Ancient Manuscript Review 87 : Antique & Rare Etiopian Quran (18-19th century)

 

In this lot, there are 5 different Etiopia manuscripts of the same Quran Juz i.e the Juz 14. It is interesting to see by comparison how this manuscript codicology differs. In general these manuscripts are binded by leather probably goat's and the finishing was executed in a rough manner. Some of these covers were plainly embossed and with flaps.

The writing material used for all of these manuscripts are paper of western type. Unlike Ottoman Quran, there is no system of prescribing quantity of written lines per page and quantity of folios. In a typical Ottoman Quran, we could always find written lines of 15 per page and a total of 10 folios per juz. Whereas in these Etiopian manuscripts, some manuscripts were written in 9 lines per page and others 11 lines per page, 19 folios & 25 folios respectively.

There is no illumination or motive throughout this manuscript except on the first juz ( which I will post on next entry, Insyallah). Calligraphy written in black with some in red especially on the diacritical note and heading.

For time being I will categorize the calligraphy executed in this manuscripts as Sudani however I still need to do more research about this type of calligraphy. It looks like in between Sudani & Somali calligraphy but definitely stemmed from a Maghribi style. No pages are missing. 

These manuscripts are believed to have been written from 18-19th century. So far I havent found any date on these manuscripts except some ownership notes from the owner detailing the purpose of the writing of this manuscript especially for waqf. I am still waiting subsequent shipment of similar manuscripts from Etiopia and I hope at least one of the manuscripts is dated.

This is a very rare acquisition because we dont see many Etiopian Quran in the market or in international hands. I am blessed to have acquired this manuscript from a friend in Etiopia recently.

Check below links to compare with Somali & Sudani Quran :

Somalia Quran    
Sudani Quran


Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Etiopia Quran
Manuscript Content : Juz 14 of Quran
Dim : 18 cm x 13 cm x 2 cm
Date : 18-19th century
Copyist : anonymous
Origin : Etiopia
Calligraphy : Sudani??
Design : Written in Sudani scripts in black
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Coin Review 56 : Mehmet Fateh aka Mehmet The Conqueror ( Ottoman Caliphate 1451-1481 CE)

This is a silver akche coin from the reign of Sultan Mehmed II also known as Mehmed the Conqueror of the Ottoman. He is the Sultan who finally ended the Byzantine Empire with the capture of Constantinople in 1453 CE.

Byname MEHMED FATIH (Turkish: Mehmed the Conqueror) (b. March 30, 1432, Adrianople, Thrace, Ottoman Empire--d. May 3, 1481, Hunkârçayiri, near Maltepe, near Constantinople), Ottoman sultan from 1444 to 1446 and from 1451 to 1481. A great military leader, he captured Constantinopleand conquered the territories in Anatolia and the Balkans that comprised the Ottoman Empire's heartland for the next four centuries.

His father, Murad II, abdicated in his favour when Mehmed was 12 but reclaimed the throne two years later in the aftermath of a Christian Crusade. Mehmed regained the throne when his father died (1451) and began to plan the conquest of Constantinople (Istanbul), the feat for which he is most renowned. In 1453 he captured the city and undertook returning it to its previous level of grandeur. In the next 25 years he conquered large sections of the Balkans. Under his reign, criminal and civil laws were codified in one body of law; he collected a library of Greek and Latin works and had eight colleges built.

Coin Specs

Item : Silver akche of Caliph Mehmed II
Obv : TBA
Rev : TBA
Weight : 0.92gm
Diam : 15mm
Denom : Akche
Metal : AR
Year : TBA
Mint : Istanbul
Rarity :
Purchased Price : USD

Ancient Manuscript Review 86 : Antique Etiopia Quran (18-19th century)

 

This is a beautifully written Quran manuscript originated from Etiopia. Its believed to have been written in 18-19th century. This manuscript is written in Sudanese type calligraphy in black ink on western paper 11 lines to a page. I still need to do more research about this type of calligraphy. It looks in between Sudani & Somali calligraphy but definitely stemmed from Maghribi style.Brown leather binding beautifully embossed in a middle with a flap.No pages are missing. The borders of the pages are ruled with double line red . This is just a juz from a Quran. This is a very rare acquisition because we dont see many Etiopian Quran in the market or in international hands. I am blessed to have acquired this manuscript. I acquired this manuscript from a friend in Etiopia recently.

Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Etiopia Quran
Manuscript Content : Juz 15 of Quran
Dim : 16 cm x 12.5 cm x 2 cm
Date : 18-19th century
Copyist : anonymous
Origin : Etiopia
Calligraphy : Sudani??
Design : Written in Sudani scripts in black
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Coin Review 55 : Sultan Mustafa III Bin Ahmad ( Ottoman Sultanate 1757-1774 CE)

This is a silver coin from the reign of Sultan Mustafa III Bin Sultan Ahmad of the Ottoman. Its dated 1171 AH. I purchased this coin during my visit to Istanbul few years ago.

Below is a brief history of this Sultan from Wiki :

Mustafa III (Ottoman Turkish: مصطفى ثالث Muṣṭafā-yi sālis) (January 28/18, 1717 – January 21, 1774) was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1757 to 1774. He was a son of Sultan Ahmed III (1703–30) and was succeeded by his brother Abdul Hamid I (1774–89). He was born in Edirne. His mother was Âminā Mihr-î-Mâh Sultan.

An energetic and perceptive ruler, Mustafa III sought to modernize the army and the internal state machinery to bring his empire in line with the Powers of Europe.

Unfortunately the Ottoman state had declined so far that any general attempts at modernization were but a drop in the ocean, while any major plans to change the administrative status quo immediately roused the conservative Janissaries and imams to the point of rebellion. Mustafa III did secure the services of foreign generals to initiate a reform of the infantry and artillery. The Sultan also ordered the founding of Academies for Mathematics, Navigation and the Sciences.

Well aware of his own military weakness, Mustafa III assiduously avoided war and was powerless to prevent the annexation of the Crimea by Catherine II of Russia (1762–96). However this action, combined with further Russian aggression in Poland compelled Mustafa III to declare war on Russia shortly before his death.

He died at Topkapi Palace, Constantinople.

Mustafa married Valide Sultan Mihrişah (Mihr-i shah, originally from Genoa), and had two sons: Selim, son of Mihrişah (Mihr-i shah) and Mohammed. He also had five daughters, among them Hatice Sultan.

Coin Specs

Item : Silver Para of Caliph Mustafa III
Obv : Darab Fi Istanbul 1171 AH ( 1757 CE)
Rev : Sultan Mustafa Bin Ahmad
Weight : 0.39gm
Diam : 15mm
Denom : Para
Metal : AR
Year : 1171 AH ( 1757 CE)
Mint : Istanbul
Rarity :
Purchased Price : USD

Ancient Coin Review 54 : Yazid Ibn Abdul Malik ( Umayyad Caliphate 720-724 CE )

This is a silver coin struck during the time of Yazid II reign of Ummayad Sultanate.Yazid II is the 9th Caliph of the Umayyad.It was minted in Wasit in 105 AH ( 724 CE).

Below is an excerpt from Wiki about this Caliph :

Yazid bin Abd al-Malik or Yazid II (687 – 26 January 724) (Arabic: يزيد بن عبد الملك‎) was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 720 until his death in 724.
According to the medieval Persian historian Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Yazid came to power on the death of Umar II on February 10, 720.^[1] His forces engaged in battle the Kharijites with whom Umar had been negotiating. After initial setbacks, Yazid's troops prevailed and the Kharijite leader Shawdhab was killed. Yazid ibn al-Muhallab had escaped confinement on the death of Umar. He made his way to Iraq. There he was much supported. He refused to acknowledge Yazid II as caliph and led a very serious uprising. Initially successful, he was defeated and killed by the forces of Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik.
Numerous civil wars began to break out in different parts of the empire such as in the Al Andalus (the Iberian Peninsula), North Africa and in the east. In A.H. 102 (720-721) in Ifriqiyah, the harsh governor Yazid ibn Muslim was overthrown and Muhammad ibn Yazid, the former governor, restored to power. The caliph accepted this and confirmed Muhammad ibn Yazid as governor of Ifriqiyah.
Al-Djarrah ibn Abdullah, Yazid's governor in Armenia and Azerbaijan, pushed into the Caucasus, taking Balanjar in A.H. 104 (722-723). That same year Yazid's governor in Medina, Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Dahhak, incurred the caliph's displeasure because the governor was exerting undue pressure trying to force a woman to marry him. She appealed to Yazid who replaced Abd al-Rahman with Abd al-Walid ibn Abdallah.^[2]
The Byzantine chronicler Theophanes the Confessor^[3] states that a wizard advised Yazid that he would reign for forty years, if he opposed Christian icons. Yazid did so, but died the same year he issued his iconoclastic decree. Anti-Umayyad groups began to gain power among the disaffected. Al-Tabari records that Abbasids were promoting their cause in A.H. 102 (720-721). They were already building a power base that they would later use to topple the Umayyads in CE 750.
An anecdote told of Yazid is that his wife Sudah learning he was pining for an expensive slave girl, purchased this slave girl and presented her to Yazid as a gift. This woman's name was Hababah and she predeceased Yazid (at Tabari v. 24, p. 196).
Yazid II died in 724 of tuberculosis. He was succeeded by his brother Hisham.
The coin is minted during the era Yazid Al Malik( 101-105AH : 687-724 CE)


