Rare books seller

 Sharjah, November 8, 2021

The first edition of Marracci’s Quran from 1698

The exquisite work has Arabic text with Latin translations and commentary, which played a great role in spreading Islam in Europe.

One of the most striking and classy pavilions at SIBF 2021 is Peter Harrington, seller of rare books, manuscripts, and works on paper. The displays set in glass cases include an 1874 map of Oman and the UAE created by British officer E.C. Ross working in Muscat; one page from Johann Gutenberg’s Bible, the first printed book in the West; and 17th century folios of playwright William Shakespeare.

A good part of the Peter Harrington collection at SIBF is of interest to the Islamic world, the most invaluable among them being a 400-year-old copy of the Quran priced at £10,500. The firm’s sales director Ben Houston carefully unearths it from a cabinet and places it on a cushion for inspection. 

The book, which is two volumes in one, has dimensions of 34.6 x 22.5 cm. The cover is in contemporary vellum and thecompartments are lettered in gilt. 

This book presented by Peter Harrington is a first edition of Marracci’s Quran, from 1698. Ludovico Marracci was an Italian priest and a professor of Arabic, hence the holy book has Arabic text on one side and its Latin translation to the right, and a commentary or analysis of each surah. 

The book is not the oldest Quran in the West – there are others that exist. While earlier translations of the Quran in the West exist, they are now virtually unobtainable. Marracci’s edition is “the second obtainable printed edition of the Quran” in the original Arabic and the first accurate and complete Latin translation and commentary. Unlike the 12th-century Latin translation of Robert of Ketton, Marracci did not rearrange the Quranic verses or render free translations of them.

Called “the greatest pre-modern European work of Quranicscholarship” by historian Thomas E. Burman, Marracci’s bookwas hugely significant in spreading knowledge of Islam to the vast numbers of European readers who could not read Arabic. A cache of manuscripts unearthed in the library of Marracci’sorder in 2012 has since verified his claim to have translated the Quran four times before committing it to print. 

“It is the first full translation of the Quran into Latin, and that’s why it is so important,” emphasised Houston. “When it was printed and published, it spread the complete Quran through Europe. Before that, there were only manuscripts. There was a first Arabic printing of the Quran which exists only in one copy in a monastery. This is the second obtainable one with Arabic and Latin.” 

First editions and early printed material are part of the Peter Harrington collection. “We have two shops in London. Once a year we travel to the Sharjah and Abu Dhabi fairs to present our books for sale to private collectors, museums and institutions in the region. We don’t do any facsimiles,” Houston added.

The first illustrated account of Petra in Jordan is also available for sale and is priced at £19500.

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

 

 

Women readers at SIBF

 Sharjah, November 6, 2021

Thrillers, romance and puzzles fascinate women readers at SIBF 2021

The love for the written word is not alien to women despite the addictive influence of social media and they patronise SIBF 2021 in large numbers.

Jana, an Egyptian student of pharmacy at the University of Sharjah, has just bought a book by Chinese American author Kevin Kwan – China Rich Girlfriend at the Sharjah International Book Fair. Her interest in the book – about the Chinese diaspora in the US - was kindled after watching its film adaptation.

“It is a kind of suspense with some scientific information. And Kwan is an amazing writer,” said the 21-year-old. “I don’t have any particular author favourite. Whatever story I like - those with a plot twist in the middle or the end - I read. They can be romance, fantasy, mystery.” 

Nigerian expatriates Omotolani Diana Hassan and her sister Aby have bought a copy of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s My Vision. A teacher at Woodlem Park School in Dubai, she would like to buy a coffee table book on the UAE from Motivate Media. 

“I always wanted to read this book by the Ruler of Dubai about his vision for his country’s future. Seeing this book here, I felt I need to grab this,” said Aby, who is preparing for her nursing exam.

Omotolani, a Grade 2 schoolteacher at Woodlem Park School, is scouting for UAE universities for her daughter at SIBF apart from checking out the book stalls. She exulted: “The UAE is one country I love so much. I used to come here on visits before shifting here to work in 2019. I liked everything I saw here – the education, the people etc. I want to read about Sheikh Mohammed’s vision so that I can use it for my own vision since I am learning to be proactive, creative and innovative. I also want to show it to my children in class and share ideas with them in the way they will understand.” 

Emirati mother Noura bint Tamim has gone for a book of Sudoku puzzles along with some books in Arabic to read out to her two daughters. She likes to read novels in Arabic, and the family has made a big haul of books at the fair.

Two young Arab women, Hoda and Aya Sayed, were seen buying copies of Egyptian novelist Nabeel Farrouq’s Those who Were and Serena Valentino’s The Beast Within. Suspense thrillers were the favourites of the two working women. 

Kairavi, an Indian expat from Bombay, was looking for “good deals”. She would love to buy a copy of Robin Cook’s Viral, a medical thriller about a deadly virus that is eerily similar to the coronavirus pandemic. Many mothers visiting the stalls with their children were seen giving priority to books their wards sought to buy.

