Majd-al-Din Abu’l-Tahir Muhammad Ibn Ya’qub Ibn Muhammad al-Shirazi al-Firuzabadi (d.1415), Al-Qamus al-muhit wa’l qabus al-wasit (an Arabic dictionary), Turkey, circa 1680

Arabic manuscript on polished paper sprinkled with gold, 435 leaves plus 4 flyleaves, 37 lines to the page, written in neat naskh script, keywords and headings picked out in larger red, black and gold ink, catchwords, margins ruled in gold and red, 1 page misbound upside down, folio 1b with opening illuminated headpiece finely illuminated in colours and gold with interlacing split-palmettes and polychrome flowers, contemporary brown leather binding with gilt-stamped central medallion and cornerpieces filled with foliate motifs and chinoiserie cloud bands, scrolling floral and ropework borders, ebru doublures flecked with gold, with flap, in leather slip-case

Acquired in the early 20^th century by a European scholar of Middle Eastern Studies

In reasonably good overall condition, text block coming away from spine, paper repairs, some worm holes with associated repair, some loose pages, illumination bright, binding and slip-case with wear and repaired spine, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

There are seven copies of this dictionary in the Chester Beatty Library (see A. Arberry, A Handlist of the Arabic Manuscripts, volume VIII, Index of authors, p.17 and also Brockelmann, GAL, ii, 183; Suppl. ii, 234).

According to Mingana, “the author states that he completed his dictionary in his own house on as-Safa at Makkah" (where he lived almost continuously for twenty five years after 1368 AD).The author named his work al-Qamus al-muhit because it is a 'great ocean'. There are three copies of the work in the John Rylands Library, Manchester (see A. Mingana, Catalogue of the Arabic Manuscripts, Manchester, 1934, pp.1005-1008, nos.757-759).