Coin Specs

Item : Dirham of Caliph Yazid bin Abdul Malik
Obv : La Ila Hailallah Wahdahu La Syarakallah
          Bismillah Darab Hazal Dirham Bi Wasit Sanah Khamsa Wa Miah
Rev : Allahu Ahad Allahu Samad Lam Yalid Walam Yulad Walam Yakulahu Kufuan Ahad
         Muhammad Rasulullah Arsalahu Bil Huda Wadinil Haq Liyazharhu ala Din Kuluhu walaukarihal Mushrikun
Weight : 2.66gm
Diam : 25mm
Denom : Dirham
Metal : AR
Year : 105 AH ( 724 CE)
Mint : Wasit
Rarity :
Purchased Price : USD

Ancient Manuscript Review 85 : Antique Bengali Hindu Manuscript (18-19th century)

This is a very interesting type of manuscript. The origin of this manuscript is Dhaka, Bangladesh. The script is called abugida, and written in Bengali language on thin papers both sided sandwiched by 2 hard boards.
I dont have much information of this kind of manuscript & its writing tradition. Below are excerpts from Wiki :

The Bengali alphabet (Bengali: বাংলা লিপি bangla lipi or Bengali: বাংলা হরফ bangla horof) is the writing system for the Bengali language. The script with variations is shared by Assamese and is basis for Meitei, Bishnupriya Manipuri, Kokborok, Garo and Mundari alphabets. All these languages are spoken in the eastern region of South Asia. Historically, the script has also been used to write the Sanskrit language in the same region. From a classificatory point of view, the Bengali script is an abugida, i.e. its vowel graphemes are mainly realized not as independent letters, but as diacritics attached to its consonant letters. It is written from left to right and lacks distinct letter cases. It is recognizable by a distinctive horizontal line running along the tops of the letters that links them together, a property it shares with two other popular Indian scripts: Devanagari (used for Hindi, Marathi and Nepali) and Gurumukhi (used for Punjabi). The Bengali script is, however, less blocky and presents a more sinuous shape.
The Bengali script evolved from the Siddham, which belongs to the Brahmic family of scripts, along with the Devanagari and other written systems of the Indian subcontinent. In addition to differences in how the letters are pronounced in the different languages, there are some typographical differences between the version of the script used for Assamese and Bishnupriya Manipuri as well as Maithili languages, and that used for Bengali and other languages.


Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Bengali Hindu Manuscript
Content : Hindu Ritual
Dim : 10" x 3" x 0.5"
Date : 18-19th century
Copyist : anonymous
Origin : Bangladesh
Calligraphy : Abugida
Design : Written in Abugida scripts in black in Bengali language
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Manuscript Review 84 : Antique Malay Quran Manuscript ( 19th Century)

 

This is a beautifully written Quran manuscript originated from South East Asia. Its believed to have been written in 18-19th century. This manuscript is written in Malay-Naskh calligraphy in black ink on Dutch beige paper 15 lines to a page. Black leather binding beautifully embossed in a floral design.Some pages are missing, water stained and torn with fraying edges.All headings are written in red with every “ ayaah” or verses are separated by small red circle. The borders of the pages are ruled with red ( inset) and black ( outset).About 200+ leaves ( 400+ pages). I acquired this manuscript from a friend in Indonesia quite a while ago.

Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Malay Quran
Manuscript Content : Quran
Dim : 33 cm x 21 cm x 3 cm
Date : 18-19th century
Copyist : anonymous
Origin : South East Asia
Calligraphy : Malay - Naskh
Design : Written in Malay-Naskh scripts in red & black
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Manuscript Review 83 : Antique Malay Fiqh Manuscript ( 19th Century)

 

This is a handwritten manuscript originated from Indonesia. No title on this manuscript. The content is about Islamic Fiqh and written in Arabic language. Pages condition are bad with water stained, burrowed and some torn leaves. The cover is of brown leather embossed in a floral design. Written in black Naskhi script on beige Dutch paper, with particular words in red ink, interlinear with Javanese translation. No colophone however the manuscript could have been written either late 18th century or early 19th century.181 leaves ( 362 pages) with no missing pages.