An expat family from Kerala,  Asha, working in Dubai Media City, and her mother Radhamani, 61, have bought a few Malayalam books for themselves. “I am a retired bank official and have ample time to read now. Even otherwise I love to read. One of the books is written by a friend, Priya A.S., and she is a great writer. Then there is S.K. Pottekat’s In the land of Cleopatra and 21 backbones, a collection of short stories by 21 women authors,” said Radhamani who is visiting her daughter in the UAE.

Brazilian publisher Laura Di Petro whose publishing house Tabla won this year Turjman Award for translation from Arabic language, was leafing through children’s illustrated books in Arabic in a mission to find new interesting books to translate from Arabic to Portuguese. 

“I am always looking for new authors and titles. If I like, I pick up the cards and my team then decides on the next book to publish,” said Di Petro as she examined a copy of Just like Usby HH Sheikha Maryam Saqr Al Qasimi.

Kitchen sink strainers

Long ago, while we were living in Chennai, I got a kitchen sink strainer for my mom at Rs. 10 a piece. It was plastic and easy to clean and the perfect size for her sink. In the five years since then, it served her well but she was desperately looking to replace it as it had changed colour and was worn out. I tried getting some from Chennai departmental stores on later trips there and also got her a few from the UAE but all were too small and not suitable. 

That's when I found the perfect size and model in Amazon. Owing to COVID induced delays it took a week to reach my village but it has made mom very happy. It is sold by Karvion through Amazon and costs under Rs 200 for 2. There are many other models you can choose from.

https://www.amazon.in/MHS-Kitchen-Strainer-Plastic-Drainer/dp/B0975LJFPR/ref=sr_1_55?keywords=sink%2Bstrainer%2Bkarvion&qid=1674816235&sr=8-55&th=1

If any of you are looking for an effective stopper for kitchen waste going down the sink, check out Amazon's numerous options for kitchen sink strainers. 

My parents are really enjoying the possibilities of online shopping.

 

The Covid jab

Today I got my first dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine or Covishield that has arrived in the UAE under the Indian govt's vaccine diplomacy. It is another matter that India needs to dispose its vaccine stockpile before their six-month expiry date.

Coming under one of the priority groups (right now, owing to a shortage, the vaccine is administered to citizens, residents with chronic diseases, people of determination and frontline workers), we were able to register ourselves over a week ago and luckily got an early date. We had dilly dallied until now about receiving one of the four vaccines on offer in the country - with all emirates offering the Chinese vaccine Sinopharm and Dubai also offering Pfizer and Oxford for its residents - but when a friend prompted us to apply just as they did, we decided it was time to take the plunge. The constant tension of worrying if we had Covid or not was too much.

So was the dilemma if we were doing the right thing and if we should opt for an alternative vaccine or if one of us should wait and watch especially with two wards to take care. We worried if it would give us fever and severe body pain. The tension building up on the D-day probably explained the higher BP in both of us in the nurse's room. 

Our appointment was at One Central, an upmarket business cum residential area in Downtown Dubai flanked by the WTC and the upcoming Museum of the Future. There is free parking and helpful signboards guiding you to Offices 5 where the centre is. Right until the vaccine room, there are helpful attendants guiding you to your destination. 

In the ground floor, we were led to one of the many tables where the registration process is done - the Emirates ID and the information already fed while booking the appointment on the DHA app is enough to identify and collect one's digital signature. The lift took us seven floors above to a waiting room with socially distanced chairs. Attendants called out our allotted numbers, which also appeared on the screen in front. While the husband was guided elsewhere, I went to a curtained cabin where I was greeted by a compatriot nurse. We chatted in Malayalam, and she told me there was nothing to worry and the side effects only mean the vaccine is working and the antibodies were getting active. One look at the long needle and I tensed up. She asked me to relax and I hardly felt any pain as she injected the medicine.  

We waited a good 10 minutes in the Observation Room outside before departing. 

The centre handles 3k to 4k people a day. Hats off to an administration that treats each patient like a VIP or a hotel guest. Bottles of mineral water are kept for free distribution. Washrooms and toilet seats are sanitised after each user. 

It is indeed a privilege and blessing to be able to receive the Covid jab in the UAE, which ensures top-class facilities for both citizens and residents alike. Contrast it with jostling for space in a crowded government hospital in my home country, putting up with grumpy nurses and smart fellow citizens trying to jump the queue.

So far, I have not experienced any of the anticipated side effects. Touchwood! 

#CovidVaccine #Covishield

Sharjah's new drive-in cinema & organic market

Fridays in the UAE have a new purpose - to visit the Manbat Friday Market at Al Jada, Sharjah, where real estate developer Arada has come up with a residential township. The weekly market selling organic produce cultivated locally by Emiratis come alive at 3 pm on Fridays and goes on till 8 pm.  Then comes two (English) movie screenings at 8 pm and 11 pm. In Covid times, a drive-in cinema becomes convenient; the weather is also perfect for outdoor activities. The market too will go on till May, when summer begins to get intense.

