KORAN – Alcorani textus universus and Refutatio Alcorani. Edited by Ludovico Marracci. Padua: Seminary Press, 1698.

Third printed edition in Arabic: a monument of Koran transmission in the western world and a philological work that served as basis for numerous subsequent editions and translations. The first edition, printed in c.1530, was ordered to be destroyed and survives in just one copy; the second edition was printed in Hamburg in 1694. Marracci's translation followed that of Robert Ketenensis in 1143 and both were the basis of numerous subsequent editions and translations into modern languages. Brunet III, 1307 ('a sought-after edition, examples of which are very uncommon').

2 parts in one volume, folio (341 x 222mm). Text in Arabic and Latin, with index, elenchus correctionum and in notis & refutationibus, woodcut initials (worming to front endpapers extending slightly into the left-hand margin of title and following 2 leaves in a couple of small areas and affecting a couple of letters on leaf A3, a couple of very tiny wormholes in margins from beginning extending through to gathering L, light spotting to leaves X1 and X6 in first part; second part with tiny marginal holes to leaves B3-6, C3-6, and X6-Y4, very small marginal repair to 2Z1, light marginal worming towards end heavily last 8 text leaves with loss of a few words to index, elenchus correctionum and in notis & refutationibus). Contemporary calf, red edges (head of spine slightly defective, upper joint splitting, extremities rubbed, corners bumped). Provenance: Jobst Weichard Gr[af] Barbo (inscription on first title).

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