Manuscript Specs
Item : Antique Malay Manuscript
Manuscript Content : Islamic Fiqh ( Jurisprudence)
Dim : 340mm x 220mm x50mm
Date : 19th century
Copyist : anonymous
Origin : Indonesia
Calligraphy : Malay - Naskh
Design : Written in Malay-Naskh scripts in black in Arabic
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Manuscript Review 82 : Antique Malay Javanese Manuscript ( 19th Century)

 

This is a handwritten manuscript originated from Indonesia. No title on this manuscript however I believe it's about the life & prophethood of Prophet Muhammad ( SAW) and written in Javanese language. First few pages were damaged due to termites. The cover is of black leather embossed in a floral design with a flap. The writing material used is Western paper. No colophone however there are a written note indicating the owner was Haji Muhammad Amin Bin Haji Abdullah dated 1331 AH ( 1912 AD). The manuscript could have been written either late 18th century or slightly after 19th century. There was also a sheet of paper pasted at the back cover written in Javanese with date 1907 AD I presumed a receipt  of this manuscript purchase.No copyist name mentioned.

Manuscript Specs
Item : Antique Javanese Manuscript
Manuscript Content : The story of the Prophet Muhammad
Dim : 220mm x 170mm x60mm
Date : 19th century
Copyist : anonymous
Origin :  Indonesia
Calligraphy : Malay Javanese
Design : Written in Malay scripts in black in Javanese
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Coin Review 53 : Sultanah Kamalat Shah ( Aceh Sultanate 1688-1699 CE)

This is a gold coin from Sultanah Kamalat Shah era. She is the fourth female to be throned in Aceh She reigned Aceh from 1688 - 1699 CE.
After protests from people who wanted a male sultan, especially after a fatwa from a Kadi in Mecca  stating that a woman as a head of state is in conflict with the laws of Islam, she was desposed in October 1699.

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: Zakiat Ad Din Berdaulat Shah
Rev: Paduka Sri Sultanah Kamalat Shah
Weight : 0.59 gm
Dim : 14mm
Date : 1688 - 1699 CE
Rarity :
Denom : Mas
Material : Gold
Reference : A 20 pg 179 ( Jaarboek Voor Munt-en Penningkunde)

Ancient Manuscript Review 81 : Antique Ottoman Arabic Grammar Manuscript ( 1007 AH)

This is a manuscript on Arabic grammar. It was written on laid paper. It's  dated 1007AH ( 1599 CE) & copied by Ibrahim Bin Ahmad. Covers are made of brown leather with marble paper.

Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Ottoman  manuscript
Content : Arabic Grammar
Dim : 8.5" x 6" x 0.5"
Date : 1007 AH ( 1599 CE)
Copyist : Ibrahim Bin Ahmad
Origin : Turkey
Calligraphy : Naskh
Design : Written in Naskh scripts in black in Arabic
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Manuscript Review 80 : Antique Ottoman Turkish prayers & Qasidah ( 1338AH)

This is a small manuscript of collection of prayers & Qasidah. It is written on seemingly note book paper. There are few dates on this manuscript on every completion of prayers or Qasidah however the earliest one dated 1338AH ( 1919 CE). Covers are made of brown leather with a flap.

Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Turkish prayer manuscript
Content : Prayers & Qasidah
Dim : 4" x 3.5" x 0.5"
Date : 19th-20th century
Copyist : anonymous
Origin : Turkey
Calligraphy : Naskh
Design : Written in Naskh scripts in black in Arabic
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Artifact Review 14 : Antique Malay Beduk / Tabuh / Keraton

 This is a traditional malay wooden bell or tabuh / beduk/ keraton hanged usually under the mosque  roof eaves beam or truss. This beduk is struck with a piece of wood to create a loud sound to remind the Muslim the prayer time, Iftar time,  and sometimes any Islamic event taking place in the mosque.
Nowadays most of the mosques have utilized the speaker system hence this tradition of striking the beduk is being abandoned. A few of them still have the beduk but only in use during Ramadhan or Eid.
This beduk was a gift from my brother in law who acquired it from his village. The age of this beduk is at least 50 years old.
Its length is about 3.5 feet & 1 ft in width. There is a vertical opening about 2 feet at the middle of this wooden bell to create the sound when bell is struck. I couldnt tell from which tree this beduk was made.

