Ancient Manuscript Review 187 : Antique Print Map of Malacca / Malaka ( Malaysia) 1750CE illustrated by Jacques Nicques Bellin

This is a print map dated 1750CE of  an occupied once Islamic Sultanate city, Malacca by Portugese.
Malacca used to be a centre of Islamic Sultanate established in the 14th CE and lasted for a centruy before is was occupied by Portugese in 1511CE.
This map was drawn by Jacques Nicques Bellin and part of his travel book titled Prevost d'Exiles.
Now Malacca ( Melaka) is a modern city in Malaysia.


Below what I found from Malacca & Geographia website:

In 1396, a Sumatran prince by the name of Parameswara fled his country out of fear of the attacking Majapahit Empire. Landing in Temasek, he killed the local ruler and established himself over the island that is now known as Singapore. A few years later, he was driven out by a Thai-controlled army and once again, was left scouting for a new piece of land.
Eventually, he moved up the West Coast of Malaysia and founded Malacca. Legend says that he was resting under a tree when he saw a mouse deer kicking his hunting dogs into the river and they attacked it. Declaring the place to be auspicious, he decided to set up shop and named the place after the tree he was resting under Melaka.
Eventually, Parameswara converted to Islam in 1414 and adopted the title of Sultan. Malacca was also growing into one of most important entrepot hubs for traders from across Asia, notably India, Arabia and China. 
Unfortunately, this fame arrived at just the moment when Europe began to extend its power into the East, and Malacca was one of the very first cities to attract its covetous eye. The Portuguese under the command of Afonso de Albuquerque arrived first, taking the city after a sustained bombardment in 1511. The Sultan fled to Johor, from whence the Malays counterattacked the Portuguese repeatedly though without success. One reason for the strength of the Portuguese defense was the construction of the massive fortification of A Famosa, only a small portion of which survives today.
A Famosa ensured Portuguese control of the city for the next one hundred and fifty years, until, in 1641, the Dutch invested Malacca after an eight-month siege and a fierce battle. Malacca was theirs, but it lay in almost complete ruin. Over the next century and a half, the Dutch rebuilt the city and employed it largely as a military base, using its strategic location to control the Straits of Malacca. In 1795, when the Netherlands was captured by French Revolutionary armies, Malacca was handed over to the British to avoid capture by the French. Although they returned the city to the Dutch in 1808, it was soon given over to the British once again in a trade for Bencoleen, Sumatra. From 1826, the city was ruled by the English East India Company in Calcutta, although it experienced Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945. Independence did not arrive until 1957, when anti-colonial sentiment culminated in a proclamation of independence by His Highness Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Malaysia's first Prime Minister.


Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Print
Content : Print Map of Malaka
Dim :  115mm  x  90mm
Date : 1750 CE
Copyist : Jacques Nicques Bellin
Origin : Portugal
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Coin Review 104 : Sultan Husain @ Ali Riayat Shah ( Aceh Sultanate 1571 - 1579 CE)

 This is a gold coin from Sultan Ali Riayat Shah era. Sultan Ali original name is Husain and was the second son of Sultan Aladin Riayat Shah. He reigned Aceh from 1571 - 1579 CE.

Aceh is a state located at the northern end of Sumatra island ( Indonesia). It is also known by its Arabic honorific Darus Salam ( Abode of Peace) from 1511-1959 CE.
Aceh's origins are unquestionably Cham, as the Champa king Syah Pau Kubah sent his son Syah Pau Ling to rule over Aceh when the capital Vijaya in 1471 AD, was sacked by the Vietnamese Le Dynasty.
The Sultanate of Aceh was founded in 1511 CE after the fall of Pasai Sultanate by Sultan Ali Mughayat Shah. It’s presumed that he is the same person as Syah Pau Ling who converted to Islam.
The Sultanate lasted till 1903 when the last Aceh Sultan Muhammad III Daud Shah Johan Berdaulat surrendered to Dutch occupation.

