Muhammad Ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman Ibn ‘Umar Jalal (or Jamal) al-Din Abu’l Ma’ali al-Qazwini, better known as Khatib al-Dimashqi (d.1338 AD), Talkhis al-miftah (Short Exposition on the Miftah, on Rhetorics), copied by Mustafa Ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman, Damascus, early 16th century

Arabic manuscript on paper of various colours, 135 leaves plus 4 flyleaves, 11 lines to the page, written in elegant nasta'liq script in black ink, interstices heightened with gold, borders ruled in colours and gold, catchwords, folio 1b with a finely illuminated headpiece composed of interlacing split-palmettes and polychrome flowers with a pin-pricked strapwork border in gold, later Ottoman red leather binding with gilt ropework borders, ebru borders, with flap, ensuite leather slip-case

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

In good overall condition, some occasional stains and tears to sides of text boxes requiring conservation, pages generally clean, ink bold and illumination bright, slip-case split down one side, 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."

According to Mingana, the grammarian Yusuf Ibn Abi Bakr Siraj-al-Din al-Sakkaki, who died in 626 AH/1229 AD, wrote a philological encyclopaedia in three parts, called Miftah al-‘ulum. The present manuscript contains an elaborated abridgment of, and a commentary upon, the third part of this work which deals with Rhetorics (I’lm al-balaghah), see A. Mingana, Catalogue of the Arabic Manuscript in the John Rylands Library, Manchester, 1934, p.943, no.691 [354].

Another copy, dated Friday the 14^th of Ramadan 958 AH/18^th of July 1551 AD, is in the Chester Beatty Library (see A. Arberry, A Handlist of the Arabic Manuscript, Dublin, 1962, p.146, no.4451). See also Brockelmann, GAL, i, 295, Suppl.i, 516.