Old copies of Quran in great demand

If you happen to own a copy of old Quran, it might be worth that of a whole treasure. A news article published on topix.net covers about a recent auction in London where a copy of Quran dated June 1203 was sold for $2.3 millions. Earlier estimated to fetch up to $715,000, the antique manuscript of Quran signed by Yahya bin Muhammad ibn ‘Umar on 17 Ramadan 599 earned $2,327,300 to the Hispanic Society of America. During the same auction, yet another copy dated back to 10^th century sold for $1,870,000.  

Quite interestingly, several libraries and museums across the globe boastfully preserve old copies of Quran. However, the oldest known manuscript of Quran is possessed by Mohammad bin Nasser Al-Kudry, a Saudi residing at Abha. You would wonder at the fact that the copy carries the date of the Hijrah year 116, which was more than 1,300 years ago.  

The library of the Great Mosque in Sanaa proudly displays a very old manuscript of Quran handwritten by Imam Ali bin Abu Taleb, Zayd bin Thabit and Salman Al-Farsi. A library in Mashhad at Iran has the world’s largest collection of about 11,000 Quranic manuscripts dated back from the first century.  

Based on a report published by Quatari daily named The Peninsula, Saeed Ali Al Suwaidi, a Quatari auctioned a calligraphic copy of Quran for $4.3 millions, which is about 400 years old. Notably, the manuscript was completed over five long years ending with 1034 Hijri.  

Sources and additional readings:

http://www.topix.net/content/ap/2007/10/record-price-for-13th-century-quran-2

http://saudinf.com/main/y7418.htm

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/501758-holy-quran-manuscript-may-sell-for-43mn?ln=en

http://www.islamonline.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=50739