The Readers and Annotations of the First English Quran (1649)

ABSTRACT: This essay aims to illuminate the reception of the first English translation of the Quran ( The Alcoran of Mahomet , 1649). It presents a global survey of early reader annotations in extant copies of the first edition to counterbalance past scholarship that has focused on the events and mysteries surrounding the Alcoran 's production. Through a survey of marginalia and flyleaf notes in extant copies, I argue that, despite some variance in reader reactions to the text, many approached the volume with a critical eye, evaluating the quality of the translation and supplementary historical material. Additionally, many early modern readers showed an interest similar to modern scholars in identifying the unknown parties involved in producing the English translation. An appendix identifies all known extant copies of the 1649 Alcoran held at research institutions around the world.