Obv: As Sultan Al Adil
Rev: Ali bin Aladin Malik AtTahir
Weight : 0.61 gm
Dim : 12mm
Date : 1571 - 1579 CE
Rarity :
Denom : Mas
Material : Gold
Reference : A 7c pg 166 ( Jaarboek Voor Munt-en Penningkunde)

Ancient Manuscript Review 186 : Antique Quran Arabic Islamic Papyrus from Egypt ( 8th Century)

This is a papyrus fragment written in Qurra ( Naskh) script in black ink. I couldn't decipher the content of this fragment. It is written in Arabic language and it could be Quranic or just Arabic document.Origin from Egypt and purchased from USA with COA. It is claimed from 8th Century CE based on the paleography and the medium
I don't have much information of this kind of manuscript and its writing tradition. I need to do more research on this manuscript and will update this entry later. I welcome any feedback on this fragment.

Manuscript Specs

Item : Islamic Papyus Manuscript
Content :  Islamic / Quranic
Dim : 100mm x 95mm
Date : 8th century CE
Copyist :  N/A
Origin :  Egypr
Calligraphy : Qurra / Naskh
Design :
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Artifact Review 71 : Antique North African Arabic Carved Wooden Door ( 19th -20th Century)

This is one piece of  a pair of doors beautifully carved. I purchased this door from Dubai. According to the seller it originated from one of African Arabic countries.
This door is beautifully carved in floral motives.  It has an arabesque arch on the top segment with 2 pair of shutters on the middle and lower segments.

Specification :

Item : A piece of antique wooden door
Dim :  175 x 55 cm
Material : Wood
Design : Floral Motives with shutters
Origin : North Africa

Ancient Artifact Review 70 : Antique Muslim Malay Gold Threaded Pillow Ends / Tekat / Tampok Bantal ( early 20th Century)

This is a product of  Malay artwork called tekat. It is a gold thread embroidery practiced by the Malay from Malaysia.  These beautiful pieces are sewn onto both ends of a bolster ( bantal peluk) as part of  the bridal decorations which is typical in Malay weddings. Traditionally, to have the entire bridal daise and chamber decoration done in tekat is almost a must. These days, one doesn't have to worry about creating a tekat arrangement for the wedding. In Malay wedding, its customary to use the service of "Mak Andam" or a wedding planner. They have almost complete bridal decorations arrangement and lend them out for a very reasonable price.
Tekat originally was a court art and gained popularity by the 15th Century. It was thought that this art originated from Ottoman Empire and brought into the royal court of the Malay Kingdom by the traders.
Compare with the Ottoman thread embroidery below :
Ottoman Embroidery Art

 In this sample, the gold thread was stitched in a patterned way over a piece of of a maroon velvet fabric. Motifs of foliage and floral were used as Islam prohibits using animal motifs. I believed these samples from early 20th Century CE.



Similar tekat can be seen below :
Tampok Bantal Tekat Gold
Tampok Bantak Tekat Silver

As we can see from my other entries , some bolsters' ends are sewn with decorated metal plates. Below are the links to the plates :

Malay Plate 01
Malay Plate 02

Compare this plate with Peranakan plates in below link
Peranakan Tampok Bantal

Specification :
Description : Malay bolster Tekat
OD : 4 inches
Material : Gold Thread on maroon velvet fabric
Ref :  Islamic Civilization In The Malay World (pg 325)

Ancient Coin Review 103 : Bendahara Sewa Raja Wan Ahmad Quarter Tampang 1295 AH ( Sultanate Pahang)

This is a another rare tampang coin from Bendahara Sewa Raja Wan Ahmad . However in 1882 CE he was proclaimed as the first Sultan of Pahang claiming the title Sultan Wan Ahmad AL Muazzam Shah.He used to be Bendahara from 1863-1881AD.
This coin was struck in 1295 AH ( 1878 CE)
 

Pahang is one of the states in Malaysia. Historically it became part of Malacca Sultanate in 1470 CE till 1641 CE. It was later ruled by Johor Sultanate till 1853 CE then it became independent.

Below is the location of Pahang in relation to other states in Malaysia.

