Bibliotheca boasts of 6,000 rare manuscripts, all unique

Islamic manuscripts and rare religious texts occupy a prominent place in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Thousands of original copies, including handwritten Qur'ans, and translations of the Bible make up the library's priceless collection.

Director of the Manuscripts Department, Youssef Zidan said that the library has so far acquired more than 3000 rare titles, of which the oldest dates back to 1576 AD.

The Bibliotheca has access to 6000 rare manuscripts in 4200 volumes, which record one thousand years' development of Arab and Islamic thought, Zidan said.

The oldest manuscript is a commentary of the Qur'an by Sheikh Abu Mohamed Ishack Ibn Ibrahim Al Bousti in 386 AD, he added "A manuscript differs from a book in that each copy is unique, no matter how accurate the copyist might be. The pen he writes with, the errors that occur and the ornamentation lend each piece of writing its particular distinction," Zidan explained.

"Many manuscripts acquire extra value and significance with the remarks in the margins which might have been by a well-known scientist or man of letters," he said.

"Manuscripts are a primary source for understanding the development of Arab and Moslem thought, since publications on Muslim heritage account for no more than 7 per cent of total output," he added.

"France, Italy and Saudi Arabia were among the first to donate invaluable book collections.

Some 10,000 rare books came from France, Italy gave the library 7500 titles, and Saudi Arabia in an unprecedented gesture donated two original manuscripts, as most gifts to the library are not always originals" he said.