Mediaeval Islamic Inkmaking Recipes: Provenance, Dating, and Authorship in a Rare Egyptian Manuscript

This study investigates the provenance, dating and authorship of a previously unknown Egyptian manuscript that was erroneously catalogued in the Egyptian National Archives as "Rsālh Fá Şnā'at al-'Hbār Wghyrhā" (A treatise on the manufacture of inks and other matters). New insights into the technical and historical aspects of mediaeval and post-mediaeval ink production in Egypt are presented through a detailed textual analysis of the manuscript and two other surviving copies. The manuscript is rich in recipes for various types of inks - black, red, gold and others - as well as techniques for the treatment of metal and the production of adhesives. The study gives the manuscript the correct name "Nabdha Latifa Fá Elm al-Ketaba Wa al-’Hbār" (A brief treatise in the science of writing and inks), and its author is of Egyptian origin. The manuscript probably dates from the 13th to 15th century when compared with other manuscripts. This work is also characterised by a collective authorship that is not attributed to a single author. The study also provides valuable data for conservators, historians and researchers in the field of Islamic material culture