Evangelium infantiae. Vel liber apocryphus de infantia servatoris. Ex manuscripto edidit, ac latina versione & notis illustravit .

SIKE (SIECKE), Heinrich (editor).

Published by François Halma, Willem vande Water,, Utrecht,, 1697

About this Item

First edition of the apocryphal Arabic Infancy Gospel, with the Arabic text on the versos and the Latin translation on the facing rectos. Sike, a noted orientalist from Bremen, based his edition on a manuscript that was formerly owned by Jacobus Golius, and the many notes include excerpts from the Quran and other works. The work narrates miracle stories from the first 12 years of Jesus's life, and probably originated in the fourth or fifth century. The wide range of non-Latin types, with not only Arabic and the more common Greek and Hebrew, but also a few words of Syriac, was unusual at this date. With shelf number label and a later manuscript presentation inscription. Some foxing, mostly along the margins, otherwise in very good condition. A couple minor stains on the binding, but otherwise also very good.l Schnurrer, Bibliotheca Arabica 412; STCN (8 copies); Zenker, Bibliotheca Orientalis 1239; for the device: Van Huisstede & Brandhorst 618. Contemporary vellum, with manuscript spine title. With title-page printed in red and black and decorated with Halma's engraved Athena and Demeter/Ceres device, a woodcut tailpiece, 3 woodcut decorative initials (3 different series) and a factotum built up from cast fleurons. With the main text in Arabic with a parallel Latin translation on the facing pages, and occasional words or lines in Greek, Hebrew and Syriac. Pages: [22], 161, [7], 93, [1], [2 blank] pp. Seller Inventory # I3MF3W9EXBAX

Bibliographic Details

Title: Evangelium infantiae. Vel liber apocryphus ...

Publisher: François Halma, Willem vande Water,, Utrecht,

Publication Date: 1697

Edition: 1st Edition