Similar Tampang can be found in below link
Pahang Tampang
Pahang Tampang

Obv : Floral Design
Rev: Malik Al Adil tarikh kepada bulan Rejab sanat 1295
Weight : 13 gm
Dim : 28 x 28 x 8mm
Date : 1295 AH ( 1878 CE)
Rarity : RR
Denom : 1/4 tampang = 1/100 Dollar           
Material : Tin
Reference : SS20  pg 143 ( The Encyclopedia of the Coins)
Purchase Price : RM 

Ancient Artifact Review 69 : Antique Muslim Malay Gold Threaded Pillow Ends / Tekat / Tampok Bantal ( early 20th Century)

These are 2 Malay artworks called tekat. It is a silver or gold thread embroidery practiced by the Malay from Malaysia.  These beautiful pieces are sewn onto both ends of a bolster ( bantal peluk) as part of  the bridal decorations which is typical in Malay weddings. Traditionally, to have the entire bridal daise and chamber decoration done in tekat is almost a must. These days, one doesn't have to worry about creating a tekat arrangement for the wedding. In Malay wedding, its customary to use the service of "Mak Andam" or a wedding planner. They have almost complete bridal decorations arrangement and lend them out for a very reasonable price.
Tekat originally was a court art and gained popularity by the 15th Century. It was thought that this art originated from Ottoman Empire and brought into the royal court of the Malay Kingdom by the traders.
Compare with the Ottoman thread embroidery below :
Ottoman Embroidery Art

In this sample, the silver thread was stitched in a patterned way over a piece of of a black velvet fabric. Motifs of foliage and floral were used as Islam prohibits using animal motifs. I believed these samples from early 20th Century CE.


Similar tekat can be seen below :
Tampok Bantal Tekat 01

As we can see from my other entries , some bolsters' ends are sewn with decorated metal plates. Below are the links to the plates :

Malay Plate 01
Malay Plate 02

Compare this plate with Peranakan plates in below link
Peranakan Tampok Bantal

Specification :
Description : Malay bolster Tekat
OD : 4 inches
Material : Gold Thread on black velvet fabric
Ref :  Islamic Civilization In The Malay World (pg 325)

Ancient Artifact Review 68 : Antique Indian Tea Pot ( 19th Century)

This is a brass pot which I purchased from UAE. Eventhough the seller claimed it's from there however I suspected the origin is from India. There is a mill mark at the bottom of the pot which I couldnt decipher.



Artifact Specification

Dim : 130mm x 120mm
Date :  19th  CE
Material : Brass
Origin : India

Ancient Manuscript Review 185 : Antique Torah Judaism Book ( 1846 CE)

This is a lithographed Judaism book, Thora Tom. II. Printed in Hebrew language. I bought this book in Istanbul.This Torah was used by Jewish community in Turkey. Covers made of textile wrapped around hard boards though the spine is made of leather. This book is pocket size of 120mm x100mm.This book is dated 1846 CE and was printed in Vienna.


Codicology

Title Page : Thora Tom. II

Content    :  Old Testament

Date         : 1846 CE

Copyist    :

Patron      :

Origin      : Vienna

Place acquired :Vienna

Illuminations : Nil

Calligraphy : Hebrew script

Number of lines :21 lines per page

Inks          : Main text in black

Punctuation: Nil

Frame       :  Nil

History of Manuscript : Purchased from antique store in Istanbul

Number of folios : 216 ff

Support of writing : light yellowish European paper

Gatherings : N/A

Catchwords : nil

Dimensions : 120cm x 100 cm

Binding   : textile wrapped on hard board

Estimated Market Price :

Purchased Price : USD

Remarks :

Ancient Coin Review 102 : Antique Spanish Coin ( Pirate cob) from Ferdinand & Isabella reign ( 1474-1504 CE) : The Spanish Expulsion

This is a coin from the era of King Ferdinand & Isabella reigning Spain from 1469 - 1504 CE.
These are infamous royal couple who drove Muslim out of Spain in the 15th Century.

