Lot 107
  • 107

Abu Nasr Isma’il ibn Hammad al-Jawhari (d. circa 1002-09), al-Sahah fi’l-lugha, copied by Sharaf-al-Din Muhammad ibn al-Wahid al-Katib and finished by Yahya ibn ‘Ali ibn Yahya ibn Muhammad ibn al-Mashhadi, Western Persia, Jazira or Anatolia, dated 727 AH/1326-27 AD

Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 GBP
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Description

  • ink on paper with leather binding
Arabic manuscript on paper, 359 leaves (2 replacement) plus 3 flyleaves, 33 lines to the page, written in neat naskh script in black ink, keywords picked out in gold thuluth, catchwords, each word of the dictionary written in naskh script in red ink in outer margin of each folio, f.1a with illuminated title page with heading in ornamental Eastern Kufic script in blue outlined with gold against a ground of scrolling vines, author's name below in larger black naskh script within cloud bands against a hatched ground filled with large interlacing split palmettes, keyfret borders, later brown leather binding with foliate medallions

Condition

In very good overall condition, two replacement folios, binding with various stains and scuffs, two later replacement leaves, occasional stains and marginal paper repairs, a few pages slightly loose in the binding, minor tears, pages generally clean, and ink bold, 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."

Catalogue Note

Abu Nasr Isma’il ibn Hammad al-Jawhari died between 1002 and 1009 AD. The preface of the present work gives the author the extra names of al-Nishapuri and al-Farabi and states that he was related to Abu Ishaq al-Farabi, the author of Diwan al-adab. The present work is al-Sahah fi’l-lugha, a well-known Arabic dictionary. According to the preface the text consists of 28 babs, and each bab is divided into 28 fasl according to the number of the alphabet.

For other copies of this work see C. Rieu, Supplement to the Catalogue of the Arabic Manuscripts in the British Museum, Hildesheim, 2013 (reprint of the 1894 British Museum edition), p.577, nos.845 & 846; U. Lyons, A Handlist of the Arabic Manuscripts in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, 1966, Indexes, p.33; A. Mingana, Catalogue of the Arabic Manuscripts in the John Rylands Library, Manchester, 1934, pp.1001-02, no.753 [642]; C. Baker (ed.), Subject-Guide to the Arabic Manuscripts in the British Library, London, 2001, K.2: Arabic Language: Lexicography and Philology, pp.285-6;C. Brockelmann, GAL, I., 128; S.I., 196.

Another copy of the same text, copied for the Injuid ruler Abu Ishaq and dated 743 AH/1342 AD is in the Al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait (see Adamova & Bayani, Persian Painting, The Arts of the Book and Portraiture, 2015, pp.127-131, cat.12).