'Abd Al-Khaliq Ibn Abi-l Qasim Al-Misri, Kitab Ashrasim Al-Hindiya, a treatise on letters, numerals and symbols, and Tibyan Al-Bayan Li Ma'rif Al-'Arfan, a treatise on various languages' alphabets and letters, Anatolia or Near East, 16th/17th century

Arabic manuscript on paper, 108 leaves, 21 lines to the page, written in Naskhi script in black ink, titles and keywords in red ink, the first work illustrated with small diagrams of magic squares amid the text and tables of symbols representing various letters of the Arabic alphabet, f.53b with colophon recording name of work, f.54a giving title of second work and author's name, second work illustrated with numerous drawings of the different alphabets, later maroon tooled binding, with flap

In fair overall condition, incomplete, later maroon binding, paper repairs, some light staining, occasional tears and creases, final folio loose, as viewed.
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The first of the two works within this manuscript relates to the magical properties of letters, numerals and symbols, and includes various diagrams which illustrate the method by which they can be combined with Qur'anic verses, the ninety-nine names of God, the Prophet and his companions. The second work, to do with various languages' alphabets (including Hebrew, Coptic, Syriac and those of Indian languages) is also broadly illustrated with various letters, numerals, ancient symbols and marks used in magic writing which can be used for talismanic combinations. Within the text is mentioned the names of Pythagoras and Plato, who are considered to have influenced the study of letters, as well as their talismanic properties.

The present manuscript is likely to have been influenced by Abu-l 'Abbas Ahmad Ibn 'Ali Yusuf Al-Buni Al-Qurashi (d.1225 AD), a sufi writer who wrote principally on the subjects of letters and topics relating to mathematics, at a time when magic formulae manuals were very popular. Another manuscript comprising five other treatises regarding mystical knowledge by the same author as the present work can be found in the Chester Beatty Library (4420), see A.J. Arberry, A Handlist of the Arabic Manuscripts in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, 1962, vol.VIII, indexes, p.35. These works are undated and like the present work, are unrecorded.