Encyclopaedia of Islam 1913-1936, E.J. Brill's First (9 vols)

The First Encyclopaedia of Islam was originally published between 1913 and 1936 as The Encyclopaedia of Islam: A Dictionary of the Geography, Ethnography and Biography of the Muhammadan Peoples in four volumes and one supplement volume.Due to its tremendous success these editions soon went out of print and became valuable collectors' items. Some years later, the publisher decided to start a Second Edition, which is now completed. The paperback First Edition is intended to make this goldmine of information available at a very low price. The value of the First Edition (as well as the Second) is recognized worldwide. In more than 9,000 alphabetically arranged articles, varying in length from 50 to 50,000 words, a wide range of elements of Islamic culture, from religion and literature to the lives of famous Muslims, is discussed by some of the world's most famous scholars of the twentieth century.

From an interview with Orhan Pamuk by the New York Times (November 8, 2012): "Q: Which book would you to a desert island? A: ...the first edition of Encyclopaedia of Islam (1913-1936). My imagination works best with facts – especially if they are a bit dated. After 10 years they should pick me up from the desert island to publish the novels I wrote there." (Full interview) "...retains its place as the most complete and comprehensive work in the field." – Ellen Broidy, in: American Reference Books Annual, 1988 "...bleibt das Standardwerk für alle Bibliotheken, Professoren und wohlhabenden Laien..." – Volker S. Stahr, in: Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 1994