Below is an excerpt from Al-Islam on the fall of the last stronghold of Andalusia in Spain:
 

1491 is the date for the Castilian and Aragonese seizure of Granada, on the 2nd of January, ten months before Christopher Columbus "discovered" America (or was it the Bahamas, and the Caribbean coast) certainly not the United States as we know them today). Much water has flowed under our bridges since then and into the broad Atlantic that Columbus and his three ships crossed that same year.
The city and kingdom of Granada in south-eastern Spain represented Islam's last stronghold on the Iberian peninsula. Washington Irving (no kin of mine, but an excellent writer) during his service of the United States legation in Madrid, interested himself in this period of Spanish history, and rescued the Alhambra from the horde of gypsies he found encamped there. Then in Lindaraja, the beautiful two‑windowed room overlooking the courtyard and city, he wrote his Tales from the Alhambra and went on to chronicle that fascinating period in Spanish history. He also wrote an excellent biography or Sirah of the Prophet that we should rescue today from the strange spellings of that early age of Orientalism.
The Treaty of Granada, which had been drawn up in the previous year, 1491, between representatives of the crowns of Castile, Aragon and Granada, conceded this last city and its kingdom to Castile. In this treaty, the Granadines were guaranteed their religious liberty. The Philadelphia Quaker Henry Lea has written on the subsequent history when that solemn treaty was broken by a Catholic churchman, Cardinal Francisco Xhnenez de Cisneros.
At the end of the 15th century, the five kingdoms of the Iberian peninsula, or what we now call Spain and Portugal, were: Castile, Aragon, Granada, Navarre and Portugal. Aragon actually had three capital cities, two of which, Valencia, and Zaragoza, were known for their active Muslim citizenry. Barcelona in Catalonia, was not so famous, although it is named after Hannibal's uncle Hamilcar Barca and his family, another Semitic influence that left this place name on the Peninsula. Navarre, south of the Pyrenees, was taken by Ferdinand of Aragon in 1512.
1610 and not 1492 should be our cut‑off date for Muslim power in Spain, even though that last century and a quarter saw Islam in clear decline, fighting a losing, rearguard action. We need rather to follow the fate of the remaining Spanish Muslims, not only in the defeated king­dom of Granada, but also in Castile, Aragon and Valencia, where talented and industrious Mudejar artisans were active.

Below is an excerpt from Forum Ancient Coin about these king and Queen
  
Ferdinand and Isabella
Ferdinand V, called The Catholic (1452-1516), King of Castile (1474-1504); as Ferdinand II he was also King of Sicily (1468-1516) and of Aragón (1479-1516); as Ferdinand III, King of Naples (1504-1516). He was the son of King John II of Aragón.

Isabella I (1451-1504), Queen of Castile, called la Católica ("the Catholic"). She was the daughter of John II of Castile and León by his second wife, Isabella of Portugal.

The union of the Spanish kingdoms of Aragón and Castile was effected in 1469 by Ferdinand's marriage to his cousin Isabella I, Queen of Castile. Ferdinand had hoped by this alliance to obtain the Castilian crown for himself, but his high-spirited and politically astute wife firmly retained sovereign authority in her own realm.

Ferdinand and Isabella took steps to curb the power of the nobles, organising the Santa Hermandad, or Holy Brotherhood, a kind of national military police. Insistence on religious conformity was one of their basic policies. In 1478 a bull issued by Pope Sixtus IV empowered the king and queen to appoint three inquisitors to deal with heretics and other offenders against the church; this marked the beginning of the Spanish Inquisition.

The year 1492 opened with the conquest of Granada, which marked the victorious conclusion of the long struggle against the Moors. In August Christopher Columbus, sponsored by Ferdinand and Isabella, set sail from the small Spanish seaport of Palos on his epoch-making voyage to America, which was the first step in the creation of the Spanish overseas colonial empire. In 1493, by the terms of a treaty between Spain and France, Ferdinand recovered from King Charles VIII of France the ancient province of Roussillon (now forming the French department of the Pyrénées-Orientales), which Ferdinand's father had mortgaged to King Louis XI of France.

Because his daughter Joanna the Mad became insane after the death of Isabella in 1504, Ferdinand assumed the regency of Castile in 1506. He joined the League of Cambrai against the republic of Venice in 1508, and conquered Oran and Tripoli on the North African coast in 1509. He annexed the kingdom of Navarre in 1512, thereby extending the borders of Spain from the Pyrenees to the Rock of Gibraltar. Ferdinand was in many ways a competent ruler. He was succeeded by his grandson Charles (Holy Roman Emperor Charles V). 


