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Early Colour Filters and Related Material, three brass trays for varnishing Autochromes; manuscript notes about difficulties in developing Autochromes; J. Jougla 'Ecran Spécial pour Plaques Omnicolores', in maker's box; Newman & Guardia - nickel-plated brass Autotank (portable Autochrome plate developing tank, circa 1914) and Autochrome filter, in maker's case; Sanger, Shepherd & Co filter, in maker's case; Dufay screen, in maker's box; 2½in colour filters - one with ink inscription for Autochrome and one for Paget Colour; Watkins Bee Exposure Meter with Colour Plate Dial, glass cracked; 'The Dufaycolor Process' booklet, pp 40, Ilford Limited, Ilford, London, 1930s, and other booklets; and quantity of colour screens, colour filters and other filters (a lot)

Ɵ Euclid, Kitab Tahrir Usul li'Uqlidis (Elementorum Geometricorum), in Arabic recension by Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, first printed edition, by the Medici Oriental Press (Typographia Medicea) [Rome, 1594] single volume, textually complete (paginated 1-400), title printed in Arabic and Latin, ornamental woodcut head- and tail-pieces, many woodcut geometrical diagrams and tables printed throughout, text framed within double-ruled border, first and final leaves with very skilfully repaired borders (neither affecting text) and a small repair to tiny hole on p. 397, some very faint scattered spotting to a few leaves, else exceptionally clean and near-fine condition, folio, 310 by 230 mm.; nineteenth-century grained russet morocco, covers with small diamond-shapes to centre in gilt, also ruled in gilt, spine gilt in compartments, a little scuffed, some soiling to bottom edge of lower board, else bright and attractive, paper labels pasted to spine with manuscript title and date of text inscribed in Arabic A fine copy of one of the "very earliest books printed in Arabic by means of moveable type" (Jones, p. 89), comprising perhaps the most important mathematical treatise in the Arabic language Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (d. 1274) was a celebrated Persian astronomer and polymath, best known for identifying geometry as an independent mathematical discipline, as well as for his translation of the definitive Arabic edition of Euclid's Elements. He was a prolific author and compiled a number of authoritative texts over a range of disciplines during his lifetime, however his legacy is firmly founded in this recension of Euclid's Elements - a text of such influence by the sixteenth century that it was among the very first works produced by the Medici Oriental Press. The output of the Medici Oriental Press, and its lavishly produced editions, each printed at substantial expense and under the patronage of Cardinal Ferdinando dei Medici, has been extensively studied by Robert Jones ('The Medici Oriental Press (Rome 1584-1614) And The Impact Of Its Arabic Publications On Northern Europe', in The 'Arabick' Interest of the Natural Philosophers in Seventeenth-Century England (1993).The work is one of only 7 texts printed by the press, printed after the Gospels (1590/1), two medieval Arabic tracts on grammar (1592), another on geography, and Ibn Sina's, Qanun fi al-Tibb (1593). It is thus, one of the earliest printed works in the Arabic language. The text was produced in three variants: that here with 400 pages, and others with an extra chapter covering a further 54 pages, often including an English title and a firman by Sultan Murad III.

An early Talismanic Chart, in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on thin paper [Qajar Persia, dated 1218 AH (1803-04 AD)]  single vast sheet, containing a large section of magic squares formed of 100 by 100 molecules (providing 10,000 individual cells), each containing an individual 4-digit magical code in green, orange, blue and red, forming a large geometric diamond pattern, magic squares framed within a three-layered banner, each containing prayers and Qur'anic text, in red, blue and black naskh, all heightened in gilt, some small closed tears to extremities, causing fractional loss to text, overall exceptionally bright and attractive example, c. 640 by 650 mm.; mounted on thicker paper, framed and glazed  Provenance: Property of a private European collector, acquired in Christie's, 2 May 1996, lot 381.These vast charts contain magic squares that were believed to carry protective and talismanic properties. The sheets were often folded up into considerably smaller amulets for the ease of transportation for the carrier; the present example would likely have measured 50 by 70 mm. when folded. Though their use was a popular practice in nineteenth-century Persia, few examples survive as early as the present example appear on the market, with the only two known to us appearing in the early 2000s. Christie's sold a similar but undated chart from the first quarter of the nineteenth century on 14 October 2003 (lot 134) and another containing a more intricate design attributed to the late Safavid or early Qajar period on the 16 October 2001 (lot 63).

