Description:

 A BOOK CONTAINING TWO BOOKS, GHANIAT ALHISAB IN ARITHMETIC, THE CLASSIFICATION OF JUDGE JAMAL AL-DIN AHMAD BIN ALI IBN THABIT & ALKAFAY
Ottoman Syria, dated 1095 AH / 1684 AD

Description:
In calculating mathematical copies by the computer scientist Shihab al-Din Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Magdisi, this manuscript was written by Yusuf Ibn Hussein Hamouda al-Halabi. It comprises two significant works in the Islamic mathematical tradition: Ghaniat al-Hisab, a treatise on arithmetic classification by Qadi Jamal al-Din Ahmad bin Ali ibn Thabit, and al-Kafay, a sophisticated manual on applied mathematical computation.

Written in clear black naskh script with rubrication in red, the manuscript features numerous numerical tables, structured problem-solving layouts, and geometric diagrams. The scribe, a native of Aleppo, completed the manuscript in 1095 AH (1684 AD), and it was likely used as an instructional or professional reference for scholars of arithmetic and computation. Bound in later leather with wear consistent with academic use.

Measurements:
21.5 x 16 cm

Comparable examples:

  • A 17th-century Arabic manuscript on arithmetic and geometry by Baha’ al-Din al-‘Amili, sold at Bonhams, London, Islamic and Indian Art, 29 March 2022, Lot 15, for £13,750.

  • A mathematical treatise on arithmetic by Najm al-Din al-Misri, 17th century, sold at Christie’s, London, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 26 April 2018, Lot 104, for £18,750.

  • A 17th-century Ottoman manuscript on numerical methods and diagrams, sold at Sotheby’s, Arts of the Islamic World, 27 April 2022, Lot 43, for £22,500.

Note:
Mathematical manuscripts from the Ottoman period that combine theoretical exposition with visual calculation tools are of particular interest to collectors and historians of Islamic science. The clear structure and authorship of both the source texts and the scribe make this a valuable and accessible work within the tradition of Arabic mathematical education.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

MasterCard, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We have our own specialist packing and international shipping service and are happy to arrange this for you, we will add a postage and packing quote to your sales invoice. We also offer a door to door courier service to take the stress out of receiving delicate or expensive items.

If you are arranging your own professional delivery, please ensure that the lot has been paid for and the transport company has full details of the items being collected and an appointment has been booked. We work strictly on an appointment basis for dispatching goods.

If you choose to use our services we will ensure goods that have left the auction premises are in perfect condition, by choosing our in house professional packaging services you agree to our terms and conditions and do not hold us accountable for any damages or loss of items in transit. You will be provided with a tracking number and all our packages sent out will require a signature upon delivery. We do not insure goods dispatched unless asked to do so, which will incur additional charges added to your invoice upon request.

We thank you for using our specialist packing & shipping service and hope to continue to do business with you in the near future.

May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
London, United Kingdom

PLAKAS

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 29% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
£0 £99 £5
£100 £199 £10
£200 £499 £20
£500 £999 £50
£1,000 £1,999 £100
£2,000 £4,999 £200
£5,000 £9,999 £500
£10,000 £19,999 £1,000
£20,000 £49,999 £2,000
£50,000 £99,999 £5,000
£100,000 £199,999 £10,000
£200,000 £499,999 £20,000
£500,000 £999,999 £50,000
£1,000,000 + £100,000