COPIED BY GHAYBULLAH AL-IMAMI, EARLY SAFAVID IRAN, EARLY 16TH CENTURY

Details

ASIFI HARAVI (D. AH 923 / 1517 AD): DIWAN
COPIED BY GHAYBULLAH AL-IMAMI, EARLY SAFAVID IRAN, EARLY 16TH CENTURY
Persian manuscript on gold-sprinkled paper, 127ff. plus 8 fly-leaves, each folio with 11ll. of elegant black nasta'liq within gold margins with blue and black rule, many folios with 2ll. of diagonal nasta'liq worked in, also outlined in gold, titles in gold naskh, opening bifolio with gold and polychrome illuminated headpiece and text in gold clouds reserved against a gold ground with polychrome floral illumination, colophon signed Ghaybullah al-Imami, some folios coming loose in binding, small area of repaired worm holing, staining affecting about 20ff. towards the end of the manuscript, in later brown morocco with central gilt stamped medallion and marbled doublures
Folio 5½ x 3½in. (14 x 9cm.); text panel 4 3⁄8 x 2½in. (11 x 5.5cm.)

Provenance

Property from The Library of the late Djafar Ghazi

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

Ghaybullah al-Imami was a late 15th/early 16th century scribe whose recorded works include a copy of the Diwan of Jami, dated AH 912⁄1506-7 AD, now in the Topkapi (F.E.Karatay, Topkapi Sarayi Muzesi Kutuphanesi, Farsca Yazmalar Katalogu, Istanbul, 1961, cat.691), a copy of the Hundred Sayings of the Imam 'Ali dated AH 893⁄1487-8 AD and a calligraphic page (Mehdi Bayani, Ahval va Asar-e Khosh-Nevisan, Vol. II, Tehran, 1346 sh., pp.560-1).

This manuscript was probably copied during the lifetime of the poet and was in the library of Prince Muhammad, the son of Suleyman 'the Magnificent', who left his seal impression on the opening page. Two identical notes also on the opening folio read 'Mustafa Khan ibn Suleyman, may his splendor be everlasting'. Mustafa must be the oldest son of Suleyman and heir apparent. However, through the conspiracy of Suleyman's wife and her son-in-law Rustam Pasha, he was ordered by Suleyman to be murdered.

A later note, dated AH 1332⁄1913-14 AD is written by a certain Muhammad Kamal who registers the transfer of the manuscript from his deceased father Muhammad Sa'id, a former minister.

Another manuscript copied by Ghaybullah al-Imami was sold in these Rooms, 7 October 2008, lot 156.

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