The Koran, Commonly Called the Alcoran of Mohammed, Translated into English Immediately from the Original Arabic; with Explanatory Notes, Taken from the Most Approved Commentators.

TRANSLATED BY GEORGE SALE,.

Item Number: 119670

London: Printed by C. Ackers for J. Wilcox, 1734.

First edition of George Sale’s important translation of the Koran, the first to translate the original text directly from the Arabic into English. Quarto, bound in full morocco by Bayntun with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, elaborate gilt ruling and stamping to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition with the text exceptionally clean. Housed in a custom slipcase.

For Muslims, Islam’s sacred scripture can only truly be read in Arabic, for it is the literal, revealed word of God. Among English translations, however, George Sale’s remains an important landmark. “As a translator, Sale had the field almost entirely to himself. The only full translation of the Koran in any modern language previously published was the despicable French version by Du Ryer, issued in 1649. A very poor English rendering of Du Ryer’s from French was issued by Alexander Ross in London in the same year… Sale’s translation is remarkably accurate. Throughout he has made full use of native commentators, as regards both the interpretation of the text and its illustration in the notes… His version remains the best [translation] in any language” (DNB).