4to. 293 pp., [1], English & Arabic text, translated by Kamal Hafuth Zand & John A. & Ivy E. Videan, original red cloth, lightly rubbed round edges, biblio, index, faded spine, owner’s name inscribed on front endpaper, few pencil underlining and annotations, otherwise copy in good condition, George Allen & Unwin Ltd, London, first edition, 1965.

Synopsis

A translation from the autograph manuscript of Abd al-Latif al-Baghdadi in the Bodlean library, Oxford. Al-Baghdadi (1162- 1261) was a celebrated physician, historian, Egyptologist and traveller. His wide range of achievements, particularly in medicine and philosophy, covered almost the entire field of knowledge of his time. This work is divided into two Books, the first dealing with the general characteristics of Egypt, plants, animals, antique monuments and foods peculiar to Egypt. While Book II deals with the Nile, its rise, laws governing it and the events of the years 1200-1202.