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The first printed record of Qatar in the West published in 1590 is among the rare finds at the book fair.
The important travelogue titled Viaggio dell’Indie Orientali Balbi is by the Venetian state jeweller and gem merchant Gasparo Balbi and details his nine-year voyage from Venice to the Far East between 1579 and 1588.
It is part of the collection of rare books and manuscripts featured in the stall of Antiquariaat Forum and Antiquariat Inlibris, internationally recognised experts in the world of rare and antiquarian books, manuscripts and prints.
“This travelogue is very important in our collection especially for the history of Qatar. This shows that Qatar is already known in the West at the end of the 16th century,” Laurens R Hesselink of Antiquariaat Forum said.
Hesselink said they have been coming to Qatar and taking part in the book fair for the past eight to nine years not only to showcase their impressive collection to book lovers in the country but also to connect with the Qatar National Library.
The stall of Antiquariaat Forum and Antiquariat Inlibris, which is among the eye-catching space in the event, showcases books and manuscripts dating from the 14th to 20th century.
Other interesting finds in the collection are the first eyewitness description of Mecca by European national Ludovico di Varthema first published in 1510 and a presentation copy of the greatest shell book of all time presented to the Empress Josephine, consort of Napoleon Bonaparte, by King Frederik VI of Denmark.
Hesselink added that for this year’s edition of the international book fair in Doha they have brought a lot of books based on Arab science and translated into the West. The collection also includes the second and enlarged edition of the largest set of astronomical tables produced in West before modern times and based on the work of Ptolemy, Al Battani and Al Zarqali as well as an Arabic source for Copernicus, the first use of decimal fraction in Europe.
Another highlight of the stall is an exceptional series of 50 meticulously executed miniatures showing Persian scribes compiled and painted by an anonymous artist in the 1850s.
Coinciding with the launch of the Qatar-France 2020 Year of Culture 2020, France is the guest of honor at Doha International Book Fair 2020. The fair will also witness the largest participation from private Qatar publishing houses.
The event will conclude on January 18. The fair opens every day from 9am until 9pm, except on Friday when it will be open from 3pm until 10pm, and Thursday, when it will open from 9am to 10pm.
The important travelogue titled Viaggio dell’Indie Orientali Balbi is by the Venetian state jeweller and gem merchant Gasparo Balbi and details his nine-year voyage from Venice to the Far East between 1579 and 1588.
It is part of the collection of rare books and manuscripts featured in the stall of Antiquariaat Forum and Antiquariat Inlibris, internationally recognised experts in the world of rare and antiquarian books, manuscripts and prints.
“This travelogue is very important in our collection especially for the history of Qatar. This shows that Qatar is already known in the West at the end of the 16th century,” Laurens R Hesselink of Antiquariaat Forum said.
Hesselink said they have been coming to Qatar and taking part in the book fair for the past eight to nine years not only to showcase their impressive collection to book lovers in the country but also to connect with the Qatar National Library.
The stall of Antiquariaat Forum and Antiquariat Inlibris, which is among the eye-catching space in the event, showcases books and manuscripts dating from the 14th to 20th century.
Other interesting finds in the collection are the first eyewitness description of Mecca by European national Ludovico di Varthema first published in 1510 and a presentation copy of the greatest shell book of all time presented to the Empress Josephine, consort of Napoleon Bonaparte, by King Frederik VI of Denmark.
Hesselink added that for this year’s edition of the international book fair in Doha they have brought a lot of books based on Arab science and translated into the West. The collection also includes the second and enlarged edition of the largest set of astronomical tables produced in West before modern times and based on the work of Ptolemy, Al Battani and Al Zarqali as well as an Arabic source for Copernicus, the first use of decimal fraction in Europe.
Another highlight of the stall is an exceptional series of 50 meticulously executed miniatures showing Persian scribes compiled and painted by an anonymous artist in the 1850s.
Coinciding with the launch of the Qatar-France 2020 Year of Culture 2020, France is the guest of honor at Doha International Book Fair 2020. The fair will also witness the largest participation from private Qatar publishing houses.
The event will conclude on January 18. The fair opens every day from 9am until 9pm, except on Friday when it will be open from 3pm until 10pm, and Thursday, when it will open from 9am to 10pm.
