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64 ROSSI, Giambernardo de. Dizionario Storico degli Autori Arabi piu Celebri e delle Principali Loro Opere. Parma: della Stamperia Imperiale, 1807 First edition of this handsomely presented bio-bibliographical compilation on the great Arab authors of history, attractively printed in double column on thick paper with wide margins. Rossi was one of the leading Italian orientalists of the period, lecturer in Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic, and theology at the University of Parma. It is relatively common institutionally but rarely encountered on the market. Octavo (213 × 138 mm). Contemporary green half morocco, marbled boards, title gilt direct to spine. A little light shelf-wear, else very good. £1,500 [91495] 65 RUTTER, Eldon. The Holy Cities of Arabia. London & New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, Ltd, 1928 a sympathetic insider’s view of islam’s holy cities First edition, first impression, presented here in the highly elusive dust jackets and with a fine provenance: the front panel of the jacket of volume II bearing the owl stamp of Henry Williamson, author of Tarka the Otter (1927). He and Rutter shared the same publisher and Williamson was asked by Putnam’s to forward a copy to T. E. Lawrence. Rutter was a young Englishman who was inspired by the exploits of Burckhardt and Burton to attempt the hajj. Following service during the First World War, he took employment in the Malay States in order to learn Arabic and continued his studies in Egypt “where he lived as a native until he felt so thoroughly at home in the language and well versed in the rites and traditions of Islam as to be confident of his ability to carry through the pilgrimage as a fully fledged Muhammadan” (Sir Percy Cox). In fact, Rutter had converted to Islam and to make the hajj travelled
in the guise of a Syrian pilgrim; “his book’s striking literary quality is enhanced by his remarkable talent for conveying a vivid and sympathetic insider’s view of Islam’s holy cities” (Facey & Sharpe, p. 1). Despite the death of his intended travelling companion, and the outbreak of hostilities in the Hejaz, “nothing daunted” Rutter, and he “determined to adhere to his long-cherished plans” setting out from Suez for Massawa, wisely avoiding the usual route via Jiddah. A little over a year later he was back in Egypt. In Cox’s words: “Thus ended a great enterprise, carried through with consummate pluck and fixity of purpose, and now given to his countrymen in two absorbing volumes which leave noting to be desired either in literary style or human interest”. In his memoir Genius of Friendship: T. E. Lawrence , Williamson notes Lawrence’s opinion of these handsomely produced volumes, Rutter’s only book: “they are most modestly good: very human, and fair, and fresh. The entire absence of great- mindedness is very charming”. 2 volumes, octavo. Original green buckram on bevelled boards, gilt- lettered spines, Arabic script to front covers (Mecca to vol. I, Medina to vol. II), top edges gilt, others uncut. Photogravure frontispiece to each volume and 8 maps in all, 2 double- and 6 full-page. Bindings bright and sharp, jackets professionally repaired and cleaned, some chips, nicks, and closed tears but still very good. ¶ Ghani, p. 586. Sir Percy Cox, “An Englishman in Mecca”, The Geographical Journal , vol. 73, no. 5, May 1929; William Facey & Sharon Sharpe, “Who was Eldon Rutter?”, Journal of Arabian Studies , 6:2, 2016. £3,500 [159351] 66 SA’DI. The Kulliyat. Mughal India, 1035 ah / 1625–6 ce Superbly illuminated This richly illuminated manuscript contains the Kulliyat, or collected works, of Sa’di, written by the scribe ‘Inayatullah Sakin Ibrahim, presumably in Agra. Abu Muslih ibn Abdallah Shirazi, known as Sa’di (d. c. 1291 ce), was one of the most renowned poets of medieval Persia. His works include the Bustan (Orchard), completed in 1257, and the Gulistan (Rose Garden), perhaps his
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