Abu'l-Qasim 'Ali al-Hariri (d.AH 516/1122 AD): Maqamat

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Abu'l-Qasim 'Ali al-Hariri (d.AH 516/1122 AD): Maqamat
North India, 2 July 1855 AD

The classical book of wisdom, Arabic and Persian manuscript on ivory paper, 402ff. plus many flyleaves, each with 10ll. of bold black naskh in plain clouds on gold panels within black rules, gold margins between black and orange rules, blue outer rule, words and phrases in red, Persian translation and commentary written marginally within gold clouds, margins without notes painted with gold, red, blue and green flowering vine, headings in red in illuminated panels, (negligible wear), opening three folios illuminated in gold and polychrome, final folio with colophon signed by Muhammad Ashraf and dated 2 July 1855, European 19th century pale brown morocco binding with tooled gold, red and black flowering vine border (negligible wear, one board loose)
folio 12½ x 7¾in. (31.8 x 19.8cm.); text 8½ x 5in. (21.7 x 12.8cm.)

Lot Essay

This copy was commissioned by Mr Elphinstone, Assistant Commissioner. An inscription on the opening flyleaf shows that Elphinstone gave the book to Sir Henry Bartle Frere (1815-1884), Resident at Satara, Chief Commissioner of Sind 1850-59, Member of the Governor General's council 1859-62 and Governor of Bombay 1862-67.

The marginal commentary in Persian is from a number of sources compiled by Shams al-Din.

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