[BIBLIANDER, Theodor]. - Lot 144

[BIBLIANDER, Theodor]. Machumetis Saracenorum principis, eius'que successorum vitae, doctrina, ac ipse Alcoran [...] - Confutationes legis Mahumeticae, quam vocant Alcoranum [...] - Historiae de Saracenorum sive Turcarum origine [...]. [Zurich-Tiguri or Basel], (possibly Johannes Oporin), March 1550. 3 parts in one small folio volume (29 x 19 cm). 12 preliminary pages, 227 pp. ; 4 ff. 358 columns (2 columns per page) and 235 pp. with beautiful woodcut some of them large and historiated. 17th-century brown calf century, monogram "DMS or MSD" repeated on spine, underlined with gilt fillets, red edges (minor defects and a few small stains to the binding, discreet and skilfully discreet and skilfully done, discreet scattered light freckles, a few pagination errors without missing text, small worm work at fold edge last 17 leaves with no loss of text). Very rare and fundamental first translation of the Qur'an in the West, here in its second in its revised and enlarged second edition, in the celebrated by the humanist Bibliander. This second edition of Bibliander's collection represents an essential work essential work for the understanding of Islam and the Ottoman Empire. Divided into three distinct and meticulous parts, each with its own pagination pagination. The first part, Machvmetis saracenorvm principis, Alcoran is prefaced by Melanchthon and Bibliander's Apologia pro Editione Alcorani, preceding the translation of the Koran. The first of its kind in Latin, it marks a milestone a milestone in the understanding of Islamic doctrine and exchanges with the with the Ottoman world. Part II, Confviationes legis Machvmeticae, qvam vocant Alcoranvm ; contains polemical treatises designed to refute Muslim beliefs, reflecting the intellectual discourse of the time. Part III, Historiae de Saracenorvm sive Tvrcarvm.rebus gestis, introduced by a note from Luther to the the subtleties of Ottoman customs and institutions, presenting a more exhaustive treatment than the previous edition of 1543. Although there is no specific place of printing - perhaps Tiguri (Zurich), as the Ad lectorem suggests - the edition is dated 1550 and often given printed in Basel. The first edition was published in 1543 (in Basel), under strict conditions imposed by the highly critical authorities, a choral work by Postel, Maffei, Melanchton, Sadoleto.... Our edition, seven years later, represents the refined and improved iteration of Bibliander. These first Latin translations and printings of the Qur'an were an ambitious and arduous ambitious and arduous editorial undertaking. The first translation was produced in 1142-1143 by Robert Retinas, known as Robert de Ketton, at the request of Peter the Venerable, abbot of Cluny. It circulated in manuscript form throughout the the Middle Ages until 1530-1540, when Theodor Bibliander (ca. 1504-1564), a Reformed theologian and orientalist, reworked the text given by Martin Luther in the form of one of these written versions. In 1543, his work was published by Johannes Oporin before our revised edition. Our copy is unusual in having been enriched with numerous annotations, probably from the 15th to 16th centuries, in brown ink. centuries, in brown ink, in the margins or sometimes in the text, with words underlined on the first and third parts. In what appear to be different they are written in Latin and bear comments or annotations. annotations. Early handwritten note at the head of the title page, in Greek and Latin Latin "quae sursum sunt sapite". Rare Book Editions at the Centre for Reformation & Renaissance Studies, University of Toronto, 2017. Brunet, III, 1309. [Turkey - Koran].