. Full description

€ 12,500

The Hadhramaut in Southern Arabia through the eyes and camera lens of Freya Stark

STARK, Freya. Seen in the Hadhramaut.
London, John Murray, 1938. 4to. With the title-page in red and black, 1 map of the Hadhramaut titled: "Seen in the Hadhramaut", and 50 double sided plates. The plates are included in the pagination. Blue cloth with black lettering on front cover and spine. With dust jacket. XXIII, [1 blank], 199, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 650

Freya Stark's experiences spreading propaganda
for the allied cause in the Middle East during the Second World War

STARK, Freya. East is west.
London, John Murray, 1945. 8vo. Red and black title-page with a small illustration of two people. With a frontispiece, a map of the Middle East on green paper, titled: "East is west by Freya Stark", and 32 double-sided plates. Blue/green cloth. With dust jacket. XXII, 218 pp. Full description

€ 450

First part of the autobiography of traveller and writer Freya Stark

STARK, Freya. Traveller's prelude. An autobiography.
London, John Murray, 1951. 8vo. With a double page map on blue/green paper, 22 double-sided plates, a green ornament on the title-page, a small woodcut of Asolo on p.336 and some small decorations in the text. Green cloth with gold lettering on front cover and spine. With a dust jacket designed by F. Quilter. XII, [2], 346 pp. Full description

€ 250

Freya Stark's first extensive travels through the Middle East,
described in the second part of her autobiography

STARK, Freya. Beyond Euphrates. Autobiography 1928-1933.
London, John Murray, 1951. 8vo. With a double-page map on green paper, 40 double-sided plates, a green ornament on the title-page and some decorations in the text. Green cloth with gold lettering on front cover and spine. With dust jacket designed by F. Quilter. XIII, [3], 341 [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 580

The life and travels - mostly in Southern Arabia - of Freya Stark during the 1930's

STARK, Freya. The coast of incense. Autobiography 1933-1939.
London, John Murray, 1953. 8vo. With 1 map of the Hadhramaut printed on green paper, 20 double-sided plates, 3 illustrations in the text on pp. 76, 77 and 85, a few small tail pieces throughout, and a green ornament on the title-page. Green cloth with gold lettering on spine. XIII, [3], 286, [2] pp. Full description

€ 200

The final part of Freya Stark's autobiography: her work and travels between 1939 and 1946

STARK, Freya. Dust in the lion's paw. Autobiography 1939-1946.
London, John Murray, 1961. 8vo. With a map of the Middle East, titled "Dust in the lion's paw" on p. 6, 8 double-sided plates, and an illustration of a lion (in red) on the title-page. Green cloth with gold lettering on front cover and spine. With dust jacket, designed by Frank Quilter, and protected by a clear plastic jacket. XII, 296, [2] pp. Full description

€ 300

14 photographic portraits of sheiks & tribesmen, by Lawrence of Arabia's Chief of Staff

STIRLING, Walter Francis. Arab Types.
Syria, [ca. 1918-ca. 1921]. Oblong album (18 x 26 cm). An album containing 14 black and white photographic portraits (mostly about 17 x 12 cm) plus a smaller print of one. Mounted in a ca. 1930 album of black paper leaves (boards covered with black cloth). 16 ll. (album). Full description

€ 45,000

Best edition of Strabo's "Geographika" including Casaubon's notes, with descriptions of the Arabian Peninsula

STRABO. Rerum geographicarum libri XVII.
Paris, typis Regiis [Fédéric Morel], 1620. 2 parts in 1 volume. Folio. With title-page printed in red and black with the engraved coat of arms of Louis XIII, and several woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces. Contemporary gold-tooled parchment, gilt edges. [12], 843, [112]; [4], 282, [8] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

First-hand accounts of Russia ca. 1670 and life in the Mughal army;
from the library of a famous German explorer

STRUYS, Jan Jansz. Drie aanmerkelyke reizen, door Italien, Griekenland, Lyfland, Moscovien, Tartaryen, Meden, Persien, Oostindien, Japan, en verscheiden andere gewesten.
Including: HEIDEN, Frans Jansz. van der. Vervaarlyke schipbreuk van 't Oostindiesch jacht Ter Schelling, onder het land van Bengale, ...
Amsterdam, Steven van Esveldt, 1746. 4to. 2 parts in 1 volume. Part 1 with an engraved title-page, 19 engraved folding plates and 1 engraved folding map; part 2 with an engraved title-page and 12 engraved plates. 19th-century red half sheepskin. [6], 382, 28, [15], [1 blank]; 134 pp. Full description

€ 4,000

The Suez Canal at the end of the War

[SUEZ CANAL]. Photos of the Suez Canal Area and British Soldiers at the end of WWII.
Egypt, 1944/1945. 4to. 65 photos. 170 x 240 mm to 106 x 60 mm. No captions or others identifying marks on the photos or in the album. Several photographs removed. Black oblong album. Later twine tie. Egyptian motif on covers (camel, pyramid, palm trees). Full description

€ 750

Arabic travel account from the early Abbasid era, concerning China and India: rare English edition

