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A COMPENDIUM OF FIFTEEN SCIENTIFIC TREATISES IN TWO VOLUMES MAINLY BY ABU 'ALI AL-HUSAYN IBN 'ABDULLAH IBN AL-HASAN IBN 'ALI IBN SINA, KNOWN AS AVICENNA (D.1037 AD), INCLUDING A TREATISE BY YA’QUB AL-KINDI (D.CA 873 AD), PERSIA, SAFAVID, DATED 958 AH/1550-51 AD |
Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- 18 by 12cm.
Arabic and Persian manuscript on paper, in two volumes, 81 and 52 leaves each respectively, 15 lines to the page, written in neat nasta’liq in black ink, important words in red, in leather stamped binding
Condition
In generally good condition, each volume has been rebound in a later leather Timurd-style binding, one of the two volume loose from the binding but complete, the margins are overall clean but the paper has been restored, the second volume detatched from the binding, occasional stains and water damage, 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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
These two volumes represent an interesting compendium of treatises of different authors and subjects, all compiled in 958AH/1550-51 AD. The contents are as follows: Volume I
1. Mehmed ibn Faramuz al-Rumi, also known as Munla Kusro (d.1480), Risala fi al-‘alab, on grammar and the Qur’an.
2. Nasir al-Din Tusi (d.1274 AD), A one-page fasl on the categories, aqsam al-hikmah, on the science of philosophy.
3. Abu 'Ali al-Husayn ibn 'Abdullah ibn al-Hasan ibn 'Ali ibn Sina, known as Avicenna (d.1037 AD), Al-ajwiba ‘an al-masail al-ashr, on the science of philosophy.
4. Shams al-Din Ahmed (d.1536) (?), Risala fi'l-wajud al-dhini, on theology and philosophy.
5. Sharh diwan Amir al-Mumin 'Ali li Hasan al-Mubidi, extracts from two Persian treatises relating to the Umayyads and to several recipes on how to remove text from paper.
6. Ibn Sina, Risala fi tafawat al-anf’al wa'l-anfa’alat, a treatise on psychology.
7. Abu Mansur Mohammed ibn Ali ibn 'Umar al-Jabban (d.1025 AD) Fi asbab huduth al-huruf, on the science of phonetics.
Volume II
1. Four sections related on the recitation of the Qur’an.
2. Ibn Sina, Risala fi sabab ijabat ad-du’a, a treatise on the cause of efficiency of prayers.
3. Ibn Sina, Risala fi ana kol ma fi a’alam al-kawn mumkin, on the universe and metaphysics.
4. Ibn Sina, Risala fi haqa’iq ilm at-tawhid, on theology.
5. Possibly Ibn Sina, Risala fi ta’iref al-ra’i al-muhassal ll-aqdameen fi jawahir al-ajram al-samawiyya, on the planets.
6. Ibn Sina, Risala fi an al-nafs al-insanya, on happiness and psychology.
7. Ya’qub al-Kindi (d. ca. 873), Kitab fi qall’i al-a’atha’ar wa al-hibr wa gha’ireh, a treatise on the removal of stains, ink and other substances.
8. Sharh diwan Amir al-Mumin 'Ali li Hasan al-Mubidi, an unidentified treatise.
Two leaves with poetry.
The variety of authors and subjects show a very clear editorial choice: most of the risalas are not recorded in Brockelmann or Rosenfeld & Ihsanoglu, but it is likely that their titles have been given by the editor of the volumes as these are extracts of longer treatises. Worth mentioning is the presence of a treatise by al-Kindi, one of the most famous and prolific scientists of the ninth century. This section is a rare manual on different types of stains and the best remedies to remove them (vinegar or salt or other varied mixtures). This treatise, although not recorded in Rosenfeld & Ihsanoglu, it’s mentioned and summarised in the article 'Arabic Treatises about Spot removal from the 3rd -11th /9th-17th centuries' by Lutfallah Gari, in Journal of Islamic Manuscripts VI (2015) pp.97-131. A copy of the treatise is recorded as being in the Suleymaniye Library (see Journal of the Institute of Islamic Manuscripts, vol.XXX, part I; Kuwait, 1972, p.91).
1. Mehmed ibn Faramuz al-Rumi, also known as Munla Kusro (d.1480), Risala fi al-‘alab, on grammar and the Qur’an.
2. Nasir al-Din Tusi (d.1274 AD), A one-page fasl on the categories, aqsam al-hikmah, on the science of philosophy.
3. Abu 'Ali al-Husayn ibn 'Abdullah ibn al-Hasan ibn 'Ali ibn Sina, known as Avicenna (d.1037 AD), Al-ajwiba ‘an al-masail al-ashr, on the science of philosophy.
4. Shams al-Din Ahmed (d.1536) (?), Risala fi'l-wajud al-dhini, on theology and philosophy.
5. Sharh diwan Amir al-Mumin 'Ali li Hasan al-Mubidi, extracts from two Persian treatises relating to the Umayyads and to several recipes on how to remove text from paper.
6. Ibn Sina, Risala fi tafawat al-anf’al wa'l-anfa’alat, a treatise on psychology.
7. Abu Mansur Mohammed ibn Ali ibn 'Umar al-Jabban (d.1025 AD) Fi asbab huduth al-huruf, on the science of phonetics.
Volume II
1. Four sections related on the recitation of the Qur’an.
2. Ibn Sina, Risala fi sabab ijabat ad-du’a, a treatise on the cause of efficiency of prayers.
3. Ibn Sina, Risala fi ana kol ma fi a’alam al-kawn mumkin, on the universe and metaphysics.
4. Ibn Sina, Risala fi haqa’iq ilm at-tawhid, on theology.
5. Possibly Ibn Sina, Risala fi ta’iref al-ra’i al-muhassal ll-aqdameen fi jawahir al-ajram al-samawiyya, on the planets.
6. Ibn Sina, Risala fi an al-nafs al-insanya, on happiness and psychology.
7. Ya’qub al-Kindi (d. ca. 873), Kitab fi qall’i al-a’atha’ar wa al-hibr wa gha’ireh, a treatise on the removal of stains, ink and other substances.
8. Sharh diwan Amir al-Mumin 'Ali li Hasan al-Mubidi, an unidentified treatise.
Two leaves with poetry.
The variety of authors and subjects show a very clear editorial choice: most of the risalas are not recorded in Brockelmann or Rosenfeld & Ihsanoglu, but it is likely that their titles have been given by the editor of the volumes as these are extracts of longer treatises. Worth mentioning is the presence of a treatise by al-Kindi, one of the most famous and prolific scientists of the ninth century. This section is a rare manual on different types of stains and the best remedies to remove them (vinegar or salt or other varied mixtures). This treatise, although not recorded in Rosenfeld & Ihsanoglu, it’s mentioned and summarised in the article 'Arabic Treatises about Spot removal from the 3rd -11th /9th-17th centuries' by Lutfallah Gari, in Journal of Islamic Manuscripts VI (2015) pp.97-131. A copy of the treatise is recorded as being in the Suleymaniye Library (see Journal of the Institute of Islamic Manuscripts, vol.XXX, part I; Kuwait, 1972, p.91).