Arabic manuscript of the Sphaerics

Theodosius of Bithynia. Kitab al-ukar [Sphaerics].

Kabul, [1909 CE =] 1327 H.

4to (170 x 254 mm). Arabic manuscript on polished oriental paper. 111 pp. (paginated in a later ballpoint hand), 11 lines, per extensum, black and red ink, written space ruled throughout with several sets of coloured borders. With numerous diagrams in the margins. Contemporary blindstamped full calf.

€ 6.000,00

An early 20th century Arabic manuscript of the "Sphaerics" by the Greek astronomer and mathematician Theodosius of Bithynia (ca. 169-100 BCE). Unknown in the West during the Middle Ages, the "Sphaerics" proved instrumental in the restoration of Euclidean geometry to Western civilization when the book was brought back from the Islamic world during the crusades and translated from Arabic into Latin.

The present manuscript was written in Afghanistan under the rule of Habibullah Khan, a reform-minded Emir who attempted to introduce modern medicine and other technology to his country. The prettily blindstamped binding would also appear to be of Afghan origin.

Paper a little browned and brittle; traces of former block-stitching; some of the first few leaves transposed during re-binding, according to the later ballpoint pagination.

Art.-Nr.: BN#57397 Schlagwörter: , , ,

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