Fifteen Original Oriental Manuscript Leaves of Six Centuries (12th to 18th century)

Cleveland, Ohio: Otto Ege, 1930. Hardcover Box. Fine. First edition. 1+15 leaves. Folio. Leaf book in black and red portfolio with ties, white and red letters on spine and the front board. Two preliminary leaves (index) and fifteen original manuscript leaves in various sizes. Each hinged into a window-mounted folder with explanatory printed captions identifying contents. Complete as issued. From the collection and notes prepared by Otto Ege. 14 leaves on paper and one (no. 7) on vellum. Some of the leaves are heighted in gold or with other illuminations, and two including musical notations. Fine as new copy. The leaves written between 12th and 18th centuries, twelve of the Middle East, two of Russia, and one of Tibet. Texts mostly covering religious contents represented in Arabic, Syriac, Armenian, Ethiopic, Tibetian, Greek and Slavic and two pages of Persian poetry (no. 8 and 10). The leaves from Otto Ege's collection (d. 1951); he was the dean of the Cleveland Institute of Art, a lecturer on history and art of the book, biblioclast, bookseller, and book-breaker. From the 1930s onwards, he compiled his famous portfolios resulting in seven series, each limited to 40 to 200 copies. This copy is #13 of limited 40 sets of "Oriental Manuscripts". (ref: Disbound and Dispersed: The Leaf Book Considered, 2005, p. 114, #50)</p><p>Contents: 1. Koran by Mohammed: Egypt, Cairo, early 12th century. Arabic text and script, Naskhi style/ 2. Koran by Mohammed: North Africa, late 12th c.; Arabic text and script, Maghireli Kufic style/ 3. Prayer book of service for the dead: Syria, late 13th c.; Syriac text, Nestorian script/ 4. Excerpts from the Evangelists: Byzantium, late 14th c.; Greek text, cursive Byzantine script/ 5. Bible lessons [Lectionary]: Armenia, Asia Minor, 15th-17th c.; Armenian text, Haikian alphabet, Armenian iron writing/ 6. Greek liturgy with Byzantine Greek notation: Byzantium, 15th c.; Greek text, Greek script, Byzantine Greek neumes/ 7. Hymnal: Ethiopia, middle 17th c.; Ethiopic style script/ 8. Anthology of poetry: Persia, early 17th c.; Persian text, Nastaliq style script/ 9. Mohammedan Law: Turkey, Istanbul, late 18th c.; Turkish Mohammedan text, Arabic, Shikastah style script/ 10. Gulistan (Garden of roses) by Sa'di: Persia, late 18th c.; Persian text, Nastaliq style script/ 11. Koran: North Morocco, Fez, late 18th c.; Arabic text and script, Naskhi style/ 12. Koran: Arabia, late 18th c.; Arabic text and script, Naskhi style/ 13. Prayer scroll: Tibet, 18th c.; Tibetan Buddhist text, Tibetan script/ 14. Church holiday songs: Russia, late 18th c.; Church Slavic text, Cyrillic script, Kriuki music symbols/ 15. Bible stories: Russia, late 18th c.; Slavic text, Cyrillic script. 1930