 
Coin Spec :

Obverse : "I" monogram " REX ET REGINA CASTILE"
Reverse : "F" monogram " FERDINANDVS ET HGL ISABELLA"
Weight : 0.84gm
Diam : 18mm
Denom : Billon Blanc
Metal : AE
Year : 1474 - 1504 CE
Mint : Granada
Rarity :
Purchased Price : USD
Ref :  

Ancient Manuscript Review 184 : Antique African Islamic Magical Amulet / Tuareg Gris Gris ( 19th century)

 

This is an amulet or gris-gris from Africa contains series of squares & numbers based on Quranic verses. This manuscript has each magical square representing each surah in the Quran ( total 114 Surah). It is originated from Niger Africa of Tuareg ethnic. The Tuareg, are a nomadic culture of Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Mali. The pouch is 7" by 5" in dimension and weighs 74gm.

 

 I really dont know what is the purpose of this amulet and what can this amulet do. But from the Wiki, below is the excerpt :

 

"A gris-gris is formed in a small, leather pouch which is usually etched with verses from the Qur'an. Inside the pouch are engravings specially tailored to the wearer. The pouch is then sprinkled with blessed water while an incantation is recited.The ceremony is traditionally conducted over an altar with a burning candle being present.The ingredients of the gris-gris number one, three, five, seven, nine or thirteen.Sometimes stones and other items with occult-meanings are added to the pouch. There will often be a doll symbolising the wearer also attached to the pouch.^"

 

 The amulet is sealed however I believed it contains similar amulet as in my other amulet in previous entry below :

African Amulet

 

 

Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique  Africa Magical Amulet / Talisman / Gris-gris
Content : A complete amulet based on a complete Quran
Dim : 16.0cm x 10.0cm x 1.0cm
Date : 18th century
Copyist : anonymous
Origin :  Africa
Calligraphy : Sudani
Design : Magical Square with numbers
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Artifact Review 67 : Antique Malay Bugis Silver Modesty Disc / Pubic Cover / Caping 19th Century CE

This is a modesty disc or known as Caping or Chaping originated from Sulawesi Island of Bugis tribe. It is worn to cover a boy or a girl private part especially a toddler.Its widely used in the past by Muslim Bugis children. Caping is made either from gold, silver or brass depending on the children family social status. The usage of caping is believed to spiritually guard the child from evil spirits and harmful forces.

This modesty disc/plate is believed originated from Hindu influence from India. Sri Vijaya & Majapahit are ancient Hindu empires controlling South East Asia from 7th  -14th Century CE.
However there is a record that this pubic cover is also widely used in other part of the world and by a female adult. In South America it is called "Tanga", made of ceramic. The cover used by the aboriginal in Australiamade of pearlshell and is called riji, jakuli or longkalongka.


Compare this Caping with my other Caping from Malaysia at :
Malay Caping

The caping in my possession is made of silver and believed from 19th century CE.
Measured at 3 in x 3 in

"Capings are heart-shaped plates that were used by Malays as a substitute for clothing and were worn suspended by chains mostly by infants girls and sometimes by small boys. They tended to be made from different materials according to the ranks of the wearers. Gold was reserved for the nobility, silver for dignitaries, and plates made of brass, copper or coconut shell for commoners. Babies tended to wear capings once they could stand, something that was often accompanied by a simple ceremony." 
( Ref: Kassim Haji Ali, M., Caping: Modesty Disc, Museum Association of Malaysia, 1983.)

