Abu al-Hassan Kushyar bin Labban: Kitab al-Zij al-Jami'

細節

Abu al-Hassan Kushyar bin Labban: Kitab al-Zij al-Jami'
Syria, thirteenth century

a work on astrology in four parts, manuscript on thick polished buff paper, 117ff. plus two flyleaves, each with 19ll. of small black naskh, book two comprising extensive tables, books three and four with a number of diagrams, important words, phrases, some punctuation and parts of the tables and diagrams in red, occasional marginal notes in red and black, some page edges repaired, occasional folios replaced at a later date, brown part morocco binding, restored
folio 7½ x 5½in.

拍品專文

The four sections in this work have the following titles:
1. Hisab al-abwab (introductory notes)
2. Jadawil (tables)
3. Fi sharh w'al-hiah (explanations)
4. Fi'l-burhan 'ala sihhah hisab al-abwab (proofs)

Abu al-Hassan al-Jili Kushyar b. Labban b. Bashahri was a Persian astronomer and reknowned mathematician who flourished circa 1000 AD, probably spending the majority of his life in Baghdad. Of his three main works one relates to mathematics and two to astronomy (of which this copy is one). The principal ideas in al-Zij al-Jami' are based on those of al-Battani and have been further refined.

Only one other copy of this work is known which dates from this early period. It is dated AH 650/1252-3 AD. From the annotaions on the flyleaves of this volume it can be dated with certainty back to the fourteenth century. The style of the script and quality of paper, and in particular the retention of Eastern kufic for the title would indicate a date in the eleventh century. It is thus probably the earliest known copy of a very rare and important book.

King, D.A.: A catalogue of scientific manuscripts in the Egyptian National Library (in Arabic), Cairo 1986
Encyclopaedia of Islam, ed.H.A.R. Gibb, London 1960-91