The first translation of the Alcoran

Theodorus Bibliander (ed.), Alcoran. [Basel: Johannes Oporinus, [1542-1543]. Fol.

First translation into Latin of the Qur’an. Initially it was a banned book, as the words at the top of the title page, ’Liber prohibitus’, indicate. The edition was confiscated and the printer arrested. None other than Martin Luther, however, advocated its publication. Eventually it was agreed with the city council of Basel that the edition should be sold from Wittenberg and provided with a preface by Luther. This separately-printed two-page preface, which is often lacking, is present in this copy. In it, he states that it is important to know the teachings of Muslims, the better to refute them.