Book review 16 : Hat Ve Tezhip Sanatı ( The Art of Calligraphy & Illumination) - T.C. Kultur Ve Turizm Bakanligi

Book Info :

Title : Hat Ve Tezhip Sanatı  ( The Art of Calligraphy & Illumination)
Editor : Ali Riza Ozcan
Publisher : T.C. Kultur Ve Turizm Bakanligi
Printer : YAPIM
Pages : 537 pages
ISBN : 978-975-17-3470-9

Review :

This is a thick book measuring 12" x 10" x 1.75" as well as one of the most important books for those who wants to dig further the art history of calligraphy and illumination. This book is written entirely in Turkish language and compiled of more than 30 articles and research papers written by Turkish experts. The book is divided into 2 parts. The first part details on the history of Arabic calligraphy and its evolution especially in hte Ottoman world. The second part of this book covers extensively on the art of illumination. . Almost 70% of the content filled with beautiful colorful pictures of calligraphy & illumination works of Ottoman calligraphers. Useful book for my reference. I purchased this book in Istanbul in 2010 for TL150.

Ancient Coin Review 101 : Antique Gold Mas Coin Sultan Abdullah I ( Samudra Pasai Sultanate 1379-1400 CE)

This is a gold coin from Sultan Abdullah era of Samudra Pasai Sultanate. He reigned Samudra Pasai from 1379 CE to 1400 CE.

Looking at the Arabic calligraphy used, its quite tricky as the calligraphy is compressed to fit on the coin face. However it has the resemblance to Thuluth & Sini. Or probably this is how Malay calligraphy was derived.

Obverse : عبدالله ملك الطاهر    
                 Abdallah Malik AtTahir
Reverse : السلطان العادل
                AsSultan Al Adil

Pasai, also known as Samudera and Samudera-Pasai sometimes called Samudera Darussalam was a Muslim harbour kingdom on the north coast of Sumatra from the 13th to the 15th centuries CE. It was believed the word Samudera derived from Samudra meaning ocean in Sanskrit. According to Hikayat Raja-raja Pasai, it was said Merah Silu saw an ant as big as a cat, he caught it and ate it and he named the place Samandara. King Merah Silu later converted to Islam, known as Malik ul Salih, he was the sultan in year 1267 CE.

Obverse : عبدالله ملك الطاهر    
                 Abdallah Malik AtTahir
Reverse : السلطان العادل
                AsSultan Al Adil
Weight : 0.62 gm
Dim : 14mm
Date : 1379 - 1400 CE
Rarity :
Denom : Mas
Material : Gold
Reference : ٍSP9b type 2 pg 153 ( Jaarboek Voor Munt-en Penningkunde)

Ancient Manuscript Review 183 : Antique Ottoman Era document / Letter ( 18-19th century)

This is a document written in old Turkish. The document was originally folded and sealed. I couldn't figure out what type of document this is. It could be a legal document or a personal ones. It could be from 18-19th century based on similar dated documents that came with it.  It is written in Riqaah script in black.
I don't have much information of this kind of manuscript and its writing tradition. I need to do more research on this manuscript and will update this entry later. I welcome any feedback on this letter.

My other similar document is in below link
Ottoman Letter 01
Ottoman Letter 02

Manuscript Specs

Item : Ottoman document
Content :  Unknown
Dim : 12" x 8.5"
Date : 18-19th century
Copyist : indechiperable
Origin :  Turkey
Calligraphy : Riqaah
Design :
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Coin Review 100 : Antique Gold Dinar Coin dated 152AH of Caliph Al Mansur Ibn Muhammad (754 - 775 CE)

This is a coin from the rule of Caliph Al Mansur Ibn Muhammad, though the 2nd Abbasid Ruler, he generally regarded as the founder of Abbasid Caliphate. He reigned the Caliphate from 754CE-775CE ( 136-158AH)
The coin is made of pure gold and dated 152 AH.
It is customary of Abbasid Caliphs not to inscribe their names on their coins (similar to Umayyad's) as well as their minting places. The coins would have been minted wherever the Caliph is based. According to Historians, Al Mansur shifted his capital city to Baghdad which is known as Madinat As Salam in 762 CE.
Since this Dinar is dated 152 AH ( 769 CE), hence we could safely assume this coin was minted in Madinat As Salam. In addition to that, there is a Dirham struck in the same year with the mint name Madinat As Salam.

