Literature & History and History

Single volume, comprising the Divan of Hafiz and the Bustan and Ghazzaliyaat of Sa'di (main body of the text of this manuscript is the Divan of Hafez and the Bustan of Sa'di, followed by his ghazaliyyat, fills the margins), illuminated manuscript on paper, in farsi, 179 leaves plus 3 endleaves (two leaves in main body of text in skilfully executed later manuscript facsimile), textually complete, 180 by 125 mm; double column with additional text extending outwardly in the marigns, 24 lines elegant black nasta'liq, often interspersed with triangular panels of floral illumination, fine illuminated head-piece opening the text in the Timurid style of illumination, columns ruled in gold and black, catch-words throughout, later inscriptions to endleaves, some minor paper repairs and a few scattered smudges to ink, overall very attractive condition; late eighteenth-century Ottoman burgundy morocco with flap, central medallions and corner pieces or tan stamped leather coloured in gold, ruled in gilt, some additional blind-stamped tooling details, edges painted, extremities a little rubbed.

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 fibrous polished buff paper, in Farsi, textually complete (lacking 4 leaves at the end of Book 6 that are replaced in eighteenth and nineteenth century manuscript facsimile, 337 leaves plus 4 leaves text, 245 by 170 mm; four columns, 21 lines early nasta'liq script in black, headings in red throughout, 6 gold and lapis illuminated headings in the Timurid style, each opening one of the 6 books of the Mathnavi, contemporary catch-words throughout, columns ruled in blue, some very slight water-staining to margins and a few scattered smudges to text, overall attractive condition; early sixteenth-century stamped leather binding with flap, with cut-out cartouches to leather decorated by corner-pieces and central medallions with foliate designs and coloured in gold, spine and flap hinge rebacked and repaired, an attractive early binding.

Single volume, illuminated manuscript on fine polished paper, in Farsi, 121 leaves, 250 by 165 mm; double column, 15 lines fine black nasta'liq script, headings in gold or blue throughout, illuminated polychrome headpiece opening the text, richly decorated in gold and lapis, with 7 additional illuminated banners in the text (each of these opening the ghazals of a new poet), remains of silk markers to outer edges of each section, catch-words throughout, leaves ruled in gilt, orange and blue throughout, a few small smudges, outer margin of first leaf repaired (not affecting text), overall very bright and attractive condition internally; housed in a fine contemporary hand-painted black leather binding with flap, painted in gilt with spiralling floral motif, with sunken central medallions and corner-pieces decorated with gilt filigree details, ruled in gilt, with very fine tan leather doubleurs, central medallions and corner-pieces with delicate incised leather filigree work over navy and green silk backdrops, spine and flap rebacked and edges repaired, overall fine and very attractive binding.

Single volume, two parts in one, decorated manuscript on green paper, in Farsi, complete, both parts 71 leaves plus additional blanks at front and back, 220 by 138 mm; single, double and four columns, between 16 and 24 lines black naskh script copied in a very elegant hand, headings in red, contemporary pagination to first part, bookplate pasted to first leaf, very clean and crisp condition; contemporary limp red leather, covers ruled in blind, a very clean example.

A single folding manuscript map of Beshagard in south-eastern Persia, copied by 'Sulayman Qajar' and hand-coloured, copied on 6 sheets and linen-backed, total 475 by 605 mm; with two marbled paper wrappers pasted over board sections (forming covers when folded), paper label to upper cover, extremities a little rubbed, internally bright and attractive.

Single volume, number '2' from the Circolo Geographico Italiano biannual periodical for the years 1873 and 1874, complete in itself, 8vo (228 by 150); including a 4pp. index list of Arabic names printed in two columns, in Italian and Arabic (the latter is lithographed from crudely inscribed manuscript annotations), and three plates (one of these large folding, with closed tears to edges) relating to Mecca, very clean and crisp condition; original printed covers, slightly rubbed at extremities else excellent copy.

Single volume, decorated manuscript on blue paper, in Arabic and Farsi, 145 leaves (including one final free endpaper), complete, 168 by 110 mm; single column, 15 lines formal black naskh script, catch-words throughout, early ink ownership seals to first and final leaves, a few minor smudges else attractive and clean internal condition; contemporary tan limp leather binding, ruled in blind, extremities lightly rubbed, water-stain to lower cover.

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 thick Shirazi paper, 6 books in one volume, in Farsi, 324 leaves (including a front and final free endpaper), 325 by 215 mm.; four columns, 21 lines elegant black nasta'liq with some headings and sections in red, six illuminated polychrome headings opening each of the books, each featuring bold colours and arabesque designs, text blocks ruled in red, turquoise and blue, catch-words throughout, some very light marginal water-staining, a few preliminary leaves skilfully re-margined, a few small repairs elsewhere, spine cracked with a few leaves and gatherings becoming loose, overall very bright and attractive volume; housed in eighteenth-century dark brown morocco over pasteboards, ruled in gilt with cut-out medallions to covers , decorated with gilt filigree detailing against a peach-coloured backdrop, rebacked, edges a little rubbed, preserved in leather-backed box contemporary to binding, lightly rubbed.