The seven manuscript volumes of the Baybars Qur’an at the British Library, London
Baybars Qur’an
We created a full-size, single volume, facsimile-quality prototype after being approached by the British Library to find a patron to commission the production of a facsimile of their greatest Quranic treasure. This seven-volume Qur’an produced between 704-5 AH/1304-6 AD is the earliest dated Qur’an of the Mamluk period.
2,188 pages written entirely in gold
Seven volumes, size 33 x 48cm
Calligraphy by Muhammad ibn al-Wahid
Illumination by Abu Bakr (known as Sandal), Muhammad ibn Mubadir, and Aydughdi ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Badri
Cairo AD 1304-1306
British Library Add. MS. 22406-12
* The image above is of the original seven manuscript volumes. All other images on this page are of the prototype facsimile produced as part of this case study.
This iconic seven-volume manuscript is unique. The publication of its facsimile will be a publishing venture unlike any other. No other Qur’an equals the exceptional beauty, scope and resonance of the Baybars Qur’an.
Contact Linda or Michael Falter to discuss commissioning this facsimile.
Production of the prototype involved creating full-size facsimile-quality proofs of a selection of the manuscript’s pages complete with gold illumination and reproduction of the intricate decoration over the gold.
As the manuscript’s original binding no longer exists, a contemporary binding was identified and reproduced at full size to facsimile-quality in specially tanned, soft sheepskin with front, back and inside covers and spine hand-tooled in gold, black and blind.
Marbled endpapers were specially created to match the manuscript and its binding.
We created a full-size, single volume, facsimile-quality prototype after being approached by the British Library to find a patron to commission the production of a facsimile of their greatest Quranic treasure. This seven-volume Qur’an produced between 704-5 AH/1304-6 AD is the earliest dated Qur’an of the Mamluk period.
2,188 pages written entirely in gold
Seven volumes, size 33 x 48cm
Calligraphy by Muhammad ibn al-Wahid
Illumination by Abu Bakr (known as Sandal), Muhammad ibn Mubadir, and Aydughdi ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Badri
Cairo AD 1304-1306
British Library Add. MS. 22406-12
* With the exception of the image above, all images on this page are taken from the prototype facsimile produced as part of this case study.
Frontispiece to the first volume of Sultan Baybars’ monumental Qurʼan.
Detail from the frontispiece to the first volume of Sultan Baybars’ monumental Qurʼan.
Detail from folio 105v of the sixth volume demonstrating the extremely high accuracy of reproduction achieved in the facsimile. The illuminated medallion contains the word ‘ashr in gold kufic script and indicates the end of a tenth verse.
This iconic manuscript is unique. The publication of its facsimile will be a publishing venture unlike any other. No other Qur’an equals the exceptional beauty, scope and resonance of the Baybars Qur’an.
Contact Linda or Michael Falter to discuss commissioning this facsimile.
Production of the prototype involved creating full-size facsimile-quality proofs of a selection of the manuscript’s pages complete with gold illumination and reproduction of the intricate decoration over the gold.
As the manuscript’s original binding no longer exists, a contemporary binding was identified and reproduced at full size to facsimile-quality in specially tanned, soft sheepskin with front, back and inside covers and spine hand-tooled in gold, black and blind.
Marbled endpapers were specially created to match the manuscript and its binding.
The seven volumes of the Baybars Qur’an facsimile edition. The eighth volume is the extensive Commentary Volume. The open volume displays the frontispiece to volume one.
Folios 106r -105v of the sixth volume. The magnificent calligraphy is entirely in gold throughout the manuscript’s seven volumes.
The Sūrat al-Fātiḥah. Folios 2v-3r at the beginning of the first volume of Sultan Baybars’ seven-volume Qurʼan.
Inside front cover revealing blind-embossing and specially created marbled endpapers.
Inside back cover revealing blind-embossing and specially created marbled endpapers.
Flap detail in gold and blind tooling
Binding rosette detail in gold, black and blind tooling
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