with 20 illustrations in the text.
Kashmir, North India, circa 1810 AD.
A charming example of the well-known medieval Islamic allegorical love story between Yusuf and Zulaykha (Joseph and Potiphar's Wife in the biblical context). Thought the story is a familiar one to Muslims and has been retold over the centuries, this lyrical retelling of the story by the Persian poet Jami (d. 1492) is by far the most popular. It first appeared in his famous his Haft Awrang, where the epic took on new Sufi interpretations of human passions transcending into divine love through Jami's lyrics. It's now considered one of the masterpieces of Sufi literature and a classical example of Qur'anic narrative being retold through the Sufi imagination: including interpretations whereby Zulaykha's longing for Yusuf represents the soul's quest for God.
The volume is illuminated with 20 scenes from the epic, these include: Zulaykha, having broken the pieces of her golden idol, prays to her one true god; Ibraham in conversation with a lady while Yusuf sleeps; Zulaykha mourns the death of Yusuf; the ascension of Prophet Muhammad into heaven; Yusuf watches Zulaykha sleep; Zulaykha before Yusuf, trying to seduce him in the night; the Vizier comes to met Zulaykha; Zulaykha, peeking through a hole in the tent, discovers that the Vizier isn't Yusuf; Yusuf's brothers ask their father Jacob to allow Yusuf to join them in the countryside; Zulaykha prevents Yusuf from leaving the Palace; Zulaykha shows Yusuf her seven room palace.
single volume, illuminated manuscript on gold-sprinkled paper with 20 illuminated miniatures in the text, in Farsi, 190 leaves plus three later endpapers (text leaves mis-bound and uncollatable, incomplete at end), 123 by 80 mm; double column throughout, 11 lines black nastaliq (Mughal style), occasionally arranged in diagonal lines to form geometric shapes in the text, 20 half-page miniatures in the text depicting scenes from the story, these heightened in gold, some smudges to ink and lightly soiled in places, a few small chips and small tears rarely affecting text; housed in contemporary Kashmiri lacquered boards painted with delicate floral designs framed within an arabesque border, rebacked in later dark green morocco.
The volume is illuminated with 20 scenes from the epic, these include: Zulaykha, having broken the pieces of her golden idol, prays to her one true god; Ibraham in conversation with a lady while Yusuf sleeps; Zulaykha mourns the death of Yusuf; the ascension of Prophet Muhammad into heaven; Yusuf watches Zulaykha sleep; Zulaykha before Yusuf, trying to seduce him in the night; the Vizier comes to met Zulaykha; Zulaykha, peeking through a hole in the tent, discovers that the Vizier isn't Yusuf; Yusuf's brothers ask their father Jacob to allow Yusuf to join them in the countryside; Zulaykha prevents Yusuf from leaving the Palace; Zulaykha shows Yusuf her seven room palace.
single volume, illuminated manuscript on gold-sprinkled paper with 20 illuminated miniatures in the text, in Farsi, 190 leaves plus three later endpapers (text leaves mis-bound and uncollatable, incomplete at end), 123 by 80 mm; double column throughout, 11 lines black nastaliq (Mughal style), occasionally arranged in diagonal lines to form geometric shapes in the text, 20 half-page miniatures in the text depicting scenes from the story, these heightened in gold, some smudges to ink and lightly soiled in places, a few small chips and small tears rarely affecting text; housed in contemporary Kashmiri lacquered boards painted with delicate floral designs framed within an arabesque border, rebacked in later dark green morocco.
About us
Shapero Rare Books is an internationally renowned dealer in antiquarian & rare books and works on paper.
Our Bookshop and Gallery can be found in the heart of Mayfair at 106 New Bond Street, where most of our stock is available to view and on public display.
We exhibit at major international art fairs, including TEFAF (Maastricht and New York), Frieze Masters, Art Miami and Masterpiece London, as well as antiquarian & rare book fairs including New York, Paris, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Hong Kong.
