Doha International Book Fair Exhibiting Rare Manuscripts

Doha, June 17 (QNA) - As in previous editions, the 32nd Doha International Book Fair is once more exhibiting a collection of rare manuscripts, shedding light on human heritage and history. Under the slogan "With Reading We Rise." the book fair is being held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center from June 12 - 21, 2023. Qatar News Agency (QNA) has conducted a tour of this year's manuscripts, including those of Poland's Manuscriptum Publishing House. In a statement to QNA Manioscriptum representative said that the house is participating for the first time in the Doha International Book Fair, explaining that Maniuscriptum specializes in producing scientifically accurate replicas of historical manuscripts, particularly those that changed human history. He added that the replicas are so identical to the originals that they actually feel and smell exactly the same way. He pointed out that among the manuscripts is the Golden Quran, which dates back to a thousand years ago, with the original scribed by famous calligrapher Ibn Al Bawab, with the original housed at the Bavarian State Library. He added that amongst the Manuscriptum Publishing House's collection are replicas of the mysterious Voynich Manuscipt, whose language is unknown, preserved at Yale University, Christopher Columbus' journal and a letter he wrote to the Queen of Spain, Leonardo da Vinci's manuscript currently owned by businessman Bill Gates, with a value of more than USD 60 million. Additionally, the collection contains the Western World's most famous work on Arabian culture the Rzewuski Manuscript, as well as works by Nicolaus Copernicus. Speaking to QNA, Global Art Director and Owner Dr. Musallam Sakka Amini said that the library has a large collection of archeological holdings, including swords, shields, large Qurans, and rare Quranic and historical manuscripts of importance in Islamic heritage, including jurisprudential and scientific handwritten manuscripts, ranging in age from 150 to 700 years old. Amini added that his establishment owns manuscripts by Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and Ibn Al Nafis, as well as manuscripts of Bukhari and Muslim, some of which are more than 800 years old, in addition to rare Quranic manuscripts dating back to Ottoman Sultan Murad I, in addition to the astrolabe of the Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid. (QNA)