Imagining the World: Unexplored Global Collections at Columbia

Qurʾān leaf
1296 AH / 1879 AD
Ms Or 163
Rare Book & Manuscript Library

Polychrome and gold illuminated frontispiece from a finely decorated manuscript.  [Iran?]  
Arabic and Persian, 316 x 195 mm
Gift of David Eugene Smith, 1931-1934

Quranic scroll
1250 AH / 1834 AD
Ms Or 434
Rare Book & Manuscript Library

This is an example of a miniature Qur’anic scroll. As shown in the Arabic block print example featured in the exhibit (Tarsh) above, the scroll has often been a preferred format for writing Quranic verses or prayers when used as a protective talisman to be rolled inside a cylinder or a box to be worn by the owner or put inside the home often above the doorway. The dimensions of the scroll are 222 x 3.5 inches.

Miniature Quran in octagonal silver box
18th century
Ms Or 308
Rare Book & Manuscript Library

This is a handwoven prayer band attached to a small octagonal silver box, with fine decorated mother of pearl top and bottom. Inside the box is a tiny octagonal complete Quran, bound with a piece of textile. The book is not quite two inches wide and is about three quarters of an inch thick. The book is made of handmade paper and is entirely handwritten. Amusingly enough, it also has a complete index of the contents. This prayer box and band were probably a gift to a wealthy child and were intended to be worn over the right shoulder and under the left arm. The case and the Quran are dated as early as the 18th century. The original cover of the book has been replaced (probably worn out), and the current cover is only sixty years old.

Babylonian clay tablet
Plimpton 322 
Rare Book & Manuscript Library

This Babylonian clay tablet, written in the cuneiform script of the period is notable for presenting an example of complex Babylonian mathematics. This tablet, believed to have been written around 1800 BC in the ancient Iraqi city of Larsa, has 15 lines of text arranged in 4 columns in the cuneiform script of the period. It is considered an extremely important text for the history of mathematics, showing that Old Babylonian mathematics was much more sophisticated than had been believed earlier on. Plimpton 322 has undoubtedly had the most extensive scholarly interest and research publication history of any cuneiform tablet.

Entermientos gustozos, o Dialogos burlescos entre un Judio, Turco, Reformado y Catolico
Amsterdam? c. 1737.
MS Gen 222
Rare Book & Manuscript Library

Many Jews remained in Spain after their official expulsion from Spain in 1492, converting to Christianity in public, while practicing Judaism in private. Over the centuries, however, these Conversos slowly migrated out of Spain due to increasing pressure from the Inquisition. Due to the Netherlands' relatively loose policies relating to Jews, many Iberian Jews moved to Amsterdam, where they retained their language (Spanish or Portuguese) and returned to open practice of Judaism. There was much confusion about Jewish practice among these Converso Jews, and many books were written to clarify differences between Judaism and Christianity. This book, written in the form of a play, presents various religions (Judaism, Islam, Protestantism, and Catholicism) and debates the merits of each.

Astrological calendar in Sanskrit : Śaka 1769-A.D. 1847
Published [S.l. : s.n., 1847 (Śaka 1769)]
B529.3 As89
Rare Book & Manuscript Library

This round jyotiṣacakra Hindu astrological wheel foldout plate calendar in printed format illustrates another style of representing the influence of celestial events on human domestic affairs.