Al-Andalus
A Selection of 20 Books and Manuscripts
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1First-hand medieval history of Al-Andalus(Kitab al-Mu'jib fi talkhis akhbar ahl al-Maghrib). The history of the …Leyden, 1847.
€ 2,800.00First edition. Entitled "The Book of Wonder, or the Summary of News of the Maghreb", this is the best-known work of the Moroccan historian 'Abd al-Wahid (1185-1250): a personal and at the same time neutral account of Almohad rule from its foundation to the 13th century, but also of the preceding dynasty of the Almoravids, with a summary of al-Andalus …
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3Arabian astrology after a Castilian manuscriptDe iudiciis astrorum libri octo [Kitab al-bari' fi ahkam an-nujum].Basel, March 1571.
InquireSecond Henricpetri edition of this elaborate system of astrology, edited by Antonius Stupa. Abul Hasan Ali ibn abi Rijal (also known as Haly or Hali, and by the Latinized versions of his name, Haly Albohazen and Haly Abenragel), probably born in Cordoba, flourished in Tunis from ca 1020 to 1040, where he served as court astrologer to Prince Al-Muizz …
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4Muslims and Spaniards fighting off the coast of AndalusiaBreve relacion de la refriega que la Capitana Real de Espana con otras …Barcelona, 1621.
€ 1,200.00Extremely scarce pamphlet on a naval battle in the Mediterranean near Cabo de Gata (Andalusia). It describes the destruction of a ship of corsairs from Algiers by the Spanish vessel "San Pedro" on 7 January 1621, killing 70 men. The victory proved important for the Spaniards, as the surviving corsairs provided them with useful intelligence, including …
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5A famous tract against Islam, the ideological foundation of the Spanish InquisitionFortalitium fidei in universos christiane religionis hostes Judaeorum et …Lyon, 11 Oct. 1525.
InquireThis "Fortress of the Faith, against all the enemies of the Christian religion, restraining the rage of Jews and Muslims", written c. 1458, is the principal work of the baptized Spanish Jew de Spina. It is considered the "methodical and ideological foundation of the Inquisition. The book, divided into five chapters, targets chiefly Jews and Muslims" …
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6Written in the Kingdom of ZaragozaAl-Hidaja 'ila Fara'id al-Qulub.Leiden, 1912.
€ 850.00First modern edition of the original Arabic text of "Al Hidayah ila Faraid al-Qulub" ("Guide to the Duties of the Heart"), written in 1080 by the Jewish philosopher Bahya ibn Paquda, who lived at Zaragoza, in Muslim Spain. The work offers the first Jewish system of ethics and was translated into Hebrew by Judah ibn Tibbon in 1161-80 ("Chovot ha-Levavot"). …
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7Arabic Neo-PlatonismParafrasis arabe de la tabla de Cebes, traducida en Castellano é illustrada …Madrid, 1793.
€ 4,500.00First joint edition in Arabic and Spanish.
The Neoplatonist Persian philosopher Ibn Miskawayh (932-1030) worked as a chancery official and librarian for various viziers of the Abbasid empire; many of his works show and document the influence of Greek philosophy on his thought. His Arabic paraphrase occasionally contains additional passages …
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8The first overland journey from Spain to the East Indies, by way of IranBreve relacion de la peregrinacion que ha hecho de la mayor parte del mundo.Madrid, 1680.
€ 18,000.00First edition of an interesting and detailed account of the first overland journey from Spain to the East Indies (1671-80) made by the Spanish missionary Sebastian Pedro Cubero. Interestingly, Cubero covered most of his route by land, as would later Careri, thus constantly being able to observe the customs, religions, ceremonies and costumes of the …
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9Important history of Muslim SpainSpecimen e litteris orientalibus, exhibens diversorum scriptorum locos …Leiden, 1839.
€ 450.00Inaugural dissertation by the orientalist Martin Hoogvliet (b. 1814), containing an extract edition and translation of this important history of Muslim Spain, entitled "Al-mo'ajeb fi talkhíss akhbári-l-maghreb" ("The Promoter of Admiration, or a compendious History of the West"), written by the Moroccan historian Al-Marrakishi (b. 1185). Based …
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10One of the first defences of Al-Andalus Arab influence in Western cultureCollectaneorum de re medica, post Aristotelem atque Galenum facilè doctissimi, …Lyon, 1537.
€ 18,500.00First edition of this Latin translation, from the original Arabic, of books II, VI, and VII of the collection of medical texts referred to under the title of "Colliget" (from its Arabic title "Kulliyyât"), written by the great Muslim physician Ibn Rushd (1126-98, Averroes in the Latin tradition).
This translation is important not only for …
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11Two important Islamic medical works - no copy recorded at auctionAbhomeron Abynzohar. Colliget Auerroys.Venice, 20 Sept. 1514.
