[Rarebooks] fa c1857 Looted Quran_Siege Lucknow by FR Maunsell_Stanley Leathes copy_Indian Mutiny

[r.azzi at comcast.net]

Now on eBay: 


I’m not quite sure how to describe this Qur’an. A small clipping from a booksellers catalogue pasted onto the front (rear?) paste-down describes this book as having been looted from the Emam Barak Mosque in Lucknow, India during the Indian Mutiny by F.R.Maunsell and then having been owned by Stanley Leathes. 


On the endpaper and inscription reads: “This copy of the Kuran was looted from the great Emam barak Mosque at Lucknow by general F.R.Maunsell, C.B. during the Indian Mutiny, F.R.M.” 


Because the Qur’an is in its original language, it reads from right to left, so the inscription by Maunsell and notation by Leathes is actually on the rear free end paper. The clipping from the bookseller’s catalog is pasted on the inside of the free end paper at the end of the Qur’an. That description is written on the front paper by FRMaunsell c1857/1858. Above that description is the signed name (and date) of Stanley Leathes in 1864. This Quran was found by me in New Hampshire. I don’t know who bought it from a catalogue for L3,10s at some unknown date after Leathes owned it. 


The Qur’an itself appears complete. All the Suras are present. The Fatihah page has been written and there is space for illumination which was never done. I think there might have been more than one calligrapher on this Koran as there seem to be some changes in style. There are some pages bound upside down but the are in the right place!!. There are corrections and notations – I don’t know if they would be called Tafsir. Bound in one place is a white strip with some calligraphy on it – seems like a writing specimen as I don’t think it’s part of the text. There are no loose pages. I could not find any date or nation about the calligrapher(s). The binding is full leather and is stamped in designs typical of Islamic design in India and Pakistan. The Spine cover has separated but it is available and needs a good binder to reattach it.– see photo. Additional photos are available – just send a request w an email address. 


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360225120610&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT 


Thank you for checking my auctions 


Robert Azzi 
Exeter NH 
1.603.264.6564