QAJAR IRAN, DATED AH 1268/1851-52 AD

Details

'ALI BIN AL-HUSAYN, IMAM AL-SAJJAD (D. 712 AD): AL-SAHIFA AL-KAMILA AL-SAJJADIA
QAJAR IRAN, DATED AH 1268/1851-52 AD
Prayers, Arabic manuscript on paper, 165ff. plus two fly-leaves, each folio with 12ll. of strong black naskh in clouds reserved against gold ground, text panels outlined in gold, margins with gold outer rules and small red naskh inscriptions in the corners indicating the chapters and surrounded by gold flourishes, catchwords, gold and polychrome rosette verse markers, headings in gold on red or blue ground in panels flanked by gold and polychrome illumination, corresponding elaborate marginal medallions, opening bifolio with elegant gold and polychrome illumination surrounding text, with later owner's stamps and notes on the fly-leaves, areas of water damage to first and final bifolios, manuscript loose in contemporaneous lacquer binding with central cusped medallion and spandrels on ochre ground decorated with floral motifs, the border with cartouches containing elegant naskh, doublures with marbled design in lacquer, minor areas of restoration, later European book plate
Text panel 5 x 2 5/8in. (12.6 x 6.7cm.); folio 7¼ x 4 5/8in. (18.3 x 11.2cm.)

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Lot Essay

The manuscript bears a dedication to Mu'taman al-Sultan, Minister of Foreign Affairs. This is probably a reference to Mirza Sa'id Khan Ansari Mu'taman al-Mulk, who was awarded this post in AH 1268/1851-52 AD on the death of his predecessor in the office Mirza Muhammad 'Ali Khan Shirazi. Mu'taman al-Mulk was not awarded the official title of minister until a year later in AH 1269/1852-53 AD.

There is also a seal impression belonging to a Mustafa Ansari, dated AH 1291/1874-75 AD and an inspection note from the Gulestan Palace Library, dated AH 1316/1898-99 AD.

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