SULAYMAN AL-TAJIR and ABU ZAID HASAN IBN YAZID, AL-SIRAFI. (Eusèbe RENAUDOT, editor). [Silsilat al-tawarik - English]. Ancient accounts of India and China, by two Mohammedan travellers, who went to those parts in the 9th century.
London, Samuel Harding, 1733. 8vo (ca. 12 x 20 cm). With a wood-engraved printer's device and the half-title-page and title-page printed in red and black. Contemporary blind-tooled panelled calf, sewn on 6 supports creating 6 compartments on the gold-tooled spine. With a red morocco title-label lettered in gold on the spine, red sprinkled edges. XXXVII, (1), 260, VII pp. Full description

€ 28,000

On the recent political events in the Arabian Gulf

[SUPPORT COMMITTEE FOR THE LIBERATION MOVEMENT IN THE GULF]. The Gulf Solidarity. Volume 2. 1-2. Nov-Dec 1973. Accomplishments of the revolution. Who rules Oman today? Oil and our national battle. News from the Gulf.
San Francisco, CA, November-December 1973. 4to (21.5 x 18 cm). With 2 reproductions of photographs and 1 map. Original printed paper wrappers. 31, [1] pp. Full description

€ 1,800

On the influence of Great Britain and Iran in Oman

[SUPPORT COMMITTEE FOR THE LIBERATION MOVEMENT IN THE GULF]. The Gulf Solidarity. Iranian invasion - 1 year after. Volume 3: 2-1.
San Francisco, CA, spring 1975. 4to (28 x 21.5 cm). With an illustration on the wrappers and some reproductions of photographs and some maps in the text. Original printed paper wrappers. 16 pp. Full description

€ 1,800

Four articles on the date palm in the Middle East, northern Africa and America

SWINGLE, Walter Tennyson. The date palm and its culture. ... (Reprint from Yearbook of Department of Agriculture 1900).
[Washington, Government printing office, 1900]. With 9 plates with black and white photographic reproductions.
With:
(2) SWINGLE, Walter Tennyson. The date palm and its utilization in the southwestern states.Washington, Government printing office, 1904. With a wood engraved device of the United States department of agriculture on title-page, 21 (of 22) plates (including 2 chromolithographed maps) and 10 illustrations in text.
(3) FAIRCHILD, David Grandison. Persian Gulf dates and their introduction into America.Washington, Government printing office, 1903. With the same wood engraved device on title-page and 4 plates with reproductions of photographs.
(4) KEARNEY, Thomas Henry. Date varieties and date culture in Tunis.Washington, Government printing office, 1903. With the same wood engraved device on title-page and 10 plates with reproductions of photographs.
4 works in 1 volume. 8vo. Modern blue cloth, each work with its original printed paper wrappers bound in. I-V, [1 blank], 453-490; 155, [1 blank]; 32; 112 pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Socialist propaganda about the state of the Syria and its people after the March Revolution in 1963

[SYRIA - BA'ATH ARAB SOCIALIST PARTY]. Syria after two years of the March Revolution.
[Syria, Ba'ath Arab Socialist Party], 1965. 24 x 17 cm. With 28 photos on 16 plates and some tables in the text.
With: [MAP - SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC MINISTRY OF ECONOMY DIRECTORATE OF TOURISM]. Syria.
Damascus, Tourist Office, [ca. 1965]. Folded. 70 x 49.5 cm.
A brightly coloured folding map of Syria with some information about the country and its principal cities with a table of distances on the back, all text in the map and on the back is in English and Arabic.
Original publisher's printed wrappers, stapled. 175, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 850

The chemistry of Hippocrates, in the Islamic tradition known as Boqrat

TACHENIUS, Otto. Hippocrates chimicus, qui novissimi viperini salis antiquissima fundamenta oftendit ...
Hannover, Thomas Heinrich Hauenstein, 1668. With a woodcut device on title-page and a woodcut endpiece on last page.
With: (2) TACHENIUS, Otto. Antiquissimae Hippocratiae medicinae clavis manuali experiential in naturae fontibus elaborate, quaper ignem& aquam inaudita method, occulta naturae, & artis, compendiosa operandi ratione manifesta fiunt, dilucidè aperiuntur. Seneca in epistola.
Frankfurt, Johann Peter Zubrod, 1669.2 works in 1 volume. 12mo. Contemporary vellum. [40], 270, [1]; 286, [2] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Attractive view of the carpet trade

TARENGHI, Enrico. [Carpet sellers and a dromedary beside the Nile].
[Rome?, late 19th century?]. Watercolour on a large sheet of paper (image size: 74.5 x 52 cm), signed at the foot right: "E. Tarenghi". Contemporary (?) gilt wooden frame (89.5 x 66 cm), behind plastic. Full description

€ 18,000

Authoritative history of the Portuguese missions in Ethiopia and Arabia, with a folding map

TELLEZ (TELLES), Balthasar. The travels of the Jesuits in Ethiopia: containing ... travels in Arabia Felix, wherein many things of that country ... are treated of, as a particular description of Aden, Moca, and several other places ...
London, J. Knapton [and 3 others, and sold by 5 more], 1710. 4to. With engraved map of Ethiopia, including part of the Red Sea and the source of the Blue Nile. Modern calf. [4], 264, [16] pp. Full description

€ 25,000

Directions for processions ordered by the Turkish Sultan Suleiman III:
a testimony of the problematic Turkish-European relations in the 17th century

