'Ali Shir Nawai: Nawadir al-Shabab
Shiraz, circa 1580
Turki manuscript on gold-sprinkled buff paper, 253ff. plus four flyleaves, each with 12ll. of very elegant black nasta'liq in two columns, illuminated intercolumnar divisions, blue, orange, green and gold margins betewen black rules, red and blue outer rules, portions of text written centrally between gold and polychrome floral illuminated panels, headings in white on gold cartouches in illuminated panels, (negligible smudging and staining), opening bifolio illuminated in gold and polychrome with gold clouds between the lines of text, (trimmed, creasing along inner margin), four double-page miniatures with wide illuminated borders (light flaking and rubbing, occasional smudging), final folio with colophon signed by Qasim 'Ali al-Katib al-Shirazi, Ottoman fine light brown morocco binding and flap with stamped gold floral medallion, pendants, spandrels and border, brown morocco doublures painted with gold flowers, (light wear), in associated case
folio 11½ x 7in. (29.3 x 17.8cm.); text 7½ x 3¾in. (19 x 9.6cm.)
'Ali Shir Nawai: Nawadir al-Shabab
Shiraz, circa 1580
Turki manuscript on gold-sprinkled buff paper, 253ff. plus four flyleaves, each with 12ll. of very elegant black nasta'liq in two columns, illuminated intercolumnar divisions, blue, orange, green and gold margins betewen black rules, red and blue outer rules, portions of text written centrally between gold and polychrome floral illuminated panels, headings in white on gold cartouches in illuminated panels, (negligible smudging and staining), opening bifolio illuminated in gold and polychrome with gold clouds between the lines of text, (trimmed, creasing along inner margin), four double-page miniatures with wide illuminated borders (light flaking and rubbing, occasional smudging), final folio with colophon signed by Qasim 'Ali al-Katib al-Shirazi, Ottoman fine light brown morocco binding and flap with stamped gold floral medallion, pendants, spandrels and border, brown morocco doublures painted with gold flowers, (light wear), in associated case
folio 11½ x 7in. (29.3 x 17.8cm.); text 7½ x 3¾in. (19 x 9.6cm.)
