The Alcoran of Mahomet (first Quran in English) translated out of Arabique into French; by the Sieur du Ryer, Lord of Malezair, and resident for the King of France, at Alexandria. And newly Englished, for the satisfaction of all that desire to look into the Turkish vanities. Muhammed, Alexander Ross

SCARCE FIRST QURAN TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH. OCTAVO, FIRST EDITION. A SLIGHTLY LARGER QUARTO WAS ALSO PUBLISHED IN 1649 BUT NO PRIORITY HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. OVERALL CONDITION: GOOD to VERY GOOD COLLATED & COMPLETE, including the often-excluded final chapter. Extensive documented provenance. Includes a custom black morocco covered solander box with grey felt lining. FULL TITLE: The Alcoran of Mahomet, translated out of Arabique into French; by the Sieur du Ryer, Lord of Malezair, and resident for the King of France, at Alexandria. And newly Englished, for the satisfaction of all that desire to look into the Turkish vanities. Translated into English from the French of Andre du Ryer. The work concludes with: "A needfull Caveat or Admonition for them who desire to know what use may be made of, or If there be danger in reading the Alcoran, by Alexander Ross" (1591-1654, to whom many attribute the English translation). The Quran of Alexander Ross ultimately served two purposes. His first and original purpose was to expose what he deemed the false teachings of Islam. He believed Islam was a physical threat and a spiritual deception needing attention. The second purpose was, via the preface, to indirectly attack the new Puritan Commonwealth government and their considerations of censorship due to their fear of printing Qurans on English soil. Published in 1649 by an unstated publisher in London (but certainly under the direction of Alexander Ross). First edition of the Quran in the English language. Modern recasing in full black morocco with the original 17th century board leather laid down. Boards with double gilt filets paneling encompassing a smaller, centralized rectangle comprised of triple gilt filets with a gilt tooled floral emblem in each corner. All edges gilt. Small octavo, 6 3/8" x 4.25". Collated and complete: [20], 405 (but really 409 due to an uncorrected printer error), [15]. An engraved title page or frontispiece from Ovid's Metamorphoses has been added to the preliminary leaves. PROVENANCE: 1. Earliest entry dated May, 1738. 2. John Read Wortham, May 20, 1792, the gift of Hunt, esquire 3. Thomas Rogerson (1743 - 1820) M. P. (Member of British Parliament) from Lancashire, England bought it in 1799 from Mr. Wortham. On the leaf following his signature, Rogerson wrote this poem: "In virtues path may you and I be found Often we there would go but often miss the ground How is it that we slip so soon aside Not willing when we are right there firmly to abide Ready to take your hand and seek the happy He Even these pleasures love though on us some smile may And if you wish to stop my Partner for to day Dare you look up and there my name you'll see" 4. St. Catharine Reference Library received it as a gift from Miss Wheatcroft on August 3rd, 1963. A note states that it is "not to be taken out" (of the reference room library). CONDITION REPORT: GOOD to VG. Refreshed endpapers. Recased in full black morocco with the original board leather laid down. Exterior: square spine, firm hinges and joints, sharp corners. Significant wear to and discoloration of the original board leather after centuries of use. Blackened in many areas, suggesting a close brush with fire. Interior: Blank flyleaves with quite a lot of writing and former owner inscriptions dating back to 1738. Title page with writing and page 29 has a single line of text underlined. No marginalia. Grubbiness and wear to the original retained blanks. Pages have been trimmed and are unevenly tanned: pages range from off white to mostly toned to browned in multiple patches. No water dampening. No stickers or bookplates. From page 339 to final endpaper there is minor marginal worming not affecting text. Quite a few numbering issues by the printer, as called for. Signs of handling - bent page corners, creases, feathered/chipped margins, some small margin edge tears, thumbing and a few smudges. One gutter has some sticky residue.