Bibliothèque orientale, ou, Dictionnaire universel, contenant généralement tout ce qui regarde la connoissance des peuples de l'Orient : Leurs histoires et traditions véritables ou fabuleuses, leurs religions, sectes et politique, etc. / Par Monsieur d'Herbelot
A Maestricht: Chez J.E. Dufour & Ph. Roux, M. DCC. LXXVI.
Physical Description
[4], xxi, 22-26, 954 p. 435 mm.
General Note
Herbelot spent much of his life preparing this work, but died with it unfinished. It was published in Paris in 1697, two years after Herbelot's death, having been finished by Antoine Galland who provided a 'Discours pour servir de préface' to this and following editions. Based on the immense Arabic bibliography (the Kashf al-Zunun) of Hadji Khalfa (Katip Çelebi), it also contains the substance of a vast number of other Arabic and Turkish compilations and manuscripts.
The book, dedicated to the King, Louis XIV, is arranged in alphabetical order followed by an index to the proper names and subjects and a list of the oriental authors and other works citred in the Bibliothèque orientale.
Provenance
The front pastedown carries a small bookplate with the motto 'Veritas Omnia Vincit' and a monogram.
The title-page is inscribes in ink, 'Given to me by my Friend Genl Sir WP Napier KCB. / Geo Jones R A.'
The rear loose endpaper of the bound volume has handwritten notes on the recto in pencil and in ink.
Binding Note
This work is bound together with its supplement by C. Visdelou and A. Galland, dated 1780 (see 22/634) in brown leather with a repaired spine lettered in gilt, 'Bibliotheq Orientale'.
Subject
Islamic civilization ; Dictionaries - Civilization, Oriental ; Dictionaries - Oriental literature ; Dictionaries - Arabic literature ; Dictionaries - Persian literature ; Dictionaries - Turkish literature ; Dictionaries