Work aimed at preserving, studying and widely promoting Uzbekistan's rich historical, artistic and intellectual heritage continues at a new stage. At the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the preservation, research and promotion of ancient written sources, in-depth study of our manuscript heritage and its transmission to future generations have been raised to the level of state policy.
Within the framework of this attention and these initiatives, work has begun on publishing a renewed and supplemented edition of another important publication aimed at bringing rare examples of Uzbekistan's manuscript heritage to the general public — the book-album "Historical Figures in the Manuscript Heritage of Uzbekistan".
Currently, the Director of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, Firdavs Abdukholikov, is at the "Mega Basım" publishing house in Istanbul, Turkey. There, processes related to preparing and printing the book-album are being carried out.
This book-album, the result of five years of scientific research, brings together rare Eastern miniatures created in the XIII-XVIII centuries. It features miniatures depicting the images of rulers, statesmen, poets, scientists and artists associated with the history of Uzbekistan and Central Asia.
Along with images of our great ancestors such as Amir Temur, Mirzo Ulugbek, Alisher Navoi, Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur, Husain Boyqaro, and Ibn Sina, the book also includes rare images of other historical figures found in various museums and libraries.
During the work on the project, broad cooperation was established with museums, libraries and scientific research institutions in various countries of the world. Over five years, contacts were established with more than 200 museums, libraries and scientific institutions from more than 45 countries, and more than 50 research trips were carried out.
As a result, 185 miniatures dating from the XIII-XVIII centuries were identified and studied on the basis of sources kept in 50 scientific institutions, libraries and museums around the world. Among them are the Freer Gallery in Washington, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the British Library, the National Library of France, the Cambridge University Library, the Topkapi Palace Library and other prestigious institutions.
Many years of scientific research and international cooperation carried out within the framework of the "Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan" series also served as an important foundation for creating the book-album. To date, 80 book-albums have been prepared within this series, a significant part of which is dedicated to the manuscript heritage of Uzbekistan.
The new edition was revised on the basis of the previous sample and enriched with new information and analytical materials, taking into account the suggestions and recommendations of local and foreign experts. More than 20 images of new historical figures kept in foreign museums and libraries were also included in the book-album.
The book-album has been prepared in Uzbek, Russian and English. Currently, its printing has been launched at the "Mega Basım" publishing house in Istanbul.