[THE GREAT TURKISH WAR]. Traduction d'un exemplaire en langue Turque contenant le detail & la description des processions des jeunes, & des penitences que le grand seigneur dit Mahomet Soliman, Empereur Turk du soleil levant, & du couchant, souverain seigneur des seigneurs, & veritable successeur de la race du grand prophete Mahomet, a commandé de faire en tout son empire.
Bordeaux, Pierre Abegou, 1687. 4to. With an engraved frontispiece portrait of the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I and (extra added) a portrait of the Polish King Jan III Sobieski, by F. Jollain, inserted as a second frontispiece. Marbled wrappers. [2], 7, [1] pp. Full description

€ 9,000

Signed by the author

THESIGER, Wilfred. Arabian sands.
London etc., Longmans, Green and Co., 1959. Large 8vo. With 49 plates, 8 maps in the text and a loose folding map in a separate pocket on the back pastedown. Light cloth with author, title and publisher in gold lettering on spine. XVI, 326 pp. Full description

€ 1,500

On the Arabs living in the marshes of southern Iraq, with 110 photographs

THESIGER, Wilfred. The marsh Arabs.
London, Longmans, Green and co., 1964. 8vo (21.5 x 14 cm). With a frontispiece, 3 maps in text (including 1 double-page) and 32 plates with reproductions of 109 photographs. Green cloth with illustrated dustjacket. [13], [1 blank], 242 pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Dutch edition of Thévenot's travels in the Levant, with Jan Luyken's splendid illustrations of 1681

THÉVENOT, Melchisedec Jean-Baptiste. Alle de gedenkwaardige en zeer naauwkeurige reizen ...; mitsgaders de voornaamster byzonderheden van d'Archipel, Konstantinopolen, 't Heilige Land, Egypten, de woestynen van Arabie, Mekka ...
Amsterdam, Gerrit Bos, 1731. 4to. With engraved title-page, standing portrait of the author in Eastern garb, 19 engraved plates (including 2 folding) drawn, etched and engraved by Jan Luyken. 18th-century half calf, sprinkled-paper sides, refurbished in the 19th century and with a 20th-century spine label. [4], 484, [4] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

The first Westerner to cross the Rub' al Khali, with a preface by Lawrence of Arabia

THOMAS, Bertram. Arabia felix: across the empty quarter of Arabia.
London, Jonathan Cape, 1932. Large 8vo. With 61 plates, illustrations in the text and a large folding map of the "empty quarter" at the back. Original publishers orange buckram. XXIX, [3], 396, [2] pp. Full description

€ 500

Important anthropological study on the original inhabitants of the southern Arabic Peninsula

THOMAS, Bertram. Anthropological observations in South Arabia.
[offprint from:] Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 42 (1932). Large 8vo. With 2 plates (XI-XII) from photographs: (1) two views on the landscapes of the Sands of Dakara and the Qara Mountains, Arabia; (2) 12 portraits of members of the various tribes of Southern Arabia/Jemen. Blue wrappers with printed title label on the front cover. 83-108 pp. Full description

€ 750

A biography of Lawrence of Arabia and his experiences in the Arab Revolt,
written for younger readers

THOMAS, Lowell. The boys' life of colonel Lawrence.
London, Hutchinson & Co. Ltd., undated [c. 1930?]. 8vo. With 31 illustrations on 16 leaves; the first of the entrance to the lost city (Petra) through a narrow gorge functions as a frontispiece. Red cloth. 285, [1] pp. Full description

€ 750

On General Sir Edmund Allenby's time in Arabia

THOMAS, Lowell and Kenneth Brown COLLINGS. With Allenby in the Holy Land.
London, Toronto, Melbourne and Sydney, Cassell and Company Ltd., [1938]. 8vo. With a half-tone photographed portrait of Allenby (signed F.A. Swaine) as a frontispiece. Original publisher's black cloth, with the title in red on the spine and the head edge red. [6], 202 pp. Full description

€ 400

On General Sir Edmund Allenby's time in Arabia

€ 400

Catalogue of Kufic coins from the Umayyad Caliphate up to the Marwanids

TORNBERG, Carl Johan. Numi Cufici regii numophylacii Holmiensis, quos omnes in terra Sueciae repertos.
Uppsala, Leffler and Sebell, 1848. 4to. With 14 lithographed plates. Contemporary blind-blocked cloth. [6], LXXXVIII, 315, [1] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Autograph copy by the author for his wife of his famous collection of erotic poems, translated from the Arabic

TOUSSAINT, Franz. Le jardin des caresses.
May and June 1936. 11.5 x 12 cm. Manuscript in French written by the author in blank ink a neat 20th-century hand in one column. Chapter divisions are made in the form of a calligraphic leaf, drawn in the same black ink as the text. Bound in contemporary richly gold-tooled arabesque beige morocco with a flap at the front-edge, covered with gold-tooled green morocco on the inside, purple and white head and end bands, gold and light blue endpapers. Stored in a professionally made beige morocco box (ca. 15 x 15 cm) with a gold-tooled three-line fillet frame on the boards, on the inside covered with light pink silk, title in gold on the spine. [3 blank], [141], [13 blank] pp. Full description

