Rare Manuscripts Displayed at Riyadh International Book Fair 2024

Book lovers and history fans can look forward to seeing rare manuscripts at the Riyadh International Book Fair 2024.

The event, running from September 26-October 5 at King Saud University, is a must-visit for travel and culture enthusiasts. The annual fair brings together over 2,000 publishers from around the globe, with Qatar as the guest of honor. In addition, the event also features 800 pavilions and participation from publishing giants across 30 countries.

This year’s theme, “Riyadh Reads,” emphasizes the Kingdom’s growing role as a cultural hub. Specifically, it showcases an impressive collection of books and literary works. On top of this, visitors can enjoy events ranging from panel discussions with famous authors to interactive workshops.​

In line with Qatar being the guest of honor, attendees can enjoy rare manuscripts and talks from notable Qatari intellectuals.​ There’s also a special area for children, making the fair an ideal attraction and activity for families.

Delighting literary enthusiasts

Participating at the fair is German publisher Mueller and Schindler, displaying rare manuscripts from the Arabic world. In particular, they specialize in creating high-quality replicas of historical texts that the public cannot typically access. Some exciting items they have are the Blue Qur’an and Leonardo da Vinci’s notes.

Charlotte Kramer, CEO of Mueller and Schindler, spoke about their work creating facsimiles or faithful reproductions of these rare manuscripts.

“We provide facsimiles, which derive from the Latin term ‘fac simile,’ meaning ‘make it similar,’” she explained.

It’s important to note that producing these facsimiles requires meticulous work. This is because they reproduce not only the text but their original appearance. This includes the colors, dimensions, embellishments, age marks, and any blemishes.

Rare manuscripts and literary works

Moving on, Kramer described just how one-of-a-kind their offerings are, which are typically in small quantities.

“One of our notable replicas is Katta Langar Qur’an, which dates back over 1,200 years, making it one of the oldest Qur’anic fragments,” she said. “This fragment, written in Hijazi calligraphy, is significant for the development of the Qur’anic text.”

The Katta Langar Qur’an features the Kufic script, a style of Arabic script and the earliest Islamic handwriting. Moreover, it dates from the 8^th century, making it one of the oldest rare manuscripts of the Qur’an.

Another of Mueller and Schindler’s replicas includes the Arabic text, Al-Sufi’s “Book of the Fixed Stars.” It is a book that describes the 48 constellations according to Ptolemy.

Third time’s the charm

With all these precious literary works and rare manuscripts, Mueller and Schindler are proud to once again join the fair.

“We are thrilled to be here for the third time,” she expressed. “The people are incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely interested in our work. They engage with us, asking insightful questions and listening intently to our explanations,”

For those interested in more than books, the fair offers a gateway to Riyadh’s flourishing art and cultural scene. Bibliophiles and travelers looking for a unique cultural experience will enjoy the great opportunity to explore Saudi Arabia’s literary treasures.

Photo from Facebook/Verlag Müller und Schindler