UAE: Rare book worth over Dh400,000 takes centre stage at Abu Dhabi International Book Fair

Khaleej Times

26-04-2025

A rare 14th-century manuscript of Ibn Sina's Canon of Medicine, valued at Dh464,550, will be among the star attractions at the 34th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), which opens today, April 26, and will run until May 5 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.
Brought to the fair by renowned antiquarian book dealer Peter Harrington, the manuscript marks a major milestone: the 1000th anniversary of Ibn Sina's iconic work, a foundation of medieval Islamic and global medical knowledge.
This year's edition of the fair will host 1,400 exhibitors from 96 countries and feature over 2,000 activities spanning literature, publishing, creative industries, and cultural dialogue.
Returning to Abu Dhabi with a carefully curated selection, Peter Harrington is showcasing rare works that explore Middle Eastern history, heritage, and early encounters between Islamic and Western traditions.
Among the highlights is the first known appearance of Arabic script in an American novel, he Kentuckian in New-York (1834), priced at £7,500 (Dh36,675). Another one included in the collection is a rare, previously unrecorded 19th-century Arabic-English phrasebook created by an Egyptian author, also priced at £7,500.
The dealer's collection perfectly complements ADIBF's celebration of One Thousand and One Nights as the 'Book of the World'. Peter will also present a rare copy of the first complete Arabic edition of One Thousand and One Nights printed in the Arab world, produced at Cairo's Bulaq Press in 1835.
Other standout pieces include a visual archive of Saudi Arabia's post-war Hejaz Railway project (1948), featuring over 200 unpublished photographs (priced at £18,500 (Dh90,465), and a collection of original watercolours by famed illustrator Edmund Dulac for The Arabian Nights (priced between £35,000 and £80,000 (Dh171,000 and Dh391,000), capturing the timeless magic of Arabic folklore.
'These works carry value beyond their rarity — they speak to identity, memory, and belonging,' said Pom Harrington, owner of Peter Harrington. 'We're seeing a growing appetite, especially among collectors in the Middle East and across the diaspora, for items that reflect personal histories and cultural roots.'
Another standout item is a facsimile of Al-Istakhri's Book of Climes, reproducing the earliest surviving Arabic maps, a vital artefact from the Islamic Golden Age of cartography.
Younger collectors in the Middle East, Harrington noted, are increasingly building libraries that reflect their own identities rather than inheriting traditional collections.
'We see strong interest in Arabic calligraphy, Islamic philosophy, early scientific texts, and diasporic heritage materials like trade maps and early language guides,' added Ben Houston, sales director at Peter Harrington.
Under the theme Knowledge Illuminates Our Community, this year's fair was organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and held under the patronage of President Sheikh Mohamed.
Organisers said the trend mirrors broader cultural movements across the region where national identity and heritage preservation are influencing institutional and private collections.