SIGNED ZAYN AL-'ABIDIN, QAJAR IRAN, DATED AH 1231/1815-6 AD

According to the colophon, this manuscript was prepared for a certain Murtaza Agha Mirza Muhammad. The scribe, Zayn al-'Abidin, is well known and served as a secretary to Fath 'Ali Shah. His name appears He seems to have specialised in ghubari script, and the Aga Khan collection keeps a Qur'an in his fine microcalligraphy (The Path of Princes: Masterpieces from the Aga Khan Museum Collection, Lison, 1998, p.58, cat.no.9) as well as a Qur'an scroll bearing his signature (Spirit and Life: Masterpieces of Islamic Art from the Aga Khan Museum Collection, London, 2007, p.39, cat.no.11). A further Qur'an scroll by Zayn al-'Abidin sold in these Rooms, 7 April 2011, lot 178, as well as a lacquer pen case, 25 April 2013, lot 133. For further information please also see Mehdi Bayani, Ahval va Asar-e Khosh-Nevisan, Vol.II, Tehran, 1345 AH, pp.1076-77.