This dinar was inscribed with the first statement of the kalima, “No god but God, unique, He has no associate” in the centre, whereas the margin was inscribed verse 33 of Qur’an Sura 9, “Muhammad is the messenger of God who sent him with guidance and the religion of truth that he might make it supreme over all other religions”On the reverse was inscribed the second statement of the kalima, “Muhammad is the messenger of God”, with the denomination and date in the margin.
This Dinar was inscribed with Kufi calligraphy on both sides.

Coin Specs

Item : Dinar of Caliph Al Mansur Ibn Muhammad
Obv :                                       In Margin
                                        محمد رسول الله ارسله 
                          بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره
                                 على الدين كله

 muhammad rasul allah arsalahu bi’l-huda wa din al-haqq li-yuzhirahu ‘ala al-din kullihi
“Muhammad is the messenger of God who sent him with guidance and the religion of truth that he might make it supreme over all other religions”
Sura 9 (al-Tawba), v. 33 (partial)
                                                 In Centre
                                              لا اله الا
                                             الله وحده
                                            لا شرك له                         
                        la ilah illa / allah wahdahu / la sharik lahu
             "There is no God except Allah. (There is) no partner to him." (Kalima) 

Rev :                                      In Margin 

                                      بسم الله ضرب هذا الدنر  
                                  سنة اثنتين و خمسين و مية
bism allah duriba hadha’l-dinar sana isnin wa khamsin wa mi’a
“in the name of God this dinar was struck the year two and fifty and one hundred”
                                               In Centre
                                        محمد رسول الله                   
                      "Mohammed the messenger of Allah" 

Date : 152 AH (769 CE)
Dim :18 mm
Weight : 3.76gm
Denom : Dinar
Metal : AV  ( Gold)
Mint : Madinat Salam
Rarity : C
Purchased Price : USD

Read on below excerpt about Caliph Al Mansur from the WIKI :

Al-Mansur was born at the home of the 'Abbasid family after their emigration from the Hejaz in 95 AH (714 CE). "His father, Muhammad, was reputedly a great-grandson of Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, the youngest uncle of Mohammad; his mother, as described in the 14th-century Moroccan historical work Rawd al-Qirtas was one Sallama, "a Berber woman given to his father." He reigned from Dhu al-Hijjah 136 AH until Dhu al-Hijjah 158 AH (754 CE – 775 CE). In 762 he founded as new imperial residence and palace city Madinat as-Salam (the city of peace), which became the core of the Imperial capital Baghdad.
During his reign, Islamic literature and scholarship in the Islamic world began to emerge in full force, supported by the Abbasid promotion of scholarly research, best exemplified by the Abbasid-sponsored Translation Movement. It was under al-Mansur that a committee, mostly made up of Syriac-speaking Christians, was set up in Baghdad with the purpose of translating extant Greek works into Arabic. Due to the Abbasid's orientation toward the East, many Persians came to play a crucial role in the Empire, both culturally as well as politically. This was in contrast to the preceding Umayyad era, in which non-Arabs were kept out of these affairs. Shu'ubiya emerged at this time, due to the rising of Iranian autonomy; it was a literary movement among Persians which expressed their belief in the superiority of Persian art and culture, and catalyzed the emergence of Arab-Persian dialogues in the 9th century CE.
In 756, al-Mansur sent over 4,000 Arab mercenaries to assist the Chinese in the An Shi Rebellion against An Lushan; after the war, they remained in China. Al-Mansur was referred to as "A-p'u-ch'a-fo" in the Chinese T'ang Annals^.
Al-Mansur died in 775 on his way to Mecca to make hajj. He was buried somewhere along the way in one of hundreds of graves dug in order to hide his body from the Umayyads. He was succeeded by his son, al-Mahdi.
According to a number of sources, Abu Hanifa an-Nu'man (who founded a school of jurisprudence) was imprisoned by al-Mansur. Malik ibn Anas, the founder of another school, was flogged during his rule, but al-Mansur himself did not condone this – in fact, it was his cousin, the governor of Madinah at the time, who ordered it (and was punished for doing so).

Book Review 15 : Misquoting Jesus : The story behind who changed the Bible and why, by Bart D. Ehrman

I purchased this book from Australia in 2009. Another controversial & revealing book from Bart D. Ehrman. Definitely recommend everyone to buy and read it.

