At the forthcoming Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), guests will get a rare look into the past when rare book seller Peter Harrington from London displays an intriguing collection that includes a mid-19th-century map that has one of the earliest mentions of Abu Dhabi. The map, dubbed "Abuthubbi," is among the first to recognise the area.

"Abuthubbi" was used for a lecture on The History of the Arabs in London in April 1844, and it was annotated by a former British Army officer.
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The historical relic, which costs £95,000 (Dh435,740), will be on sale from April 29 to May 5 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) book show.
A unique 16th-century book called "Itinerarium Portugallensium" by Fracanzio do Montalboddo, which has the earliest printed map of the holy city of Makkah in modern times, is one of the many gems that Peter Harrington has shown.

At £450,000 (Dh2.06 million), the woodcut map, called the "Sinus Arabicus," is the first written reference to the holy city of Makkah and the first depiction of the Gulf area.

Owner of Peter Harrington, Pom Harrington, said that the ADIBF's collection is chosen to highlight people's continuous fascination with the Middle East over time.

"We are proud to present these exceptional rarities in Abu Dhabi, offering collectors, cultural institutes, enthusiasts, and scholars alike a unique opportunity to explore the rich tapestry of Middle Eastern history through the lens of rare cartographic records," Harrington stated.

Since 2016, Peter Harrington has attended the ADIBF on a monthly basis. Approximately 10% of its worldwide sales come from the Middle Eastern region.

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) is organising the 33rd edition of the ADIBF, and approximately 1,350 exhibitors from 90 countries are anticipated, an increase from the 1,300 exhibitors from 84 nations in the previous year.