€ 7,500

French manuscript travel guide for Egypt

[TOUSTAIN-RICHEBOURG, Henri de]. [Manuscript travel guide to Egypt].
[France?, 1850s]. With 17 pages of text written with pen and ink in French and 4 pages of annotations in pencil. Unbound, pages later inexpertly sewn together. 30 ll. Full description

€ 1,950

Illustrated description of the Yoruba people, among the most heavily targeted by the Atlantic slave trade

[TUCKER, Charlotte Maria] and Theodorus Matthijs LOOMAN. Abbeokoeta; of de dageraad tusschen de keerkringen: eene schets van het ontstaan en den vooruitgang der zending in Yorriba. Uit het Engelsch naar den vijfden druk vertaald, en tot op den jongsten tijd bijgewerkt.
Amsterdam, H. Höveker (back of half-title: for the "Vereeniging ter bevordering van Christelijke lectuur"), 1860. 12mo. With chromolithographed frontispiece, 3 lithographed maps (2 double-page and 1 folding), 1 chromolithographed plate and 8 wood-engraved plates. Contemporary half cloth. [2], VIII, [2], 330, [5], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 800

Interesting look inside the palaces of the North African Moorish rulers

TULLY, [Richard]. Narrative of a ten years' residence at Tripoli in Africa: from the original correspondence in the possession of the family of the late Richard Tully, esq. the British consul. Comprising authentic memoirs and anecdotes of the reigning Bashaw, his family, and other persons of distinction; also, an account of the domestic manners of the Moors, Arabs, and Turks.
London, Henry Colburn, 1817. Large 4to. Engraved coloured frontispiece of Sidy Hassan, late Bey of Tripoli, folding engraved map (220 x 390 mm) of the regencies of Tripoli and Tunis, signed "Neele scuplt. Strand", 6 full-page plates of the Triumphal Arch of Tripoli, Arabs recreating in the desert, a Bedouin woman, officers of the Grand Seraglio, a guard of Tripoli, and an Egyptian puppet- shew, all engraved by Hoovell & Son and beautifully coloured by hand. Contemporary calf, spine with title lettered in gold, gilt fillet border on covers, marbled edges. XIII, [2], 376 pp. Full description

€ 2,250

Japanese woodblock geography of the Middle and Near East and Indonesia, with 5 maps and 35 views

UCHIDA Masao. Yochi shiryaku [Compendium of world geography].
[Tokyo], Meiji 4 [= 1871]. (25.5 x 17 cm). With the title and all text in Japanese, printed from woodblocks on rice paper, with 1 double-page, 2 full-page and 2 half-page maps and 12 full-page and 23 half-page illustrations of architecture, people and costumes, topography, plants and animals. Original publisher's heavy paper wrapper. [1 blank], 59, [1] ll. Full description

€ 4,500

The conflict between Europe and the Ottoman Empire for control of the Mediterranean

[ULLOA, Alfonso de]. La historia dell'impresa di Tripoli di Barbaria, fatta per ordine del Sereniss. Re Catolico, l'anno M.D.LX. Con le cose avenute a Christiani nell'Isola delle Zerbe. Nuovamente mandata in luce.
Venice, Francesco Rampazetto, 1566. 4to. 18th-century(?) sheepskin parchment. [7], [1 blank], 88, [4] ll. Full description

€ 7,500

U.S. Air Force aeronautical chart of the future UAE

[UNITED ARAB EMIRATES]. USAF Pilotage Chart. Ash Sharigah (548 D). Trucial Oman.
Washington, DC, Aeronautical Chart Service, U.S. Air Force, 1948-1950. Colour-printed map, 554 x 733 mm. Constant ratio linear horizontal scale 1:500,000., Lambert Conformal Conic Projection. Relief shown by contours, shading, gradient tints, and spot heights. Key printed on verso. Full description

€ 3,500

With manuscript additions

[UNITED ARAB EMIRATES]. S.E. Arabia. Series GSGS 4802, Sheet 1 [Trucial Coast]. Edition 2-GSGS.
[London], D Survey War Office and Air Ministry, 1956. Large colour-printed map, ca. 113 x 84 cm. Scale 1:500,000. Full description

€ 8,500

Anglo-Turkish trade promoted

[URQUHART, David]. Turkey and its resources: its municipal organization and free trade; the state and prospects of English commerce in the East, the new administration of Greece, its revenue and national possessions.
London, Saunders and Otley (back of title-page: printed by Botson and Palmer), 1833. 8vo. With lithographed map as frontispiece. Contemporary boards. XV, [1], 328 pp. Full description

€ 5,000

Utopian Ethiopia

URRETA, Luis de. Historia de la Sagrada Orden de Predicadores, en los remotos reynos de la Etiopia.
Valencia, Juan Chrysostomo Garriz, 1611. Small 4to (21 x 15 cm). With the woodcut arms of the Dominican order on title-page, and a variant version on the last page, and 3 woodcuts in text. Further with 24 decorated woodcut initials. Contemporary gold-tooled mottled calf, each board with the coat of arms of the French Seguier family and with the monogram PSMF (Pierre Seguier and his wife Madeleine Fabry) repeated 6 times on the spine. Rebacked (on recessed cords) with the original gold-tooled backstrip laid-down. [16], 410, [6] pp. Full description

