LAKEMACHER Johann Gottfried Elementa Arabicae in quibus omnia ad solidam huius linguae cognitionem necessaria paradigmata exhibentur. Accedunt textus aliquot Arabici et iustae analyseos exemplum. Cum praefatione Hermanni von der Hardt.

First edition of the first book published by Johann Gottfried Lakemacher (1695-1736).

The preface, written by Hermann von der Hardt (1660-1746), his professor of Oriental languages at the University of Helmstedt, ends with praise for his student, whose Arabic language skills he extols. Little is known about the biography of this German scholar, except that he was first a professor of ancient Greek, then a professor of Oriental languages at Helmstedt. His Arabic language instruction manual begins with a general overview of Arabic writing and its transcription according to the Golianus method, followed by prefixes and other elements of grammar, including declensions and conjugations.

The end (pp. 66 to the end) is devoted to certain sections of the Koran, as well as Arabic translations of the Book of Genesis according to Walton’s Polyglot Bible.

Worldcat locates 13 copies of this rare edition in European universities (11 in Germany, 1 in the United Kingdom, 1 in Spain) but no institutional copies in the United States.

Modest binding, worn corners, missing parts on the spine.