How to Erase Writing According to Recipes from the Arab World: Textual Analysis of Premodern Technical Recipes

This study examines how the erasure of writing is technically described in premodern Arabic literature, situating these practices within their historical, codicological, and literary contexts. Focusing on durability and stability – two key aspects of textual transmission – it explores how erasure techniques were recorded and transmitted across various literary genres, including chancery manuals, bookmaking treatises, and handbooks on craftsmanship and entertainment. The study also investigates intertextual correspondences and technical variants in recipe compilations, revealing the fluidity of these textual traditions. Ultimately, this research sheds light on the interconnectedness of different literary genres and the broader intellectual engagement with the manipulation of natural elements across diverse fields of knowledge.