To Be Sold: Abu Dhabi Dh430,000 Map.

A Dh2 million map that used to serve as the first printed reference to the holy city of Makkah will also be available for purchase.

At the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, a unique insight into the past awaits visitors as Peter Harrington, a London-based rare bookseller, shows a fascinating collection of a mid-19th century map featuring one of the earliest mentions of Abu Dhabi is known as "Abuthubbi," the map is one of the earliest to acknowledge the region. Annotated by a former British Army Officer, the term was used for a lecture on The history of the Arabs in London in April 1844.

The historical artefact, which costs Dh435,740, will be available at the book fair at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from April 29 to May 5. Among other treasures Peter Harrington presents is a rare 16th-century book titled "Itinerarium Portugallensium" by Fracanzio da Montalboddo, featuring the first modern printed map of the holy city of Makkah.

It is priced at Dh 2.06 million. The woodcut map, believed to be the Sinus Arabicus, marks the earliest appearance of the Gulf region and is the primary printed reference to the holy city of Makkah.

Pom Harrington stated that the selection at the ADIBF is curated to showcase enduring fascination with the Middle East throughout the ages. Harrington states, "We are proud to present these exceptional rarities in Abu Dhabi, offering collectors, cultural institutes, enthusiasts, and scholars alike a unique opportunity for exploring the rich Middle Eastern history through the lens of rare cartographic records." Peter Harrington has been a regular participant at the ADIBF since 2016, with the Middle Eastern market constituting approximately 10% of its global sales. The 33rd edition of the ADIBF, organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, is expected to host over 1350 exhibitions from 90 countries, up from 1300 to 84 countries the previous year.

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