Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller

Matériaux pour un Corpus Inscriptionum Arabicum. Deuxième Partie, Syrie du Sud, Tome Deuxième. - Jerusalem "Haram" (1927) [Mémoires publiées par les membres de l'Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale du Caire. Tome Quarante-Quatrième]; Tome Troisième, Premier Fascicule (1920) [Mémoires publiées par les membres de l'Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale du Caire. Tome Quarante-Cinquième]. 2 Vols.

Berchem, Max van (Text by); George Foucart (Edited by)

Le Caire (Cairo): Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale, 1927-1920. First edition. Hardcover. Folio (14 x 10 1/2") (Text vol.); (14 1/4 x 11") (Plates vol.). [8], 466pp (Text); CXX (120) leaves (Plates). Modern library binding, with gold lettering to spines. Original wrappers bound in.

Max van Berchem's collection of the Haram's Arabic inscriptions is contained in this two-volume set. The first one, the text volume, was published in 1927, seven years after the plates volume, as issued.

The second volume contains 120 photographic plates splendidly reproduced in photogravure. The plates depicts monuments and inscriptions found in the city of Jerusalem, and introduced in the first volume (lacking in this collection). However, it also contains the monuments and inscriptions found in Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount) which are introduced in our text volume.

Ex-library copies with stamp at upper and lower paper edges, and bookplate on inside of each front cover. Original wrappers of the plates volume expertly repaired. Text and captions in French. Binding and interior in overall very good condition. vg. Item #42629

About the author: Max van Berchem (1863-1921) was a Swiss epigraphist and historian. Best known as a pioneer of Arabic epigraphy, he created "Corpus Inscriptionum Arabicarum," an impressive collection of Arabic inscriptions gathered during his scientific expeditions to Egypt, Jerusalem, Palestine, and Syria. Being aware of the enormity of this project, he divided the work amongst others, mostly French and German scholars, with Berchem, for the most part, limiting his personal investigations to the cities of Cairo, Jerusalem and Damascus. In his work, he used photography as a means to record Arabic inscriptions. Between 1895 and 1914, he dedicated most of his time and energy towards the publication of the large amount of textual material that he had accumulated.

Price: $2,000.00