€ 35,000

How to defeat the Ottoman army

VALENTINI, Georg Wilhelm von. Précis des dernières guerres des Russes contre les Turcs...
Paris, Firmin Didot, Anseling & Pochard, Ponthieu, 1825. 8vo. With 5 irregularly numbered maps with battle and siege plans on 4 folding engraved plates and several diagrams in the text showing troop formations. Contemporary tan half calf, the spine alternating areas of blind-tooled tan and gold-tooled dark brown, one including the title, marbled sides, light gray endpapers, turquoise sprinkled edges. VI, [2], 240, [2] pp. Full description

€ 650

Egypt in 309 beautiful illustrations, many in colour

VALERIANI, Domenico and Girolamo SEGATO. Nuova illustrazione istorico-monumentale del basso e dell'alto Egitto.
Including: Atlante monumentale del basso e dell'alto Egitto.
Florence, Paolo Fumagalli, 1836-1837 (text) & 1837-1841 (plates). 2 text volumes (8vo) and 2 plates volumes (large folio). With engraved portrait of Segato as frontispiece in the first text volume and the plate volumes with 160 engraved and aquatint plates (7 double-page), including 51 tinted and/or coloured by a contemporary hand; many plates contain multiple illustrations, making 309 illustrations in total. Contemporary green (text vols.) and brown (plates vols.) half morocco. [2], 491, [1 blank], [4]; 788, [6] pp. text Full description

€ 18,000

Della Valle's travels in Persia and the Near East, "one of the finest works of travel literature" (Howgego)

VALLE, Pietro della. Vierde[-zeste en leste] deel der voortreffelyke reizen van de deurluchtige reisiger Pietro della Valle, Edelman van Romen, in veel voorname gewesten des werrelts, sedert het jaar 1615, gedaan: namelijk in Turkijen, Egipten, Palestina, Persien, Oostindien, en in verscheide andere lantschappen, daar in hij al t aanmerkingswaerdige, dat er is, naerstiglijk opgespeurt, en naaukeurig aangemerkt, en veel treffelijke dingen, tot noch toe onbekent, ten toon gestelt heeft.
Amsterdam, widow of Jan Hendriksz. Boom, Jan Rieuwertsz and Abraham Wolfgang, 1665. 3 (of 6) volumes bound as 1. 4to. With 3 title-pages, 13 full-page engraved plates (1 crudely hand-coloured).
Contemporary vellum, manuscript spine title, later endpapers. 187, [1 blank]; [4], 186, [2 blank]; [4], 185, [11] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Della Valle's travels in Persia and the Near East, "one of the finest works of travel literature" (Howgego)

VALLE, Pietro della. De volkome beschryving der voortreffelijke reizen van de deurluchtige reisiger Pietro della Valle, edelman van Romen, in veel voorname gewesten des werrelts, sedert het jaer 1615, tot in 't jaar 1626 gedaan ...
Amsterdam, Abraham Wolfgang, 1666 (each volume title: Abraham Wolfgang, widow of Jan Hendriks Boom, Jan Rieuwertsz., 1664-1665). 6 volumes bound as 1. 4to. With 25 engraved plates. 19th-century vellum. Full description

€ 12,500

Della Valle's travels in the Near East, Persia and Arabia: "one of the finest works of travel literature" (Howgego)

VALLE, Pietro della. Reiss-Beschreibung in unterschiedliche Theile der Welt, nemlich in Türckey, Egypten, Palestina, Persien, Ost-Indien, und andere weit entlegene Landschaften ...
Geneva, Johann Hermann Widerholds, 1674. 4 volumes bound as 1. Folio. With 31 engraved plates (1 folding), including frontispiece and portraits of the author and his wife, by Jean Jacques Thourneyser. Contemporary vellum. [20], 218, [12], [2 blank]; [4], 236, [12]; [4], 244, [13], [1 blank]; [6], 231, [17] pp. Full description

€ 15,000

First English edition of Varthema’s travels in the Middle East and beyond

[VARTHEMA, Ludovico di, Pietro Martire d’ANGHIERA and others]. The history of travayle in the West and East Indies, ...
London, Richard Jugge, 1577. Narrow 4to (19 x 13.5 cm). With a woodcut celestial map of the South Polar sky in the text. With 14 leaves in a 19th-century facsimile. Gold- and blind-tooled maroon morocco (ca. 1860?), in allusive style. In a modern clam-shell box. [10], 466, [6] ll. Full description

€ 120,000

Very early European eyewitness description of India, confirming Marco Polo’s statements

VARTHEMA, Ludivico di. The Navigation and v[o]yages of Lewes Vertomannus, Gentelman of the citie of Rome, to the regions of Arabia, Egypte, Persia, Syria, Ethiopia, and East India, both within and without the ryver of Ganges, etc. In the yeere of our Lorde 1503. Conteynyng many notable and straunge thinges, both hystoricall and naturall. Translated out of Latine into Engylshe, by Richarde Eden.
London, Richard Jugge, 1577. 4to. With historiated woodcut initials. Splendid modern full navy blue morocco, bands on spine with title showing faded gilt, covers double-ruled gilt. [10], 466, [6] ll. Full description

€ 265,000

An English edition of the first account of a European travelling through the Middle East,
visiting Mecca and Medina, to Persia, India, and the East Indies

