CREATOR UNKNOWN

Egypt, 18th century. MS 006

Not much is known about the context of this small, delicate collection of prayers in Coptic and Arabic. Bound in a cream colored, drawn floral designed cover, a majority of the text is written in Coptic, but there are certain passages in Arabic as well as Arabic commentary in the top margins. Coptic was a language spoken and written in Egypt prior to the introduction of Arabic.

In the inside right cover is a round label with a picture of the Tower of Babel with text that reads, “Maissonneuve et Cie, editeurs, a la Tour de Babel.” Handwritten beneath it in pencil reads, “Maissonneuve 1891 cat/6642.” The oldest “orientalist” publishers in France, Maissoneuve et Cie were 19th century Paris publishers and distributors of the Librarie Orientale et Americane, for “the study of the cultural, religious wealth of old civilizations of Africa, Americas and Asia.” Another pencil note identifies the individual publisher, E. Guilmoto. This text most likely first landed in the hands of these publishers, then into the library of bibliographer and librarian Wilberforce Eames (1855-1937) before it was placed in the library of Edward Burgess.

Bibliography

Unknown. Prayers in Coptic and Arabic. Egypt, 18th century. University of Oregon Special Collections & University Archives. MS 006. https://alliance-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/3uoa1r/CP71269138610001451

JSTOR. “Maissoneuve & Larose: Publisher Description.” JSTOR.

Maisonneuve-Adrien.com “Historique.” Editions Maisonneuve et Librairie (maisonneuve-adrien.com)