Title : Misquoting Jesus
Author : Bart D. Ehrman
ISBN : 9780060859510
Purchased price : AUD26.99


In this book, Bart Ehrman unravels the truth behind mistakes and changes in the Bible especially in the King James Bible.
The author has successfully pointed out evidences of the alleged contamination from the beginning of the original manuscripts were copied till the current copies that are being used by the Christians all over the world. According to him "the original manuscripts were inspired, but the reality is that we don't have the original manuscripts. We don't even have the first copies of the originals, or don't have copies of the copies of the originals, or copies of the copies of the copies of the originals"
The fact is that all the earliest manuscripts that came to our hands where the Christianity is based upon are the not the original manuscripts that were copied by Jesus pbuh disciples. The 4 accepted canonical gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke & John were assumed or attributed vaguely to these 4 disciples but they were not written by them. Christian scholars are very curious what the original words are and try to reconstruct the bible. Whatever the final product is, it will never replace the original manuscript.
During and after Jesus departed from this world, most Christians and Jews were illiterate. The author alleged Paul has used his literacy as highly educated Jews to convince pagans especially in Eastern Mediterranean about Chris's death and other doctrines. Later these letters were tampered by false teachers.
There are a few records in antiquity about discrepancies in Gospel copies.Such reports were made by prominent priest and bishops like Origen, Celsus and Dionysius.
The author also pointed out some chapter and verses were intentionally added to the Gospel such as in Ch 12, 1:1-18, 7:53-8:12 in Gospel John and last 12 verses & 16:9-20 in Gospel Mark.
In 1707, an independent scholar revealed a shocking findings by announcing 30,000 error places in Greek Bible translation from Steplanus.
There were efforts recorded in the past to rectify the Bible content but didn't make it to the final product.
The current Christianity was shaped after the conversion of Emperor Constantine into Christian and made the religion official by decreeing some gospels to be accepted as Canonical which he deemed supported his belief which is still clinging to some sort of Paganism.
Prior to the decree, there were some Christian groups who deemed Jesus as human and not divine. One of this groups is called Ebionites who insisted a Jew must be circumcised and followers of Moses law. They believed Jesus was born of Mary and Joseph and Jesus is adoptive son of God and died on cross.
Unfortunately after this Nicea Decree, all other groups were made illegal and prosecuted. Only one remained which is the official sect of Byzantine Empire, the Proto-orthodox which revered Jesus as Divine.

Ancient Manuscript Review 182 : Antique Album of Flowers from the Holy Land Jerusalem - Editor N. De Simini ( more than 100 years old)

This is a rare antique album of real pressed flowers collected from 12 important places in Jerusalem.
The flowers and leaves are arranged beautifully on captioned card and have been well preserved for more than 100 years.
The album is cloth bound with covers made of thick polished olive wood and spine of cloth.
The album is supposed to be open from the left cover where the image of Dome of the Rock is engraved.
The editor of this album is N. De Simini from Jerusalem
In contrary to my previous flowers album, this album is arranged with printed chromolithographs showing different scenes in Jerusalem. Each lithograph is described with captions in Spanish, Arabic, English, French, German, Russian, and Greek, on the reverse of each plate is a design composed of small parts of pressed flowers. Most of the tissue guards which separated the lithograph and the flower were missing.
Green cloth spine with titling in English and French,
Flowers from the Holy Land
Fleurs et vues de la Terre Sainte

Each plate is captioned in Spanish, Arabic, English, French, German, Russian, and Greek.
The titles of the plates are :
1) Jerusalem from the Mount Olives
2) View of the Mount of Zion
3) Jaffa Gate
4) Pulpit of Omar
5) Valley of Jehosaphat
6) Garden of Gethsemane
7) Mount of Olives
8) Rachel's tomb
9) Christmas day in Bethlehem
10) Jericho General View
11) The River Jordan
12) Tiberias from the lake

Album measures 3 1/2 x 5  inches and is in excellent condition with only light surface wear .
The last plate doesn't come with pressed flowers. I am not sure if it was intentional or the pressed floweres were missing.
Check my other flowers album below :
Flowers Album Jerusalem