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Home News Rare Ibn Battuta Manuscript Sells for Nearly Dh1 Million

Rare Ibn Battuta Manuscript Sells for Nearly Dh1 Million

Sep 15, 2026
71 min
10
Sep 15, 2026 07:30
Rare Ibn Battuta manuscript fetches nearly Dh1 million at Abu Dhabi book fair

## Historic Sale at Abu Dhabi Book Fair

A rare manuscript of Ibn Battuta's Rihla was sold for nearly Dh1 million at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. This manuscript is one of only seven known copies, highlighting its rarity and historical importance.

## Ibn Battuta's Journey

The manuscript details Ibn Battuta's travels from 1325 to 1333, covering regions such as the Hejaz and the Gulf. It includes some of the earliest descriptions of areas now known as Oman and the UAE. The document is valued for its firsthand accounts of the Hajj and Gulf regions, including places like Nizwa and Qalhat.

## Significance to Collectors and Scholars

The manuscript's sale underscores its significance to collectors and scholars interested in Islamic history and exploration. Ibn Battuta, born in Tangier in 1304, traveled extensively across the Islamic world, covering more ground than his contemporary, Marco Polo.

## Manuscript Details

The quarto manuscript, written in Maghribi script, is bound in black-brown calf leather. It is a crucial historical record, offering insights into medieval travel and exploration. The earliest incomplete version of this manuscript is held in France, with another copy in Cambridge.

## Peter Harrington's Role

London-based rare book dealer Peter Harrington brought the manuscript to the fair. Harrington has a history of showcasing rare works at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, including a Shakespeare First Folio and a manuscript of Ibn Sina's Canon of Medicine.

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