Ɵ A fine Qajar Prayerbook, in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on buff paper [Qajar Persia, probably c. 1840] single volume, complete, single bifolia misbound towards end of the volume, single column, 7 lines of fine black naskh, opening of text with elaborate gilt polychrome heading, first four leaves with marginal decorations of gilt spiralling vines with flowers in red and blue, text in a cloud against gold backgrounds throughout with interlinear decorations of gilt vines, headings with gilt banners heightened in blue and sometimes red additions, all leaves formed of two sheets of paper pasted together to give the impression of thick buff paper, leaves subsequently mottled and appearing damp-stained from the contemporary paste used, thick glassine guards bound throughout, overall an attractive volume, 205 by 135 mm.; contemporary fine lacquered boards, outer covers with central medallions and corner-pieces of gilt floral patterns against a striking black background, with background of spiralling devices heightened with red, blue and green flowers, double ruled in red and black borders, inner covers in dark green with gilt floral designs, covers and spine lightly scuffed in places, overall clean and bright exampleProvenance: From a private UK estate, and theirs since the early 1970s. Text: A beautifully illuminated Qajar prayerbook, probably produced for a royal patron, executed to the highest quality for the period. The paper used here is formed of two sheets of buff paper pasted together to form even thicker and richer sheets. The paste used to hold these leaves together has subsequently mottled causing a beautiful pink marbling effect to the pages, providing this manuscript a certain charm and unusual appearance compared with others from the same period.

Persian calligraphic panel, probably signed Seyed Ali Jamini, in Farsi, illuminated manuscript on paper [Qajar Persia, late nineteenth century]single folio, with two quatrains (8 lines) of black nasta'liq, text set against richly gilt background decorated in fine floral spiralling vines, appearing within multiple floral borders, all intricately painted, some very faint surface soiling, upper right-hand corner of leaf with closed tear and slightly faded along old fold (neither affecting text), overall in very presentable condition, total 310 by 225 mm.

Muhammad Akbar Aref Muhammad Arzani, Hudud al-Amraz (a medical treatise), in Arabic, decorated manuscript on polished paper [Mughal India, first half of seventeenth century] single disbound volume, 44 loose leaves, text apparently complete in itself with catchwords throughout and earlier foliation, single column, 19 lines of black naskh with headings and important words in red, title to fol. 1r and some marginalia in a later hand, extensive worming to inner edges, most outer edges repaired, ink ownership stamp to title and inscription on final leaf, some light damp-staining, 275 by 195 mm.; housed in modern card portfolio-style folder Provenance: With seal of Qadir Bakhsh Kan'Murah on first leaf, and inscription to the final leaf of Qadir Bakhs ibn Abd'Al-Baqi bin Abdul-Rahman, these probably both eighteenth and early nineteenth century respectively. Text: Muhammad Arzani was a celebrated physician and author of a number of influential treatises on medicine and disease including the Qarbadini Qadiri (on skin diseases), the Mizan al-Tibb (a handbook of practical medicine), and Mujarrabat-i Akbari (on compound remedies). The present text expands on an existing work by Nafis ibn 'Iwad al-Kirmani entitled Shahr al-Asbab wa al Alamat, dealing exclusively with illness of infants, pregnant and breast-feeding women.  

Ɵ Mirza Muhammad Kazim, Alamgirnameh, also known as "Munshaat Alamgiri", being a court history of the Emperor Aurangzeb, in Farsi, decorated manuscript on paper [India (probably Eastern provinces, dated 1125 AH (1713 AD)]single volume, textually complete, 190 leaves, plus 3 endleaves (probably lacking one free endpaper at the front of the volume), single column, 19 lines of stylised black shekasteh script, some words in red, leaves ruled in red and blue, English pencil inscriptions (probably first half of twentieth century) to front free endpaper, outer edges a little water-stained and wormed, some smudges to text (including colophon), 310 by 160 mm.; contemporary mottled calf, covers ruled in gilt, spine gilt in compartments with paper label pasted down, lower edge of top board and spine broken off with severe lossAn important text documenting the first ten years of Emperor Aurangzeb's reign, notably rare in manuscript form. The Emperor commissioned his court historian, Mirza Muhammad Kazim, to compile a work based on his achievements, however, later forbade the author to continue after the first 10 years (making the work 1558-1668). Despite the shortened timeline, this work is one of the most accurate and foremost accounts of that period in Mughal history and was printed as a vast 1107 page publication by the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1868. The present manuscript was copied only 5 years after the Emperor's death in 1707 AD.

