Description:

 GHANOON IBN SINA, THE CANON OF MEDICINE (AL-QANUN FI AL-TIBB), 13TH/14TH CENTURY

Description:
A rare and early manuscript containing a critical section of Avicenna’s (Ibn Sina) renowned work, al-Qanun fi al-Tibb(The Canon of Medicine), one of the most influential texts in the history of medicine. This volume, written in fine, legible black naskh script with rubrication in red, preserves a major portion of this medical encyclopedia, covering diagnostic methods, pharmaceutical treatments, and foundational theories of disease and humoral medicine.

Produced in the 13th or 14th century, this manuscript exemplifies the early transmission of Avicennian medical knowledge across the Islamic world, with a style of script and layout consistent with Ilkhanid and early Mamluk scientific manuscripts. The text begins with an introduction to general medical theory and continues with highly organized sections that categorize symptoms, diagnostics, and treatments.

The Canon remained the core medical reference in the Islamic world and Europe for centuries, and early manuscripts such as this are exceedingly rare, particularly in good condition.

Dimensions:
Length: 25 cm
Width: 18.5 cm

Comparable Examples:

  • A 13th-century copy of al-Qanun sold at Christie’s, 2006, Islamic Manuscripts Sale, for over £145,000, noted for its historical value.

  • A fragmentary 14th-century Qanun manuscript held at the Wellcome Collection, London, is cited in numerous academic studies for its textual and illustrative content.

  • A 15th-century complete Canon sold by Sotheby’s, 2011, for £80,500, demonstrating the lasting appeal and high market value of early copies.

Note:
This manuscript represents not only a cornerstone of Islamic medical science but also a bridge to early European scholastic medicine, influencing figures such as Hippocrates, Galen, and later Vesalius. A manuscript of this age, scope, and clarity holds immense scholarly and historical significance, ideal for collectors of Islamic science or medieval medical heritage.

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
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