€ 50,000.00The "al-Taysir" ("Theysir") of Ibn Zuhr, and the "al-Kulliyyat" ("Colliget") of Ibn Rushd, here edited by Hieronymus Surianus. This is the fourth edition in all, the first having appeared in Venice in 1490. Printed by the press of Gregorius de Gregoriis, which in the same year had produced the first book entirely printed in Arabic, the famous Fano …
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12Arabic inscriptions from GranadaInscripciones arabes de Granada, precedidas de una reseña histórica y …Madrid, 1859.
€ 6,500.00The first (and only early) edition of this detailed study of Arabic inscriptions found in Granada, with the texts of the inscriptions set in naskh Arabic type and also translated into Spanish. It includes many poems, notably those of Ibn Zamrak (1333-93), as well as Lafuente's overview of the history and genealogy of the Moorish Nasrid dynasty (1230-1492) …
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13Highly important author's manuscript by "the Father of the Arabian horse in Spain"Memoria sobre la cría caballar de España: causas del aniquilamiento de …Madrid, 1830.
€ 35,000.00Highly important manuscript, being the author's autograph copy - possibly for presentation to the dedicatee (the King of Spain). Darrac's groundbreaking treatise on the admixture of Arabian bloodlines to the Spanish horse was subsequently accepted by the King and printed 'by Royal decree' in the following year, 1831. "To assure that Spain would have …
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14Chronicle of the invasion of Spain, translated from an Arabic manuscriptThe life of the most illustrious monarch Almanzor. And of the several revolutions …London, 1693.
€ 3,000.00Very scarce English translation of this popular chronicle of the 8th-century Moorish invasion of Spain, purportedly translated from an Arabic manuscript that the Moorish apologist and interpreter Miguel de Luna claimed to have found in the Escorial library, but in fact a work of historical fiction of his own composition. Originally issued as "La …
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15Translated from Arabic, uniting the Judaic and Islamic astrological traditions: with the works of Ibn Ezra, from the Kingdom of ZaragozaLiber novem iudicum in iudiciis astrorum. Mesehella, Aomar, Alkindus, Zael …Venice, 4 Jan. 1509.
InquireI: Editio princeps of this "work composed in Arabic probably exactly in the form in which it is preserved in Latin, typical of the encyclopaedic period but limited [...] to certain early sources" (Carmody), uniting the Judaic and Islamic astrological traditions. The form, arranged in twelve parts according to each house, is based on the doctrines …
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16By the Andalusian father of spherical trigonometry, Abu ‘Abdallah Muhammad ibn Mu’adhSalacie[n]sis, de crepusculis liber unus, nu[n]c rece[n]s & natus et …Lisbon, January 1542.
€ 75,000.00First edition of two of the most important and rarest scientific works on twilight and optics. The first is written by the greatest Portuguese mathematician Pedro Nunez (1492-1577), who served as cosmographer royal to the court of João III. His "De crepusculis" discusses new solutions for problems concerning twilight (such as the shortest twilight …
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17Impressive calligraphic manuscript on the history of Granada's silk trade, beautifully illustrated with decorative borders throughoutManifiesto del origen, progreso, y estado de la real hacienda y renta de …Granada?, 22 March 1762.
€ 15,000.00Impressive calligraphic presentation manuscript with an account of the history and 18th century state of the renowned silk production in Granada. Having belonged to the Marqués de Esquilache, Minister of Charles III, and signed in Granada by Pedro Paschio de Baños y Molina (1762), this beautiful copy was executed by a skilled calligrapher for the …
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18Handwritten judgment of the Spanish Inquisition against a Muslim in Spain(Incipit:) "Vista por nos los inquisidores contra la heretica pravedad …Cuenca, 28 Oct 1575.
InquireVery rare handwritten judgment of the Spanish Inquisition with autograph signature of the accused who - "descending from generations of Moors" - was convicted for secretly belonging to the "damned Muhammadan sect" and for observing related religious rites and ceremonies such as the Ramadan: "Vista por nos los inquisidores contra la heretica pravedad …
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19Inscribed "from the author"Remains of Arabic in the Spanish and Portuguese Languages. With a Sketch …London, 1810.
€ 1,800.00Only edition: an early study of the substantial traces which Arabic and other oriental languages left on the Spanish and Portuguese lexicon. Includes two copious word lists. The English antiquarian, clergyman and linguist Stephen Weston (1747-1830) also produced, in 1802, the earliest English translation of the Greek text of the Rosetta Stone.
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20Al-Zarquali's astronomical tables: a precious Renaissance manuscript, completed at Toledo around the year 1080Tabulae de motibus planetarum.Ferrara, ca. 1475.
€ 280,000.00The so-called "Toledan Tables" are astronomical tables used to predict the movements of the Sun, Moon and planets relative to the fixed stars. They were completed around the year 1080 at Toledo by a group of Arab astronomers, led by the mathematician and astronomer Al-Zarqali (known to the Western World as Arzachel), and were first updated in the …