Ɵ Nur ad-Din Jami, Khosrow wa Shirin, in Farsi, illuminated manuscript on polished paper [India (Kashmir), c. 1840]single volume, 162 leaves, plus an endleaf at each end, double-column, 12 lines of fine black stylised nasta'liq bordering on shekasteh, borders with additional text in nasta'liq often extending out diagonally from main text-block, headings in red and sometimes in white against a gold banner, 48 illustrations depicting scenes from the text illuminated throughout, these often heightened in gold, polychrome heading opening the text, gilt and polychrome floral decorations throughout, often forming geometric patterns around the text, catchwords, foliation in western numerals in pencil (in reverse order), some very small scattered ink stains else exceptionally clean and crisp condition, 165 by 100 mm.; contemporary lacquered boards, outer covers with floral devices shaped in the form of a large tree, set against a green background and framed within a yellow and green floral banner, inner covers in similar style but set against a silver background, now oxidised and causing chips with loss to some of the lacquer, spine and extremities slightly chipped, overall clean and very attractive binding, housed in later decorated cloth-backed slip-caseA lavishly illuminated and intricately decorated copy of Jami's epic love story between the protagonists Khosrow and Shirin. Every spare centimetre of this manuscript is covered with floral designs and decorations around the delicately calligraphed text that is often copied to form geometric patterns in itself.

Ɵ Divan of Hafez Shirazi, in Farsi, illuminated manuscript on paper [probably North Indian provinces, dated month of Ramadan, probably c. 1820] single volume, complete, including introduction and a fihrist, single and double column, 15 lines black nasta'liq, two illuminated polychrome borders, some leaves with floral decorations to the borders, leaves ruled in red and yellow throughout, some scattered worming (mostly affecting outer margins), a few early repairs to small tears with very slight loss to text, scattered smudges and stains, 135 by 175 mm.; contemporary morocco boards, edges reinforced in a darker leather, a little rubbed, kept in a protective waved cloth cover with ink inscription Provenance: Apparently a gift from "Major F. Allan" (probably a British Imperial officer) to "Auley" with late nineteenth-century inscription to inside covers of cloth jacket placing the volume then in the Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh region).

Ɵ The Alif Laila, or Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, printed in Arabic and English, by Thacker and Co. St. Andrew's Library [India (Calcutta), 1839-1842] volumes I and III only of four, each with title-page in English, volume I with title-page in Arabic but lacking this lacking in volume III, otherwise these volumes complete in themselves, woodcut headpieces, preliminary and penultimate leaves with repairs to outer edges of leaves, rarely affecting text, some worming to both volumes (mostly affecting margins), scattered foxing and damp-staining throughout, some ex-libris stamps to title-pages and endleaves, 8vo (260 by 170 mm.); later cloth-backed boards with inserted endpapers, a little soiled and rubbed at extremities, edges speckled pink Two volumes from an early and important printed copy of this famous work, rarely seen at public auction. The text was published in Arabic from an Egyptian manuscript brought to India by the late Major Turner Macan, Persian Interpreter to the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in India and editor of the first Shahnameh ever printed in Europe.

Ɵ A large Qur'an, printed in Arabic, with hand-coloured additions [Malaya, or Singapore, dated 1287 AH (1870 AD)] single volume, final page of Qur'anic text missing, else textually complete (possibly lacking another leaf containing printed colophon), including introductory prayers and a printed fihrist at the front of the volume, first leaf (detached and torn) together with opening two pages of Qur'an and final page with printed borders, hand-painted with bright vibrant colours, slight damp-staining to some outer edges, else clean and attractive condition, 300 by 195 mm.; contemporary limp untamed leather with flap, chips and a few holes to leather While this volume is missing its final leaf, likely including the colophon, it bears a number of striking similarities to an edition of the Qur'an printed in 1286 AH, one year before this edition, by Haji Muhammad Nuh bin Haji Ismail in Singapore. The colophon of that edition also names the scribe as Tengku Yusof bin Tengku Ibrahim and includes some preparatory text in Jawi (Malay written in modified Arabic script). Another close comparable to the present text is a manuscript currently held in the British Library (Or.MS 15227), copied in Malaya, that is illuminated in a near-identical style to this one.

