[Saladin]. Yusuf ibn Rafi', Baha al-Din, called Ibn Shaddad; Albert Schultens, editor and translator Sirat al-Sultan al-alik al-Nasr Salih al-Din [Arabic]... Vita et res gestae Sultani, Almalichi Alnasiri, Saladini, Abi Modaffiri Josephi F. Jobi. F. Sjadsi. auctore Bohadino F. Sjeddadi. Nec non excerpta ex Historia Universali Abbdulfedae, easdem res gestas, reliquamque Historiam temporis, compendiose exhibentia. Itemque specimen ex Historia Majore Saladini, Grandiore cothurno conscripta ab Amadoddino Ispahanensi. Ex MSS. Arabicis Academiae Lugduno-Batavae edidit ac Latin vertit Albertus Schultens. Accedit index commentariusque geographicus ex MSS. ejusdem Bibliothecae contextus. Leiden Samuelem Luchtmans 1732
First edition, folio, pp.[xxx], 278; [ii], 64; 26; [88, index]. Parallel Arabic and Latin text. A very good copy in contemporary speckled calf, professionally re-backed to style with original gilt decorated spine laid down, all edges speckled blue. Boards and spine lightly rubbed, corners bumped, slight age-toning to end-papers. Clean internally. Book-plate of Ralph Creyke Marton. Ralph Creyke of Marton in the East Riding (died 1717) was succeeded by a line who all bore the name Ralph.
Not in Smitskamp

The first western translation of this important biography of Salah al-Din ("Saladin") with the original Arabic text. This work was written during Salah al-Din's lifetime by one of his inner circle and is considered the standard biography of one of the greatest leaders of the second millennium. Baha al-Din Abu al-Mahasin Yusuf ibn Rafi ibn Tamim (1145-1234), known as Ibn Shaddad, was a professor in Baghdad and Mosul before becoming a key advisor and close friend of Salah al-Din. He witnessed the Siege of Acre and the Battle of Arsuf as well as much of Salah al-Din's day to day life. His work provides a vivid account of the Third Crusade and depiction of Salah al-Din that established much of the mythos that surrounded him after his death. Albert Schultens (1686-1750) was a professor of Oriental languages, particularly Hebrew and Arabic, and the preminent educator of Arabic in Europe during his lifetime. He vindicated comparative philology of Semitic languages in opposition to his contemporaries and helped a revival in Arabic studies despite his own translations being poorly regarded by modern historians. In this work he included additions from two later historians, Abdulfeda and Amadoddino of Ispahan, which add later perspectives and geographical information to the superior biography by Ibn Shaddad. He provides the original Arabic in parallel to his Latin translation in two columns, along with the Index being by him.