The First Kindle

For John, BLUF:  Maybe books were thinner then.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Book-hoarding, 10th Century Style

I came across this little factoid while reading the Blog of (Retired) Law Professor Ann Althouse. It is from the Wonders and Marvels Blog of Ms Pamela Toler, back in 2014.

Here is the key section:

In the tenth century… the Grand Vizier of Persia, Abdul Kassem Ismael, in order not to part with his collection of 117,000 volumes when traveling…"
"... had them carried by a caravan of four hundred camels trained to walk in alphabetical order.

The larger discussion is here:

Recently, a factoid has begun popping up in my universe that makes me feel even worse. According to Alberto Manguel, author of A History of Reading,

In the tenth century… the Grand Vizier of Persia, Abdul Kassem Ismael, in order not to part with his collection of 117,000 volumes when traveling, had them carried by a caravan of four hundred camels trained to walk in alphabetical order.

Manguel goes on to explain that the camel drivers effectively served as librarians, each responsible for retrieving volumes from his camel at the vizier’s command.

At first, I found the factoid charming: a lovely illustration of the importance of books in the early Islamic world. Then I felt a little jealous at the idea of owning 1117,000 books. Now I just feel inadequate at my inability to keep control over a couple of thousand books without the added complication of moving camels.

Perhaps it is the invention of writing that has led to Scientific progress and greater Economic wellbeing and, most important, Democracy.

Hat tip to Ann Althouse.

Regards  —  Cliff