Ɵ Yemen in 1937 and 1938, documented by Italian traveler B.V. Clementi, two albums of black & white photography with manuscript annotations and captions [Yemen, 1937-38] two photograph albums comprising of over 300 original black and white photographs mounted on 36 leaves, with 12 duplicate photographs in envelopes pasted onto rear pastedowns, individual captions in blue ink for most of the images, images numbered (sometimes on photograph) in blue, manuscript map of routes taken around Yemen tipped onto first leaf of each album, newspaper cuttings from 1968 pasted onto front pastdown, original tissue-guards protecting the pages, typed letters from the owner B.V. Clementi about the collection mounted to the first page of each volume, albums each c. 245 by 315mm.These photographs are an extraordinary record of the history and society of Yemen in the early twentieth century taken by an Italian enthusiast on his travels in the region from 1936 to 1938. However the majority of the photographs in these two albums were taken in and around Sanaa, the capital of Yemen at the time. The subjects of the photos are diverse and wide ranging, from local people shopping and working in markets, farming animals and working the land, historical landmarks including an abandoned eighteenth-century fortress, religious festivals, and a range of nationalities and religions including German, Polish, Jewish, Somalian, English, Arab, and sheikhs.The albums are also highly personal, with photos featuring Clementi himself in his home in Sanaa welcoming guests, taking part in leisurely activities such as golf and tennis, and even celebrating Christmas. It is clear that Clementi was interested and invested in his surroundings and the people he met on his travels, as many of the captions identify people by their names and occupations, and range from his staff, to local people, as well as political and military officials.In his typed letter tipped onto the beginning of each volume, Clementi explains in Italian that although he took the photographs between the years 1936-38, he decided to arrange them in these albums in late 1967-early 1968 "respecting their chronology and place names". The letter is rather poignant, with Clementi reflecting on happier days in Yemen preceding the days of war, when 'frontiers were open' and people were content and without oppression.  

Bifolium from a fine Maghribi Qur'an, in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on parchment [Andalusia, twelfth century] single bifolium, single column, 5 lines of flowing sepia maghribi script, diacritics and vocalisation in red and blue, remains of green sukun marks now oxidised and causing small holes to parchment, three gilt circular devices marking the important sections marking the verses, ruled in black and decorated with red and blue dots, creases a little soiled else bright and attractive, 260 by 415 mm.(each leaf 260 by 205 mm.) A visually pleasing example of early maghribi flowing cursive script as popularised in the eleventh century in the Islamic regions of Andalusia in southern Spain and adjacent Morocco. The spacious layout and dimensions of the text suggest it was once part of a luxurious and richly illuminated Qur'an, with the text copied with only 5 lines to the page.

Bilolium from a fine Mamluk Qur'an, in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on buff paper [Mamluk Egypt or possibly Syria, thirteenth century] single bifolium, containing consecutive text from Surah al-Fajr 89:24 to the Surah al-Shams 91:6, single column, 6 lines of black naskh, two large gilt surah headings in kufic (close to Eastern kufic) script, 6 marginal decorations marking the important divisions throughout the text, each of these either teardrop or circular in shape, gilt and decorated with red and blue flourishes, verses marked with floral roundels throughout, leaves with margins trimmed, causing slight loss to marginal illumination, a little surface soiling, else clean condition, 194 by 295 mm. (each folio, c. 195 by 145 mm.) There are many stylistic similarities between the illumination of the present manuscript and Qur'ans illuminated by master illuminator Abu Bakr, also known as "Sandal". The famous Baybars al-Jashnagir Qur'an (British Library MS 59874) carries the Sandal attribution as well as a Qur'an illuminated by him in the Chester Beatty Library (see David James, Qur'ans of the Mamluks, London, 1988, cat. no.3).

Ɵ Juz from a Mamluk Qur'an, comprising text from Juz IX (Qala l'Mala-u), in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on paper [Probably Egypt, mid-fourteenth century] single volume, comprising text from Surah al-Araf (7:88) to Surah al-Anfal (8:40), single column, 7 lines of striking black muhaqqaq, diacritics and vocalisation also in black, large gilt banner opening the text, with rosette extending into the margin, gilt roundels marking the verses throughout, some very faint staining in places, a few outer edges of leaves repaired, some scattered worming, spine cracked with some leaves loose, 265 by 170 mm.; early leather over boards with flap, tooled and ruled in blind with central medallions to covers and ornamental decorative borders, rebacked and edges repaired, a little scuffed A skilfully calligraphed Qur'anic Juz', probably copied by a trained hand of the Mamluk court for a royal or noble patron in the region.    

