Ali Ben Ali Taleb. KUYPERS, Gerardus. - Lot 144

Ali Ben Ali Taleb. KUYPERS, Gerardus. Carmina. Arabice et Latine. Edidit et notis illustravit Gerardus Kuypers. Lugduni Batavorum, apud Johannem Hasebroek et Bernhardum Jongelyn, 1745. In-12, (8)-195-(36) pp.slightly later half tan basane with corners, spine ribbed with gilt or cold-stamped fillets, cherry title-piece, gilt title, edges speckled with red (binding rubbed, jaws tired, a few small brown spots in the first few quires). First and only edition of the Arabic and Latin text of the collection of poems by the Caliph Ali Ben Ali Taleb, translated and annotated by Gerardus Kuypers, followed by an Arabic-Latin Glossary and a Hebrew Index. One of the first converts to Islam, Ali ibn Abi Talib (ca. 600-661), cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet, was Caliph from 656 until his death. Gerardus Kuypers (1722-1798) studied oriental languages and theology in Leiden under theologian and linguist Albert Schultens. After defending 13 theses under his presidency, he published a textual edition of Ali ben Abi Taleb Carmina in 1745, with an extensively revised Latin translation and notes, in which he emphasized (Preface) the importance of Semitic languages in general and Arabic in particular for knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. He became professor of theology at the University of Groningen in 1765. Only one copy in the CCFr (BnF). Zenker, 431. De Bis, Itterzon, Lindeboom, Bibliographish woordenboek van protestansche Godgeleerden in Nederland, 1943. [Arab world].