Thanks to a Facebook alert - or was it a newspaper clip - I was aware of  the market's launch on January 19. However, I had to give the first two Fridays a miss - last Friday being the closing days of the Dubai Shopping Festival.

After visiting a small farm in Ajman's Al Helio - CeeTees, where we were able to buy eggs and milk and see hens, cows, deer and peacock - we headed to Al Jada, not very far away. The area is an upcoming locality with sleek villas and apartments.

If we thought we were early birds at  the market, we were pleasantly surprised. A steady stream of cars made their way to the parking lot. We were lucky we could find a spot since it was still a little early in the evening. 

The entrance has an iconic and unique design, just as every major landmark in the UAE. The temporary stalls selling vegetables maybe about a dozen and have the freshest looking produce. I dont remember seeing a cauliflower that looks as white and fresh as the ones here. The prices are almost on a par or less than the regular shops. In addition to cauli, we got broccoli, tomato, corn, kale, mint, potato etc. The Sharjah Co-op stall gave us a big box of red capsicum for patronising the stalls.

We promised ourselves to return another Friday for lettuce, brinjal, chillies and rosemary. Stalls selling honey are also present. Having bought a few bottles of honey on a recent trip to Hatta, we didnt need them immediately. 

I wish some locally produced bananas also appear at the stalls soon.

There are numerous food trucks selling steaks, sushi, ice cream and other fast food, well-patronised by Arabs. We bought karak tea from "Project chaiwala" and made our way to our car just as cine-goers and merry makers were trooping in and making a beeline at the drive-through food stations.

#Manbat Friday Market

My favourite Malayalam movies

This is a list I made for a North Indian friend who has started enjoying Malayalam movies. Mostly movies made post-2000.

1. Oru Indian Pranayakatha (An Indian Love story) - Fahd Fazil plays a grassroots party worker, who helps a Canadian citizen find her biological parents in India, and how the heroine played by Amala Paul helps him "grow up" personally and professionally.
2. Njan Prakashan (Me Prakashan) - Another Sathyan Anthikad movie with Fahd and two heroines. A nursing graduate after initial attempts to follow his girlfriend to Germany, finds his true calling in India itself.
3. Pranayam (love) - Mohanlal, Anupam Kher and Jayaprada. A woman meets her first husband in old age, and the friendship that develops between her first and second husbands.
4. Luca - Tovino Thomas and Ahana Krishna as a star-crossed couple, whose death is being investigated by a police officer. Poignant love story set in the backdrop of the Kochi biennale and the life of an artist named Luca.
5. Pranchiyettan & the Saint - An upstart middle-aged businessman, played by Mammooty, meets Priyamani as Padmashri following his efforts to win a Padmashree award from the Indian govt. His conversations with St Francis and the dead are interesting. Good entertainer.
6. Jomonte Suvisheshangal (Jomon’s gospels) - A young rake by name Jomon becomes a responsible son taking care of his businessman father who has fallen on bad times when his siblings desert them. Two heroines in the two halves of Dulquer Salman’s screen life.
7. Joseph - The personal tragedies in the life of an astute yet tipsy police officer Joseph, played by Joju, who unearths an organ trade racket in a hospital. In part it feels like a documentary but very haunting.
8. Android Kunjappan Ver. 5.25 - A grumpy old man’s relationship with a robot home nurse is very endearing despite the movie not having any actor with great star value. Suraj and Saubin excel in this father-son tale.
9. Manjadikuru (a red seed) - The first of director Anjali Menon’s movies, it explores a family saga from the perspective of a young NRI boy. Prithviraj and Padmapriya appear as the adult versions of two of the kids in the story.
Her later movies, Ustad Hotel, Koode and Bangalore Days are a great watch too.
10. There are many more that can fit this bill but not exactly favourites - Salt Mangotree (Biju Menon, on school admissions), Vellimoonga (Biju Menon, political cum love satire), Madhura naranga (Kunchako & Biju, Indian-Sri Lankan love set in the UAE), June (Rajisha enacts the coming of age of a Kerala teenager), Drishyam (Lal), Premam (Nivin Pauly), Black (Mmty), Pulimurugan (Mohanlal), How old are you (Manju Warrier), Kazhcha (Mmty & Padma priya), ABCD & CIA (both DQ), Kadha parayumbol (Srinivasan, Meena); Love 24x7, My Boss, 2 countries, Meesha Madhavan (all Dileep entertainers), Kettyol aanente malakha (my wife is my angel, starring Asif Ali), Trivandrum Lodge (Honey Rose as the pretty woman who comes to live in a dilapidated men's lodge).
North 24 kaatham - An IT guy with OCD on a road trip on a hartal day in Kerala. Fahd won the state best actor award.
Diamond Necklace: Fahd again, as a spendthrift and cunning young dr and his life in Dubai. His other best ones are 22 Female Kottayam, Annayum Rasoolum, Immanuel, Iyobinte Pustakam, Trance, Thondimuthalum driksakshiyum, Kumbalangi Nights. (The last two are not the usual entertainers for laymen.)
Many of them may not available with English subtitles.