London Rare Book Fair exhibits two precious Islamic relics

Antiquarian bookshops in the UK contain many valuable historical books from the Ottoman era and the Islamic world.

Last month, more than 100 second-hand book dealers from all over the UK and the world attended the London Rare Book Fair.

A large number of rare books presented in this exhibition were related to the Islamic world and the Ottoman era.

Keith Fletcher, an antiquarian bookseller from Much Hadham, north London, and owner of the Fletcher Library, said: “Among the historical books I have collected from around the world, the first Quran translated into English and an illustrated book on the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his pure family) have attracted the most attention in this exhibition.

The translated Quran dates back to the 17th century and was printed in publishing houses in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, and London, and bears the name “Muhammad’s Quran”, Mr. Fletcher noted.
He further claimed that this work was translated from Arabic to French and then to English, adding that, “This work is valuable as the first English translation of the Holy Quran.”

Another rare work of the Fletcher collection is an illustrated book in French, published in 1698, about the life of the Messenger of God, may Allah bless him and his family.