The annual event that commenced on October 1, has a number of books dating back hundreds of years and worth more than $500,000.

The Riyadh International Book Fair taking place in Saudi Arabia has been blooming with amazing books and publications and what is making the book fair even more worth visiting is the showcasing of historical books and manuscripts on the Arabian Peninsula by some of the world’s top publishing houses.

The annual event that commenced on October 1, has a number of books dating back hundreds of years and worth more than $500,000. Books that contain journeys by orientalists, travellers and writers who visited the Levant are featured among exhibits at the event.

A manuscript by Polish Orientalist Prince Watslaw Jywoski titled ‘Horseman with the Bedouins’ valued at $12,000, was put on display by a Polish publishing house specialising in ancient texts.

The book describes his trip to the Arab Peninsula more than 200 years ago after he was sent there by Queen Catherine of Wurttemberg on a mission to improve European breeding programs for military horses.

He describes in his book, how he fell in love with the desert, horses, and the Bedouins. His writings provide an important historical reflection of the region at the time where he counted 178 branches of a tribe and studied horses and Arab methods of raising and treating them.

Another fascinating display at the fair is a Belgian painter and botanist Pierre-Joseph Redoute’s ‘Les Liliacees’ by Christie’s publishing house. The book is the first edition estimated to be worth $625,000.

The book, which was published in 1816, is wrapped with goatskin and its sides are gold-plated and have enthralling drawings and bright colours.

Also, on display at the fair is the $12,000, 70-kilogram ‘AlUla’ book printed by Assouline publishing house. The book that took two years to be made has astounding photos of the ancient city and its landmarks in the heart of the Saudi western desert.

The book fair, this year has been attracting publishing houses from France, Italy, India, Australia, and the US, who have brought with them literature never before seen in the Kingdom.

Book enthusiasts have been flocking to the fair to purchase international books on subjects including humanities, economics, science, and children’s literature in large numbers.