VARTHEMA, Ludovico di. [transl. John Winter JONES, ed. Norman Mosley PENZER] The itinerary of Ludovico di Varthema of Bologna from 1502 to 1508 as translated from the original Italian edition of 1510, by John Winter Jones, F.S.A. in 1863 for the Hakluyt Society with a discourse on Varthema and his travels in Southern Asia by Sir Richard Carnac Temple [...].
London, The Argonaut Press, 1928. 4to. With 5 maps, the facsimile text of the title-page and colophon of the original 1510 book of Di Varthema, 1 plate, and a small blue illustration (similar to the blind-tooled image on the front board) on the title-page. Half white and half blue cloth with gold lettering on spine. LXXXV, [1 blank], 121, [3] pp. Full description

€ 500

History of Ottoman diplomacy in the 18th century, printed at Bulaq

VASIF EFENDI, Ahmed. Mahasin ül-âsâr ve hakayik ül-ahbar.
Bulaq, Bulak matbaasi, 1246 AH [= 1830 CE]. 2 volumes bound as 1. 4to. Contemporary calf with later paper label; later marbled paper on the spine. In Turkish, with the main text set in a naskh Arabic type, with a woodcut decoration and decorations built up from typographic ornaments at the opening of the main text (incorporating a woodcut heading in Arabic script). 14, 210, [1 blank], 7, 190 pp. Full description

€ 5,800

Vernay's poetry in French, Turkish, Persian and other languages: unrecorded Royal folio issues, planned for presentation to the Ottoman Sultan Abdulmejid I and with extensive additions

VERNAY, Charles. Poésies nationales et religieuses Françaises, Italiennes, Turques et Persanes, 195 pièces orientales, leur traductions, et le texte Turc et Persan de 57 pièces ...
Paris, Albert Franck (on back of half-title: printed by Firmin Didot frères), 1860[-1861]. With a lithographed portrait of the author, 5 lithographed facsimiles of the author's autograph manuscripts and 4 of the letterpress pages printed in gold. Extra-illustrated with 3 lithographed and 4 engraved Royal folio illustration plates (including 2 portraits of the Ottoman Sultan Abdulmejid I).
With:
(2) VERNAY, Charles. Poésies Turques et Persanes (cent quarante et une pièces) ...
Paris, Albert Franck (below frame: lithographed by [Mathieu] Masson), "1858-1859" [= AH 1275]. With a letterpress wrapper-title in French, printed in gold, a lithographed Turkish and Persian wrapper-title (dated "1275" and "1858") and text in Turkish and Persian, lithographed from the autograph manuscript in Arabic script, all printed in gold, and a lithographed portrait of the author (the same as in ad 1).
(3) VERNAY, Charles. Nouvelles poésies Persanes et Turques ...
Paris, Albert Frank, July 1860 (colophon: lithographed by [Mathieu] Masson, r. de Valois 48, Paris). A large 4to bifolium, with a lithographic facsimile of a 4-page autograph manuscript in Arabic script, printed on blue paper.
(4-18) VERNAY, Charles. [Miscellaneous publications in various formats, some letterpress, others lithographed facsimiles of the author's autograph manuscripts in French, Turkish and Persian, and including a 1-leaf autograph manuscript in Persian].
Paris, Firmin Didot frères and others, 1851-1858.
18 publications in 1 volume. Royal folio (49.5 x 34.5 cm) with a few items in smaller formats. Contemporary diced, richly gold-tooled calf, each board with a double frame of rolls and stamps, a crescent moon and star inside each corner of the inner frame, blind-tooled turn-ins, green silk brocade endleaves. [2], 4, [1], [1 blank], 142, 4, 143-262, 263-266[bis], 263-266[ter], 263-476, [2], [1 blank], [1]; 112; [4] pp. plus the wrappers and numerous inserted items. Full description

€ 28,000

Sketches of Sudan during the Nile Expedition of 1884/85

VERNER, Willoughby. Sketches in the Soudan.
London, R.H. Porter (back of title-page: printed by Taylor and Francis), 1885. Oblong large 4to (30 x 40 cm). With a lithographed title-page, a small printer's device on the back of the title-page, 37 tinted lithographed plates by J.G. Keulemans, and one chromolithographed map. Contemporary boards, with a lithographed camel's head on the front board. Full description

€ 1,950

Early work of one of the greatest French mathematicians

VIÈTE, François. Principes de cosmographie, tirez d'un manuscrit de Viette, & traduits en François. Corrigées et augmentées.
Paris, Jean Behourt, 1647. 12mo. With 2 woodcut illustrations in the text (a geocentric universe and a simple geometric figure). Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment. [8], "72" [=172] pp. Full description

€ 11,500

"Arabia Petra" explored: account of an expedition (1865) through the Sinai, Petra in Jordan, and surrounding regions, with 48 plates and albumen prints