Antique Manuscript Review 79 : Antique Kawi Manuscript ( 19th century)

This is a very interesting type of manuscript. The origin of this manuscript is Bali island, Indonesia. The script is called abugida, a derivation of old kawi script was written on "lontar" leaf.
Lontar leaf derives from the palmyra species of palm, Borassus flabellifer, which is common in Indonesia. In Balinese, the palmyra palm is named "tal" ( deriving from "tala", the sanskrit name for the talipot palm), and this is reflected in the term "lontar", which is an inversion of the word "rontal" meaning "leaf" (ron) of the "tal tree" (tal).
Both sides of lontar leaf provide a writing surface. An iron stylus called a pangutik is used to inscribe the writings on the leaf surface.
I dont have any information about the content of this lontar manuscript but I believe its about the beliefs and ritual laws of Balinese.
Each leaf is 16" in length and 1" in width. There are total of 37 leaves and sandwiched by 2 flat boards called " cakepan". These cakepans are made of bamboo.
( Reference : Illuminations The Writing Traditions of Indonesia)

Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Bali Lontar Manuscript
Content : Balinese Ritual
Dim : 16" x 1" x 1.5"
Date : 18-19th century
Copyist : anonymous
Origin : Bali island
Calligraphy : Abugida
Design : Written in Abugida scripts in black in Balinese language
Purchased Price :US

Book Review 09 : Islamic Codicology - Dr Francois Deroche

Book Info :

Title : Islamic Codicology : An Introduction to the Study of Manuscripts in Arabic Script
Author : Francois Deroche
Publisher : Al Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation
Printer :
Pages : 395 pages
ISBN :1-905122-02-0

Review :

This is one of the best reference books I have ever read on Islamic Manuscript Codicology. It is highly academic and educational. This book was originally published in French written by Dr Francois Deroche with several entries contributed by some other experts.
Dr Deroche has succesfully eloborated the history and the study of Islamic codicology in this book corroborated with his extended research and findings as well as contributions from other experts. I found this book is extremely useful to me in handling & cataloging ancient Islamic manuscripts.
The book covers from the history of the first written medium for Islamic literature was prepared till the study of paleography and book design/ binding -  everything in one book. It's concise, yet very comprehensive.
I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to sit in his class and learn first hand about this subject at University of Cambridge recently.
However the only drawback of this book is the lack of illustrations and pictures. Although there are a total of 160 illustrations in this book, yet I believe that there are not good enough to enable a novice reader of this subject to visualize easily in this subject. Dr Deroche quoted a lot of examples and references from other books or findings but they are not accompanied with illustrations.
I could easily follow the course of this book as I have sat in Dr Deroche class where he showed a lot of illustrations and examples which were quoted in his book otherwise I could have been lost too.
I understand the intent of Dr Deroche is to keep this book as concise as possible and to illustrate all his examples might  require a bigger size of book and at least 1000 pages, yet should he have done that, this book might have become a "bible" of Islamic Codicology. I wouldn't mind to spend extra money on such a book if it will give an aswer to almost all inquiries related to this subject.
All in all I still recommend this book for anyone who is looking to indulge in Islamic Codicology.

Ancient Manuscript Review 78 : Antique Indian Quran (18-19th century)

This is another handwritten Quran from Indian region. Texts are written in Naskh script within double red-line & blue-line frame. The first 2 pages are beautifully gold gilded & illuminated. Covers are not original. Very thick manuscript with over 400 follios. It's undated but from the design & illumination I would safely estimate it was written between 18th-19th century.

Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Quran
Content : A complete Quran
Dim : 10" x 7" x 2.5"
Date : 18th-19th CE
Copyist : Ananymous
Origin : India
Calligraphy : Naskh
Design : 11 lines written text per page
Purchased Price :USD

Ancient Coin Review 52 : Sultanah Inayat Shah Zakiat Ad Din Shah ( Aceh Sultanate 1678-1688 CE)

This is a gold coin from Sultanah Inayat Shah Zakiat Ad Din Shah era. She is the third female to be throned in Aceh Sultanate and daughter of Sultan Muhammad Shah. She reigned Aceh from 1678 - 1688 CE.
In 1683 CE , she had the "honor" of receiving a delegation and gifts from the Sharif of Mecca which originally intended for Great Moghul Aurangzeb who refused the delegation.

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: Zakiat Ad Din Berdaulat Shah
Rev: Paduka Sri Sultanah Inayat Shah
Weight : 0.56 gm
Dim : 14mm
Date : 1678 - 1688 CE
Rarity :
Denom : Mas
Material : Gold
Reference : A 19 pg 179 ( Jaarboek Voor Munt-en Penningkunde)