Rare Miniature Quran on Display at Abu Dhabi Book Fair; Price Revealed

A rare and notable edition of David Bryce’s miniature Quran is on display and being offered for sale at this year’s Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.

Peter Harrington, one of the world’s leading rare book dealers, is presenting an exceptional copy of David Bryce’s celebrated miniature Quran at the event. The work is regarded as one of the world’s best-known miniature books.

The Quran was printed in Glasgow in the late 1890s using photolithography. The Bryce edition is considered the first European printing of the Quran in miniature format.

David Bryce produced these miniature Qurans for Muslim readers in Europe, the Indian subcontinent, East Africa and the Middle East. The copies were initially supplied with a protective metal case featuring a built-in magnifying glass. The production method was a significant technical achievement and also proved a major commercial success.

Although miniature Qurans had previously been produced using lithography in India and the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th century, none achieved the popularity or reach of Bryce’s edition.

Sarah Trevisan, a Middle East specialist at Peter Harrington, said this particular copy was printed in Scotland around 1896. According to Trevisan, the original text was first handwritten in Turkey, then photographed, reproduced at a much smaller scale and printed in miniature format.

This Quran measures just 26 by 19 millimetres, with its Arabic text printed using photolithography. Its original red leather cover features gold decoration, and the copy remains housed in its original metal case—the same packaging in which these miniature Qurans were first issued.

Peter Harrington is offering the miniature Quran for £2,750, equivalent to about AED 13,587, at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. The exhibition runs until September 18.