Illuminated manuscript

Two leaves containing the text from Surah al-Shu'ara (XXVI:194-224), illuminated manuscript on paper, in Arabic, each leaf c. 324 by 235 mm; single column, 13 lines of black muhaqqaq, verses marked with blue and gold rosettes, verse markers in blue and gold to the margins; in modern card mount.

Single volume, illuminated manuscript on paper with fine marbled paper borders, in Farsi, 119 leaves, complete, 336 x 230 mm; single column, 11 lines to the page written in neat nasta'liq script in black ink, occasional headings and significant words in blue, inner margins ruled in gold and blue, outer borders throughout decorated with fine marbling, one illuminated opening headpiece, one further illuminated heading; contemporary burgundy leather binding, blind-stamped with corner pieces to covers, a very handsome volume.

Single volume, illuminated manuscript on polished paper, in Arabic, complete, 191 leaves plus 3 endpapers (two at front and one at the back), 98 by 60 mm; 21 lines fine and refined naskh script copied in miniature format, in black, two opening leaves of prayers copied in central lobed panels, in red, plus an additional set at the end of the volume, opening two facing pages of the Qur'an with exquisitely fine gilt polychrome decorations to borders, interlinear colouring of gold to every leaf of text, catch-words throughout, very clean and crisp condition; housed in fine contemporary gilt lacquered boards, with decorative floral compositions to covers set against a red background and framed within a gold foliate border, a very fine manuscript.

Single volume, illuminated manuscript on paper, in Arabic, complete, 318 leaves plus two later free endpapers, 120 x 80 mm; single column, 14 lines scribal black naskh per page, surah headings in red throughout, first three leaves with interlinear translations to Farsi in red nasta'liq (interlinear spacing continues through the volume, remaining translation never completed), opening two leaves with elaborately decorated gilt and polychrome decorations, these comprising spiralling vines adorned with pink, red, blue and white flowers, leaves throughout double-ruled in gold and black, catch-words throughout, final two leaves with additional gilt polychrome decorations to borders, some small stains and ink smudges, overall attractive condition; hosed in contemporary Kashmiri papier-mâché lacquered boards, outer covers with floral decorations ruled in gilt, inner covers of gold spiralling vines against a striking black background, rubbed and skilfully rebacked.

Five volumes, each containing one Juz' of the Qur'an, illuminated manuscripts on thick polished buff paper, in Arabic, containing Juz' VI (An-Nisa 4:148 to Al-Maidah 5:82), Juz' VIII (Al-An'am 6:111 to Al-Araf 7:170), Juz' XI (At-Towbah 9:94 to Hud 11:5), Juz' XVII (Al-Anbiya 21:1 to Al-Hajj 22:78) and Juz' XXX (An-Naba 78:1 to An-Nas 114:6), each Juz' 16-19 leaves (together 84 leaves, plus some contemporary free endleaves to a couple volumes) and all textually complete in themselves, 265 by 170 mm; single column, 11 lines bold black naskh script with diacritics, some vocalisation in red, surah headings throughout in red thuluth script, large polychrome head-pieces (unwan) opening each of the Juz', these executed to a very high standard by a fine hand and illuminated in gold, leaves ruled in blue and gold throughout, contemporary catch-words, some smudges and light staining, a few sections cockled from damp; housed in uniform contemporary Qajar lacquered boards, inside covers painted and ruled in red, outer covers a dark tan with gilt floral pattern to frame outer edges, all rebacked, a little worn in places.

single leaf, ink and gouache on paper, leaf laid on to thick card, total leaf 325 by 200 mm (miniature 202 by 120 mm); two text blocks, each containing two lines verse in black nasa'liq script, some small sections of overpainting, some small sections of darkening and light finger-soiling, framed within multiple gilt rulings, wider margins painted in gilt foliate decorations, reverse blank, unframed.

Illuminated manuscript on paper, in Arabic, containing the first 7 aya of the first surah of the Qur'an (al-Fatihah 1:1 - 1:7), 490 by 380 mm.; single column, 5 lines large scribal nasta'liq diagonally inscribed, outlined in cloud shapes and set against an elaborately illuminated gold background decorated with intricately illustrated spiralling floral patterns with polychrome colour additions, lower right-hand corner containing the scribe's name and date of completion, panel framed within multiple polychrome and gilt rulings, including a banner formed of multiple gold cartouches in Safavid style of illumination; very clean and bright condition; leaf mounted to thick card.

Illuminated manuscript on paper, in Farsi, part four only (of seven), 322 leaves (plus one later endleaf at the rear), 375 by 235 mm; single column, 21 lines black naskh, significant words and sentences in red, illuminated headpiece in polychrome and gold opening the text, leaves ruled in turquoise, red and gold, some of this ruling oxidised causing closed tears (some of these repaired), a few marginal repairs to preliminary and penultimate leaves, some scattered spots, overall presentable example; housed in contemporary brown morocco with stamped central medallions and corner-pieces of gilt leather inlay, rebacked, doublures of brown morocco with central medallions and corner-pieces decorated with gilt filigree and coloured backgrounds, a little worn.