8vo, 127pgs. Full bound in light cream paper wraps with green titling on front cover and spine. Book is solid and interior is clean and bright. No markings. A translation of historical Islamic writings of Abu-Hamid Al-Ghazali. Book has been further protected in a Mylar cover.

At a time when the United States was involved in two wars against Islamic nations, American-born artist Sandow Birk wanted to understand the Qur'an as it is, and always has been intended: a universal message to humankind. But to do so, he first needed to comprehend what Islam's holiest book meant to an American living in the twenty-first century. Indeed, how has the Qur'an related to us, as Americans, in this life, in this time?

In an attempt to answer his own question, Birk embarked on the most ambitious work of his career. Following in the grand traditions of ancient Arabic and Islamic artists, he began hand-transcribing the entire Qur'an as was done in centuries past--abiding by the traditional prescriptions as to the colors of ink, the formatting of the pages, the size of margins and illuminations of page headings and medallions marking verses and passages. He then took each sura and set it against a backdrop from everyday American life, one that reflected his renowned "skate-surf" ascetic.

Even before the first images of what became known as the American Qur'an began appearing in public, in 2009, veteran art critics were concerned about its reception. While Birk wasn't illustrating the Qur'an itself, the pairing of Islam's holiest text with scenes from contemporary American life seemed adventuresome, given the climate of the times. The project, however, was not only welcomed by the Muslim community but also celebrated as an "ambitious and valuable undertaking" (New York Times). At the same time, many saw it as taking part in an ancient tradition, one that, according to Yale University professor Zareena Grewal, "eschewed the irony and satire that have become the knee-jerk impulse of so many Western artists."

Now appearing in full for the first time ever, this lavishly designed volume--containing all 114 suras--melds the past with the present, East with the West like nothing before it. The result, hailed by Reza Aslan as "a great favor, not only to Muslims, but also to Americans," is one of the most original art books to appear in decades.

Greek language. 8vo, not paginated. Full bound in brown leather with nice delicate stamped design on front cover and spine. Spine also has raised bands and gilt titling in Greek. Binding is solid and interior is slightly toned but generally clean though the paste downs and free endpapers are foxed. Book has gilt edges. Boards show wear especially at extremities. Spine is tanned and scuffed. Corner tips are bumped and frayed. Top half of front cover is mildly discolored. Previous owner's name on ffep.

24mo, 198pgs. Bound in red leatherette with gilt stamped titling on front cover, which is a flap over the front board, unusual though charming binding style. Leatherette folded over fore-edge has a 1'' chip missing from tail end; head of spine has a smaller chip missing. Cracking to joints and hinges, though covers not detached, and wear to extremities. Gilt edges on text block and interior pages are toned but clean. Over all the book is delicate but solid.

Some foxing and edgewear.

8vo, 501pgs. Full bound in navy blue cloth with gilt stamped title label on front board and spine. Book is solid. Light wear to spine ends with a touch of fraying to head of spine, some cloth worn away at corners and light scuffing and dulling to gilt. Front free endpaper has previous owner's name in black crayon. Interior pages are toned but clean.

First edition, first printing. Beige cloth boards with minimal wear overall. Previous owner's bookplate on FFEP. Jacket lightly rubbed at edges.

1887, 8vo, 294 pgs + ads. Full-bound, decorated brown cloth with black and gilt titles, faded on spine but still legible. Text is clean, binding is solid. Paper slightly darkened from age, a bit brittle on edges. This is an ex-library copy, with bookplate on front pastedown and a stamp on front and rear end paper; otherwise no markings. Boards are lightly dust-soiled, with fraying to cloth at spine ends and corners.

1887, Small 8vo, 294 pgs. Full bound in ornate blue cloth with gilt and black stamped decoration. Boards are rubbed at edges, more to corners and spine ends, which are starting to fray. Text block is crisp and clean, illustrated with black and white etchings. Edges of block show beginnings of age discoloration.

Mein aims to set Ezekiel's ethics firmly in the social and historical context of the Babylonian Exile. Ezekiel's moral concerns and priorities, Mein suggests, are substantially shaped by the social experience of deportation and resettlement. They also represent a creative response to the crisis, providing significant impetus for social cohesion and the maintenance of a distinctively Jewish community.