THE LIFE OF MAHOMET [and] LIVES OF THE SUCCESSORS OF MAHOMET

2 volumes in one. Early printings of these important books. Each volume with its specific title-page. 8vo, handsomely bound in three-quarter tan calf over marbled paper covered boards, the spine with raised bands, the compartments diced, the bands gilt stippled, green morocco lettering piece gilt. viii, 216; viii, 268 pp. A fine copy, fresh and clean, the binding beautifully preserved, strong and tight.

Edizione: an early printing in handsome binding of these important works.<br> from the preface: “some apology may seem necessary for presenting a life of mahomet at the present day, when no new fact can be added to those already known concerning him. many years ago, during a residence in madrid, the author projected a series of writings illustrative of the domination of the arabs in spain. these were to be introduced by a sketch of the life of the founder of the islam faith, and the first mover of arabian conquest. most of the particulars for this were drawn from spanish sources, and from gagnier’s traslation of the arabian historian abulfeda, a copy of which the author found in the jesuits’ library of the convent of isidro, at madrid.<br> such is the origin of the work now given to the public; on which the author lays no claim to novelty of fact, nor profundity of research. it still bears the type of a work intended for a family library; in constructing which the whole aim of the writer has been to digest into an easy, perspicuous, and flowing narrative, the admitted facts concerning mahomet, together with such legends and traditions as have been wrought into the whole system of oriental literature; and at the same time to give such a summary of his faith as might be sufficient for the general reader. under such circumstances he has not thought it worth while to encumber his pages with a scaffolding of references and citations, nor to depart from the old english nomenclature of oriental names.”