[Prayers and Qur'ānic verses].

Curatorial Note:

About five centuries before block printing was introduced in Europe (in the mid-15th century), Arabs were using the technique to produce miniature texts consisting of prayers, incantations, and verses from the Qur’an. The texts were printed on narrow strips of paper which were then rolled up and inserted into small cylindrical metal cases to be worn around the neck on chains or cards like pendants. Called tarshes, these early examples of Arabic printing are rare. This tarsh appears to have been composed from multiple blocks. The first block presents the shahāada – lā ilāha illā allāh la illaha illa Allah (There is no god but God) – and was produced using a separate wooden block. Five metal plates would have been used for the text following this, which contains Qur’anic verses, invocations to God, and supplications and requests for protection. See Karl Schaefer, “The Scheide Tarsh,” Princeton University Library Chronicle, 56, no. 3 (Spring 1995), pp. 400-419.

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Block printed text in Kufic script. 27.1 x 6.5 cm. No vocalization; text unpointed. Right hand margin eroded in places; some text lost.
Paper is unglazed handmade stock. Backed with paper as a preservation measure.
Note on back of shelf-list card: See R. R. Bulliet, "Medieval Arabic Tarsh: A Forgotten Chapter in the History of Printing," Journal of the American Oriental Society 107 (1987), 427-438.

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WHS fragment acquired at auction (Sotheby's, London, Oriental Manuscripts, 22 October 1993, lot no. 25) by William H. Scheide through Christopher Edwards.

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An example of early Arabic block printing. The text is divided into five sections: a decorative formulaic heading and four blocks of text. The first two blocks are Koranic; the last two are prayers and invocations.

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