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