IBN 'ARABSHAH (IBN 'MUHAMMED), AHMAD / GOLIUS, JACOB (Editor):

Arabic title: "Kitab 'Aja'ib al-maqdur fi aghbar Timur"]. Ahmedis arabsiadae itae et rerum gestarum Timuri, qui vulgo Tamerlanes dicitur, historia. Lugduni Batavorum, ex typographia Elseveriana, 1636.

      1636 1636 - 4to. Pp. (viii), 448. Title page in Latin and Arabic printed in red and black within architectural woodcut border by Christoph van Sichem, and Latin half title printed in blue and red. Contemporary full vellum, title in manuscript on spine, some stain to covers. First Arabic edition of this important eyewitness account of the life of Tamerlane (Timur Lenk), the successful and barbaric Turkic conqueror in the 14th century. It is based on the original Arabic manuscript completed in 1437-38 by the Syrian author Ahmad Ibn 'Arabshah who was secretary to the Sultan Ahmad of Baghdad. In the 16th century Timur was made famous in Europe through the play "Tamburlaine" (1590) written by the English playwright Christopher Marlowe. This work was edited by Jacob Golius and includes a preface by him. The Arabic manuscript used by Golius is still preserved at Leiden University library and contains many notes by him. A French translation by Pierre Vattier appeared in 1658. Schnurrer 166. BOUND WITH: DIEU, LUDOVIC DE: Rudimenta linguae persicae. Lugd. Bat., Ex officina Elseviriana, 1639. Pp. (viii), 95. Title printed in red and black. With some contemporary marginal notes and old inscription on endpapers. First edition of the first Persian grammar to be published ascribed to de Dieu. Berghman 674. Schwab ii, 727. Smitskamp 310-311. Willems 447. [Attributes: First Edition; Signed Copy]