Details

Subject(s)

• Amulets [Browse]
• Manuscripts, Arabic—17th century [Browse]
• Manuscripts, Arabic—18th century [Browse]

Donor

• Lewis, Anne Baker, 1868-1937 [Browse]

Former owner

• Lewis, John Frederick, 1860-1932 [Browse]

Related name

• Free Library of Philadelphia. Rare Book Department. John Frederick Lewis Collection of Oriental Manuscripts [Browse]

Summary note

Complete, octagonal copy of the Qurʼān with metal case, for use as an amulet; several leaves have been repaired and the first few may be later replacements.

Notes

• A repeating stamp on the flyleaves at the front and back of book bears pious statements and the number 118.
• Binding: Bound in red leather over thin card with embossed gold onlays in a central octagon and narrow frame; octagonal carrying case of silver-colored metal with a clasp that allows for a string to be threaded through it; grey enamal top set with a central red stone and ten red stone petals lined with gold.
• Decoration: Dual page illuminated first and last openings in gold with green and blue or orange flower and vine motifs (f. 1v-2r, 357v-358r). Textblock is octagonally border-ruled in gold. Gold roundels lined in red mark verse endings; sūrah titles in red.
• Foliation: Modern foliation in pencil added to every tenth leaf, top left recto; catchwords every verso, lower left.
• Layout: 13 long lines, border-ruled.
• Ms. codex.
• Origin: Copy is undated; perhaps copied in the 17th or 18th century.
• Script: Written in neat ghubar in black ink, pointed and vocalized.
• Title supplied by cataloger.

Location of originals

• Original Columbia, Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
• OPenn University of Pennsylvania Libraries.

Language note

Arabic.

Provenance

Formerly owned by John Frederick Lewis.

References

Simsar, Muhammed Ahmed. Oriental manuscripts of the John Frederick Lewis Collection, 6

Other title(s)

Koran

OCLC

1131819670

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