VISCONTI, Giammartino Arconati. Diario di un viaggio in Arabia Petrea (1865).Including: Atlante per servire al Diario di un viaggio in Arabia Petrea.
Torino, Vincenzo Bona, 1872. 2 volumes. Royal 4to (31 x 27 cm). With 2 title-pages printed in red and black, each with the author's wood-engraved decorated GAV-monogram and motto; vol. 1 with 2 folding lithographed maps (1 printed in black, brown and blue, with the route coloured by hand in red, of the Sinai Peninsula; the other in black and white, of the city of Petra); 40 mounted albumen prints after paintings by Emile Pierre Metzmacher (mainly 11.5 x 16 cm), individually mounted with letterpress captions on the mount; and 2 engraved plates; vol. 2 with 6 numbered engraved plates of molluscs and insects. The Diario in the original publisher's maroon cloth with the author's crowned monogram gold--blocked on the front board and spine. The Atlante in the original publisher's blue cloth, with the author's crowned monogram and the title gold-blocked on the front board. Both volumes with gilt edges, orange endpapers and with tissue guard leaves tipped in, protecting the albumen prints and engraved plates. 439; 46, [2 blank] pp. (vol. II, pp. 1-2 blank). Full description

€ 25,000

Hand-coloured map of Africa, with an especially accurate southern coastline

[MAP - AFRICA]. VISSCHER, Nicolaas. Africae accurata tabula.
[Amsterdam], Nicolas Visscher, [ca. 1690?]. Engraved double-page map (image size: 43.5 x 54 cm; leaf size: 51 x 60 cm), coloured by a contemporary hand. With title in a decorated cartouche on the top right flanked by two Africans and two putti and dedication to Gerardus Schaap in a decorated cartouche on the bottom left, with Schaap's coat of arms on top and flanked by mythical figures. Further illustrated with small ships and African animals (including lions, monkeys, rhinoceros and ostriches). In passepartout (56 x 66 cm). Full description

€ 2,500

An overview and translation of Aramaic inscriptions found in Syria,
with commentary: from Palmyra and the Hauran region

VOGÜÉ, Melchior de. Syrie centrale. Inscriptions sémitiques publiées avec traduction et commentaire.
Paris, J. Baudry, 1868. Folio With 16 plates reproducing inscriptions, plates 1-4, 6, 7, 12, 14 and 15 are engravings and plates 5, 8-11, 13 and 16 are lithographs. All are after drawings by Melchior de Vogüé and all except no. 12 were engraved or lithographed by E. Roussaux and printed by J. Grandjean in Paris. Plate no. 12 was engraved by L. Dardel and printed by Lamoureux in Paris. With additional illustrations in the text and parts of the text in Hebrew, Arabic, and Greek type. Modern half calf, marbled boards, silver lettering on spine. [4], II, [2], 132 pp. Full description

€ 5,000

Artefacts, fossils and minerals in the Egyptian collection of Cardinal Borgia

WAD, Gregers. Fossilia Aegyptiaca Musei Borgiani Velitris.
Velletri, 1794. 4to. Contemporary boards. VIII, 32 pp. Full description

€ 3,250

Swedish account of a journey through Arabia

WALLIN, Georg August (Yrjö Aukusti). Första Resa fran Cairo till Arabiska Öknen i April 1845. Fragment. ... Med en karta.
Helsinki, (S. Baranovskij for) J. Simelius, 1853. 8vo. With lithographed map at the end; printed music for a Bedouin melody in the text. Green half calf, contemporary marbled boards, title in gold on rebacked spine. VII, [1], 126, [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

First edition of H.A.G. Percy, Lord Warkworth's accounts of his travels through Anatolia

WARKWORTH, Lord (Henry Algernon George PERCY, Earl Percy). Notes from a dairy in Asiatic Turkey.
London, Edward Arnold publisher to the India Office, 1898. Large 8vo (ca. 24 x 18 cm). With one large folding map of Turkey (ca. 55 x 24 cm), printed in black and red, and 32 plates with half-tone reproductions of photographs. Green buckram with gold-blocked decorations on the front board. XVI, 267, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Attributes of the Prophet: Arabic manuscript in black and red with text and ruling in geometric patterns

[WASF AL-RUSUL]. [Kitab Wasf al-Rusul wa al-Imama].
[Near East, ca. 1820?] Small folio (ca. 21 x 30 cm). Arabic manuscript in a naskh script, written in black ink on paper, with headings, key words and short passages in red, ruled in red throughout (often in complex patterns to form tables and geometric shapes) and with a diagrammatic human body also in red, 2 leaves with circular diagrams, some ruled leaves blank (text never completed). Contemporary limp leather. 74 ll. Full description

€ 12,000

An eye-witness account by an Englishman of the siege of Sanaa in 1911

WAVELL, Arthur John Byng. A modern pilgrim in Mecca and a siege in Sanaa.
London, Constable & Company ltd., 1913. 8vo. With a photo of the author as a frontispiece, 6 plates and 1 folding map of the Arabian Peninsula. Blue cloth with gold lettering on front cover and spine, and blind-tooling on front cover. IX, [1 blank], 349, [1] pp. Full description

€ 450

Important history of the Umayyad Caliphate, printed in Calcutta

WELLHAUSEN, Julius (Margaret Graham WEIR, translator). The Arab kingdom and its fall.
Calcutta, University of Calcutta (printed by Bhupendra Lal Banerji), 1927. 8vo. Modern cloth. XV, [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], 592, [1] pp. Full description

€ 1,800

With two large maps of Yemen

WERDECKER, Josef. A contribution to the geography and cartography of north-west Yemen (based on the results of the exploration by Eduard Glaser, undertaken in the years 1882-1884).
Cairo, lInstitut Français dArchéologie Orientale du Caire, 1939. 8vo. With a portrait of Eduard Glaser, 8 numbered plates and 2 large folding maps. Later half cloth, with the original front wrapper mounted on the front board. [2], 160 pp. Full description

