Priced up to 780,000 euros, these books, maps are antiques

Sharjah - Netherlands-based stall has books and maps from as early as 1508.

The first thing that catches your attention is a pair of globes. They are not the usual blue and green ones you have seen at school. As you get closer you get to read the description. It says the globes were made by famous Italian globe maker Vincenzo Coronelli in 1681 and were dedicated to William of Orange, Stadholder of The Netherlands and King William III of England. That is enough invitation to walk into the stall at the Sharjah International Book Fair 2015.
The stall is stocked with rare and antique books from the Netherlands-based Antiquariaat Forum and Antiquariat Inlibris.
As you enter, the prices of books hit you. Ranging from Euros 1,500 to 780,000, the books here are antiques dating back to the 15th to early 20th century.
The costliest among the books has the first printed reference to the Arabian Gulf region, with the earliest map to call the Gulf Sinus Arabicus. Published in 1508, this is the first Latin edition of the most important and 'earliest printed collection of voyages and discoveries.' It is also the 'earliest modern map to show Makkah.'
Laurens R. Hesselink from Antiquariaat Forum says he has centuries-old books, manuscripts, autographs, maps and more from all over the world. "Here in Sharjah, it's our third visit at the book fair. We have a lot of antique books that can make history enthusiasts from the region happy."
Hesselink's collection includes the first books printed in Germany from Arabic type among which is Ibn Sina's second book of Qanun at-Tibb, published by Peter Kirsten in 1609. Another interesting collection is a library on Arabian horse breeding which has more than 1000 volumes, published in the years 1746 to 2007.
Hesselink has a mischievous smile when he answers the question on the sources of these rare collections. "That's my job," he answers. "Most of them are from Europe, from private collections," he says, making things more clear. For a book house that is in business from late 19th century, it's possible to acquire such rare collections.
Hesselink has a collection of the Holy Quran. There is leaf from a Kufic manuscript of a 9th century Holy Quran on vellum. The first Latin edition of the Holy Quran (the second in any language after the Arabic one printed in 1537) was printed in 1543. The first Holy Quran in English, translated directly from Arabic is another rare book, the first edition of which came in 1734. It's described as a landmark effort to bring an accurate version of the Quran to the English-speaking world. Another is a first scholarly-printed Quran with an accurate Latin translation, printed in 1698.
The first known printed reference to the Arabian Gulf region comes in Latin, in 1508. The 'earliest printed collection of voyages and discoveries' includes a map showing Africa, Arabia and Europe and contains reports of the voyages of Columbus, Vespucci, Cabral and most importantly, the historic voyage of Vasco da Gama to India, touching the 'Shaikhdom of Julfar', presently known as Ras Al Khaimah. The first printed mention of Dubai dates back to 1590, where it was called Dibei. A 1669 book on precious stones and pearls devotes a large chapter to pearls and pearl fishing in the Arabian Gulf.
The man is all praise of the Sharjah International Book Fair. "We're here for the third consecutive year. We meet new customers and new organisations every year. The SIBF is one of the best organised book fairs and the organisers have a professional approach. I am happy that the people here are interested in history and that is what brings us back to the fair," says Hessenlink.
anuwarrier@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah International Book Fair