ALLAN JACOB (ABU DHABI)
One of the earliest maps of the Arabian Peninsula that names Abu Dhabi for the first time, from the 19th Century, is on sale for 95,000 British pounds (approximately Dh400,000) at the Abu Dhabi International Book Festival that began on Monday. The rare map is being exhibited in stand 8E18 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) by Peter Harrington, a British bookstore dealing in rare manuscripts.
The German map by L. G. Ehrenberg and Eduard Ruppel, has an early reference to Abu Dhabi (“Abuthubbi”). It is extensively annotated by a former British army officer, who invokes the scholarships of geographers Abu al-Fida and Muhammad al-Idrisi.
The map is believed to have been used by him to deliver his illustrated lecture on “The History of the Arabs”, according to Peter Harrington, the London-based bookstore dealing in rare books and manuscripts.
Many of the place names on the Gulf coast, including Dubai and Sir Bani Yas Island, had been recorded in print as early as 1590, by the Venetian jeweller and merchant Gasparo Balbi, who travelled with Portuguese trading vessels. Abu Dhabi, however, was not mentioned.
The history of the modern settlement begins in 1793, when the Bani Yas Bedouin moved to the island in search of fresh water, and so the name did not appear on maps until the early 1800s. Consequently, this is one of the earliest printed maps to name Abu Dhabi.
“We have traced just two institutional copies of this map in the UK, (British Library, Durham University); 11 in Europe and two in the United States (Library of Congress, Harvard). There appear to be none in Middle East libraries,” said Pom Harrington, the owner of Peter Harrington.
For those interested in delving deeper into the origin of the maps, Rüppell was the first European explorer to reach the Gulf of Aqaba. Both Ehrenberg and Rüppell followed in the footsteps and were inspired by Carsten Niebuhr, who is mentioned in the title. Niebuhr was invited to participate in the Royal Danish Arabia Expedition, which left in 1761.
The party travelled from Istanbul to Yemen and then India. They returned through Iran and Afghanistan. Niebuhr was the only scientific member of the expedition to survive, and returned with numerous town plans, sea charts and maps that he had made.
“As custodians of history, our selection at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair this year showcases the enduring fascination with the Middle East throughout the ages. From the earliest maps depicting the region’s appearance during the Age of Discovery, to the strategic cartographic endeavours of global powers during the aftermath of World War II and the Cold War, our selection illuminates the evolving geopolitical significance of the Gulf region,” said Pom.
“We are proud to present these exceptional rarities in Abu Dhabi, offering collectors, cultural institutes, enthusiasts, and scholars alike a unique opportunity to explore the rich tapestry of Middle Eastern history through the lens of rare cartographic records,” he added.
The rare bookstore will also be selling a 16th century book, “Itinerarium Portugallensium” by Fracanzio da Montalboddo at the fair this year. The book features the first “modern” printed map to depict Mecca. The rare book will be offered at £450,000 (approximately Dh2 million).
Others in the catalogue by Peter Harrington that will be showcased and on sale is an archive of letters owned by Peter O’Toole, star of David Lean’s award-winning Lawrence of Arabia, and a rare official Ottoman map, which tracks the Hijaz Railway from Syria south to Mecca.