Ɵ Hakim Tabib Abu Abd'ullah Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Sa'id al-An'amari al-Sikhbari, Al-Muntakhib min kitab qaniy'a Mulabib... (a work on Herbal Medicine), in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on paper [Ottoman Egypt, dated 27 Sha'ban 1003 AH (1594 AD)]single volume, 25 leaves, single column, 23 lines of black informal naskh with headings and key words in red, opening of text with title against a gold banner, contemporary foliation and pagination throughout, fol. 6 with tear to lower edge and small section to middle of text (with later repairs), a few more leaves with repairs to lower edges slightly affecting text, some marginal damp-staining, 215 by 165 mm.; modern Ottoman-style leather over pasteboards, covers with centrally-stamped medallions and ruled in blind, clean and bright conditionThe rigid and strict style of this script, copied by Muhammad bin Ali bin Muhammad bin Ali al-Shabbu al-Masi al-Maleki, is distinctly academic and completely lacking in the fluid flourishes of a professional scribe. Thus the text was likely copied by a practitioner of herbal remedies for personal or medical teaching purposes.   

Ɵ Kitab Tarikh al-Makke al-Mukarrama wa bana al-Haram al-Sharif (being a history of Mecca and the construction of the Haram al-Sharif), second volume only, in Arabic, decorated manuscript on paper [Mecca, dated 1010 AH (1601 AD)] single volume, being the second volume only of a two-volume work, apparently complete in itself, 50 leaves plus a later endleaf at each end, single column, 25 lines of informal naskh, some key words and headings in red, numerous contemporary and later marginal annotations, including some ownership inscriptions to recto of opening leaf, some scattered stains, outer margins of leaves a little torn with slight loss to edges (rarely affecting text) and some minor worming, 210 by 155 mm.; eighteenth-century leather-backed marbled boards with flap, extremities lightly rubbed This is the second volume of a larger text compiled in the late sixteenth century, documenting the historical and structural changes made to Mecca and the Haram al-Sharif during the period of Ottoman rule in the region under reign of Sultan Suleyman I. Another fragmentary volume, of the first part of this text, appeared in our sale on 30 April 2019 (lot 52), apparently from an apparently earlier edition of this text copied in 1003 AH (1595 AD). Despite differences in date hand and location of the scribe's work (that sold in 2019 noting it was copied in the Suleymani school; this "next to" Mecca and the Haram al-Sharif by the scribe Abd'al-Malik bin Hussayn al-Assahi), the two sets may well be related - with the volumes of this set perhaps copied from the earlier series.

Ɵ Two Qur'anic Juz', copied for Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Sheikh Qabilah Beni Yas, in Arabic, decorated manuscript on paper ["in the town of Al-Dhafra" probably from the north-western regions of the Arabian peninsula, dated Safar 1170 AH (1757 AD)]  single folio, containing two Juz' from the Qur'an, containing continuous text from Surah Yusuf (12: 53) to An-Nahl (16:128), complete, single column, 7 lines of black informal naskh, key words in red, vocalisation and diacritics in red and black, opening two sections of text within borders formed of overlapping circles forming geometric patterns, coloured in green, orange and yellow, verses marked by small yellow circles outlined in black and decorated with red dots, text-block framed within a double-ruling of red, some scattered foxing and staining, overall clean and presentable condition internally, 245 by 170 mm.; modern red morocco, with central blind-stamped medallion to covers, framed by geometric ruling, also in blind to covers, a little darkened in places The colophon of this two-Juz' volume explains that the text was copied for Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Sheikh Qabilah Beni Yas. This is a remarkably early reference to the Beni Yas tribal confederation, whose descendants from the leading six families currently form the United Arab Emirates. The Sheikh mentioned here is likely a member of the Al-Nahyan branch of the Beni Yas, who were residents of the al-Dhafra region before moving to Abu Dhabi in the eighteenth century. Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa Al Nahyan was the first ruler of the Liwa Oasis (Abu Dhabi Emarate) from 1761, and was known to have a Bahraini born cousin called Hazza of the Al Bu Falah family, this perhaps being the Sheik to which the present volume is dedicated. The informal calligraphy and use of bold decorations in this manuscript have influences from Eastern African and neighbouring Arabian regions. The circular devices are very reminiscent of sub-Saharan Qur'an illumination and the vivid colours likely an Indian influence as well as a North African one, with trade routes between South India, Eastern Arabia (Oman and Yemen) and North-Eastern Africa (Ethiopia and Sudan) well established by the eighteenth century. The lack of illumination, and use of yellow, is also common for this area, as gold manuscript illumination was not usual practice for the region.   

