Polish stall

 November 3, 2021

A Polish stall with four rare manuscripts for collectors at SIBF 2021

A seemingly small and non-descript stall at SIBF2021 catches one’s attention on account of the gilded books on display. One casual glance tells you they are manuscripts of some very ancient and unique books in history.  These are “The Big Four – the four most important, most unique, most expensive and most mysterious manuscripts in the world,” limited editions that are published as scientific, artistic copies by luxury publishing house Manuscriptum.

The stall is manned by Polish publisher Artur Sobolewski and his son Tomas, who have been in this business for seven years. Their clients have included members of the UAE royal families and other GCC countries. Three years ago, he met HH Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, who bought copies of the manuscript on Arabian culture. 

Although this is the first time he is at Sharjah and the SIBF, he has been to Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Riyadh and Damam to publicise the manuscripts, which are very unique copies a layperson cannot buy or even see.

In their portfolio, one finds the most expensive book in human history – Leanardo Da Vinci’s Codex Leicester, the original of which was bought 26 years ago by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates for $32 million. Its current price is 52 million dollars. 

Then there is the most mysterious book in the world – Voynich Manusciprt by an unknown author. “We are preparing scientist’s copy on a one-to-one basis. Our clients are people who want to invest money in very limited editions,” Sobolewski says. “If there is a hole or tear, we make it the same way. This is made on special paper called pergamenata, and sounds like parchment.”

For the Arabian world, the most valuable is Rzewuski’s Manuscript, “the most important European book on Arabian culture 200 yrs ago”. Written in the beginning of the 19th centuryin French, the language of the nobles then, this book is about horses and the Arabian region of yore. It is a national treasure of Poland, and the original is underground in the safe of the National Library in Warsaw, Sobolewski notes. 

The Polish publisher explains that Rzewuski was a Polish Count who drew everything in the manuscript at a time such drawings of Muslim people and their horses were forbidden for laypeople. There is also avdrawing of the holy Kaaba in the Mecca.

The last and most interesting is a scientific book called De Revolutionibus by Nicolaus Copernicus, who proved that the earth is not the centre of the earth. 

“This is a copy that our company makes. It is very complicated to make the copy. If there are different types of paper used in the original, we have used the same in the print,” he said.

While Rzewuski costs 11000 euros, Voynich is priced at 3000 euros, Leonardo da Vinci 4000 euros and Copernicus 8000 euros.

The copies on display at SIBF are only two weeks old. The boxes used for packing are as exquisite as the books on display.

For more details, visit www.manuscriptum.eu