4to. 304 pp., Arabic lithographed text within borders, printed in red & black, early ink inscriptions to front endpapers and fly leaf, contemporary mottled calf, stamped and ruled in blind with decorative centre & corner pieces, lightly rubbed with extremities worn, new raised spine with title gilt on new red label, scattered foxing, heavier on endpapers & title page, [printed at St. John the Baptist Monastery, Dayr al-Shuwayr, Lebanon, 1813 AD].

Synopsis

This work was printed in Arabic at the important Monastery of St. John the Baptist in Dayr al-Shuwayr, Mount Lebanon. The printing press there was founded by Abdallah al-Zakhir (1684-1748), and operated between 1743 and 1899. It was renowned for its fine Arabic type, and produced 32 titles (and 36 editions) in total to propagate the Christian faith in the region.
Bibliographic references: Nasrallah, 38; Louis Sheikho, 40-41; Silvestre de Sacy, 1842, I, n° 1346 and pages 412-414.