Arabic manuscript on paper, Al-Qamus Al-Muhit. [Probably Anatolia, 18th century.]
610 leaves recto and verso, tall 4to, 31 lines of black nasta'liq script with some red, blue and gold; text blocks outlined in blue and gilt rule, floral headpiece of gold, blue, red, white, black, orange and pink. Wallet-style binding of period red morocco gilt, manuscript spine label, lower edge lettered in manuscript. Intermittent corner dampstain, heavy at ends (not affecting incipit), about 6 leaves with repairs, a few leaves slightly adhered, binding slightly rubbed.
Provenance: E.H. Whinfield [1836-1922] (armorial bookplate); Edith H. Mathews (bookplate dated 1905); Charles Estvan (ownership inscription).

ATTRACTIVE ARABIC MONOLINGUAL DICTIONARY BELONGING TO AN IMPORTANT ARABIC TRANSLATOR. Edward Henry Whinfield published his translation of selections of Rumi in 1898. He also produced an extensive English version of the Rubáiyát, an 1883 bilingual edition of 500 quatrains. (Presumably) his manuscript note affixed to the front pastedown reads: "...the Great Dictionary of the Arabic language compiled by Ferusabadi. Splendid volume scarcely to be met with so perfect."