€ 2,800

Portrait of a man in traditional Arab garb

WILLIAMS, E.M., R.A. [Portrait of a man in traditional Arab garb].
Tripoli, 1914. Oil on canvas (51 x 40.5 cm), with artist's name, place and date on the back. Full description

€ 6,500

Beautifully illustrated description of Palestine, Sinai and Egypt

WILSON, Charles. Picturesque Palestine, Sinai and Egypt. Edited by Colonel Wilson, R.E, C.B., F.R.S. formerly engineer to the Palestine Exploration Society. Assisted by the most eminent Palestine explorers etc. With numerous engravings on steel and wood.
London, Virtue and Co., [ca. 1870]. 4 volumes. Large 4to (33 x 25 cm). With 4 title-pages in red and black, each with a different large steel-engraved vignette, 38 steel-engraved plates (including 4 different frontispieces), 2 double-page engraved maps of Egypt and Sinai, printed in brown, and 576 wood-engravings on integral leaves, many full-page. Contemporary half sheepskin. [2], X, 240; [2], VI, 240; [2], IV, 240; [2], IV, 236 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Extremely rare atlas with 76 very large hand-coloured maps

WIT, Frederick de. Atlas maior.
Amsterdam, Johannes Covens & Cornelis Mortier, [ca. 1725]. Imperial folio (53 x 35.5 cm). With engraved title-page and 76 double page (or in 8 cases larger folding) engraved maps, the title-page and all maps and their decorations coloured by a contemporary hand. Half tanned sheepskin (ca. 1900), gold-tooled spine. Full description

€ 85,000

German translation of an Arabic text on the death of Muhammads companion Musab ibn al-Zubayr and on the Zubayr genealogy, including a family tree

WÜSTENFELD, Ferdinand (transl.); Abu Abdallah AL-DIMASCHKÍ (ed.); Zubair ibn BAKKAR. Die Familie el-Zubeir. Der Tod des Muc'ab ben el-Zubeir aus den Muwaffakîjat des Abu Abdallah el-Dimaschkí. Arabisch und Deutsch.
Göttingen, Dieterich'sche Verlags-Buchhandlung, 1878. Large 4to. With 1 folding genealogical table of the Zubayr family bound at the end of the book. Contemporary half blue cloth, decorated paper sides, grey spine label with title in gold. 112 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Original painting made to be reproduced as picture postcard for the Egyptian tourist industry

[CAIRO]. WUTTKE, Carl. A souk in Cairo.
Cairo, 1902. Signed and inscribed "C. Wuttke. Cairo. 1902". Oil on canvas board (20 x 28 cm). Unframed. Full description

€ 9,500

Greek and Arabic physicians on pathology and therapeutics

IBN SARABIYUN, Yahya (SERAPIO the elder). Iani Damasceni Decapolitani summae inter Arabes autoritatis medici, Therapeutice methodi, hoc est, curandi artis Libri VII. partim Albano Torino Vitodurano paraphraste, partim Gerardo iatro Cremonensi metaphraste.
Basel, Heinrich Petri, (colophon: March 1543). Folio (20.5 x 29 cm). 17th century black vellum, made from an earlier liturgical music manuscript. [24], 491, [1] pp. Full description

€ 18,000

First edition of al-Zamakhshari’s collection of Arabic proverbs, in Arabic and Latin

ZAMAKHSHARI, Abu al-Quasim Mahmud ibn Umar (Hendrik Albert SCHULTENS, editor). [Al-Kalim al-nawabigh]. Anthologia sententiarum Arabicarum. Cum scholiis Zamachsjarii.
Leiden, Jean Le Mair (colophon: printed by Daniel van Damme), 1772. 4to. With the large engraved arms of Willem V, Prince of Orange, above the dedication.Vellum, manuscript spine title. [20], 171, [1] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Unique panoramic photographs of Zanzibar and Madagascar in 1900

[PHOTOGRAPHY - ZANZIBAR - MADAGASCAR - MAYOTTE]. [Album with unique panoramic photographs of Zanzibar and Madagascar].
[Zanzibar, Madagascar, Mayette, 1900]. Oblong album (25 x 34 cm) with 47 silver gelatin photographic prints, many with handwritten captions in French. The photographs vary in size from 8 x 5.5 cm to 27 x 20.5 cm. The 30 panorama photographs measure 5.5 x 17.5 cm. Brown cloth album made by M. Andouard in Paris, decorated endpapers. 10, [10 blank] ll. Full description

€ 4,500

The Arabian Peninsula through the eyes of the American Christian missionary S.M. Zwemer

ZWEMER, Samuel Marinus. Arabia: the cradle of Islam. Studies in the geography, people and politics of the peninsula with an account of Islam and mission-work.
Edinburgh and London, Oliphant Anderson and Ferrier, [preface dated: Dec. 1900]. 8vo. With a cut-out picture of a Bedouin woman on the verso of the half-title-page, a picture of "a typical Arab of Yemen" as the frontispiece, 15 plates, a floor plan of a mosque, 2 maps and numerous small illustrations in the text. Yellow cloth. [6], 437, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 650


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Middle East & Islamic World