Manuscrit

1927 · 507168 — W. Heffer & Sons for the Trustees of the Woodbrooke Settlement 1927. Hardcover. VERY GOOD. First edition of this Important contribution to the study of early Christian documents texts and translations in Syriac Arabic and Garshuni drawn from manuscripts in the collection of Alphonse Mingana. Seven large 8vo volumes 7x10' in publisher's gray paper over boards backed in gray cloth with black stamped spine lettering deckled edges with numerous facsimile plates. Small marks so base of spine probably from the removal of a label blind embossed stamp of previous owner a well known professor of religious studies. A fresh and attractive set; very clean and with parts of some volumes unopened. We can find no auction records for the complete set. Comprised of: Vol. 1. Barsalibi's Treatise against the Melchites. Genuine and Apocryphal works of Ignatius of Antioch. Jeremiah Apocryphon. New Life of John the Baptist. Some Uncanonical Psalms; Vol. 2 Timothy's Apology for Christianity. Lament of the Virgin. Martyrdom of Pilate; Vol. 3. Vision of Theophilus: Apocalypse of Peter; Vol. 4. The Work of Dionysius Barsalibi Against the Armenians; Vol. 5 Commentary of Theodore of Mopsuestia on the Nicene Creed; Vol. 6. Commentary of Theodore of Mopsuestia on the Lord's Prayer and on Sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist; Vol. 7. Early Christian Mystics. Alphonse Mingana was raised in Chaldean Catholic in Northern Iraq. After attending seminary in Mosul he was ordained a priest in 1902. He worked in various capacities in the Middle East Including as a professor of Syriac studies at his seminary. Due to a theciogical quarrel Mingana left the priesthood and the area in 1910. He soon connected with Woodbrooke a Quaker study center in Birmingham. England. It was founded by George Cadbury in 1903 no husband of Elizabeth Cadbury who also appears in this list. There he taught Semitic languages. He had long had a passion for early Christian and Muslim manuscripts. Cadbury recognizing his linguistic skills and expertise with early manuscripts sent him on three buying trips to the Middle East. There Mingana collect thousands of important Middle Eastern manuscripts including one of the oldest fragments of the Quran ever discovered. He also worked on cataloging them and transiating the most important ones into English. They became the seven volumes offered here. His collection of manuscripts now called the Mingana Collection consists of over 3000 Middle Eastern manuscripis in over twenty languages including Arabic Syriac Ethiopic Georgian Hebrew Samaritan and Armenian It is currently housed at the University of Birmingham The manuscripts in the collection have proven to be a treasure trove for scholars of early Christianity. W. Heffer & Sons for the Trustees of the Woodbrooke Settlement hardcover