KAMAL AL-DIN MUHAMMAD BIN MUSA AL-DAMIRI (D. 808/1405-06 AD): HAYAT AL-HAYAWAN (THE ANIMAL'S LIFE)

MAMLUK EGYPT OR SYRIA, 15TH CENTURY

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KAMAL AL-DIN MUHAMMAD BIN MUSA AL-DAMIRI (D. 808/1405-06 AD): HAYAT AL-HAYAWAN (THE ANIMAL'S LIFE)
MAMLUK EGYPT OR SYRIA, 15TH CENTURY
An early copy of this alphabetical encyclopaedia of natural history, Arabic manuscript on buff paper, 130ff. plus 4 fly-leaves, each with 27ll. of neat black naskh script, important words and headings picked out in red, catchwords, title page with gold and polychrome illuminated heading and medallion carrying the name of the author, incomplete at end, slightly trimmed, some folios loose in binding, area of marginal repair affecting a small part of about one quarter of the manuscript, some waterstaining particularly in outer corners, in later plain brown morocco with green and purple floral paper doublures
Folio 9 x 7in. (24.9 x 7.8cm.)

Lot Essay

Another copy of the work is in the John Rylands Library (A. Mingana, D.D., Catalogue of the Arabic Manuscripts in the John Rylands Library, Manchester 1934, pp. 530, no. 345). That example is dated AH 873/1468 AD. On the basis of the illumination, paper and calligraphy our manuscript can be dated to the 15th century, making it an early copy of the work.

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