Ɵ A bound Sub-Saharan Qur'an, in Arabic, decorated manuscript on paper [East Africa (probably Ethiopia), late nineteenth century] single volume, lacking leaves at the end of the volume, replaced in manuscript facsimile, single column, mostly 22 lines of black East African Naskh, surah headings and some vocalisation in red, opening two surah with elaborately decorated with red and black circles framed with in a rectangular border decorated with stylistic floral devices, verses marked with a black circle adorned with four dots (one to the centre and three on the rim to form a triangle), some soiling and smudges throughout, extremities chipped with some closed tears, a few creases and edges repaired, 298 by 200 mm.; contemporary provincial leather over pasteboards with flap, spine ends torn along folds, extremities a little scuffed A charming and attractive East African Qur'an, probably produced in Harrar, the Islamic centre of Ethiopia, in the late nineteenth century. As this volume is bound it is an interesting example of its kind, as Qur'ans from this region were more commonly produced and kept as loose leaves. The script is notably large and curved and bears a closer resemblance to bihari script, from the Indian manuscript tradition, than the local neighbouring style of naskh and muhaqqaq, this raising interesting parallels between manuscript production and the movement of culture between India and Eastern Africa during this period.  

Ɵ Tanbih al-'Anam fi Biyan awl' Muqam Nabina Muhammad (treatise on the names of Prophet Muhammad), two volumes, in Arabic, decorated manuscript on paper [Ethiopia (probably Harar), second half of nineteenth century] two volumes, apparently on the same text but copied in different hands, 174 and 163 leaves respectively (these misbound in places and uncollatable), single column, between 20 and 21 lines of black naskh, headings and names "Allah" and "Muhammad" in red throughout, some damp-staining to outer and upper edges of leaves throughout, these sometimes affecting text, a few small later ownership annotations, small chips and closed tears to extremities, both volumes c. 370 by 260 mm.; both in leather over thick pasteboards with flap, one of these with intricate tooling in geometric pattern (a little faded), extremities worn with some tears to leather, scuffed Provenance: Malik Abd' al-Qader Ibn Abajubi(?)ijr, with their contemporary inscription in red to the front free endpaper of the second volume.  

Leaf from a large Kufic Qur'an, in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on parchment [Abbasid territories of North Africa or possibly Near East, 9th century]single leaf, containing verses 1-9 of surah Saba, single column, 14 lines dark brown elongated Kufic script, vocalisation in red dots, verses marked with small gilt triangular (formed of three gold dots) and rosette devices, text to verso of leaf rather faded and outer extremities a little browned, else clean and crisp condition, 250 by 320 mm.The origins of this particular dispersed Qur'an have never been definitively identified as Near Eastern or North African. Its script follows many characteristics of North African Kufic scripts from the period, however the elongating of letters to this unusual form is a characteristic much attributed to leaves copied in contemporary Damascus (see F. Déroche, The Abbasid Tradition: Qur'ans of the 8th to the 10th Centuries, 1992, pp. 44-47).For other leaves from the same Qur'an see Sotheby's, 6 October 2010 lots 1 & 2, and 1 May 2019 lots 6 & 7.

Leaf from a Kufic Qur'an, in Arabic, decorated manuscript on parchment [Near East, 9th century] single leaf, single column, 18 lines of sepia Kufic script, without diacritics or vocalisation, important divisions marked with a red circular device, a few small dots added in a later hand, small tear to parchment along outer margin (not affecting text, extremities a little darkened and stained, text a little rubbed and faded in places, 135 by 182 mm. A small group of leaves from the same Qur'an were sold in Christie's on 11 April 2008, lot 136.

Ɵ Ibrahim Ibn Musa al-Tarabulusi, Is'af fi Ahkam al-Awqaf, in Arabic, decorated manuscript on paper [Jerusalem (al-Aqsa Mosque), dated 1 Muharram 1040 AH (1630-31 AD)]single volume, complete, 102 leaves, plus 3 contemporary endleaves (one of these containing the Fihrist), single column, 17 lines of black naskh, headings and important phrases in red, title in alternating lines of green, red and black, numerous contemporary and later marginalia throughout, many ink ownership inscriptions and annotations to front free endpapers, a few small stains, volume disbound with many leaves and gatherings loose, 225 by 155 mm.; remains of a singule eighteenth-century board, else disbound, remains of early twentieth-century paper wrapper with western inscriptions and paper label "87", wornProvenance: Property of an English collector since the 1960sThe colophon of this treatise stipulates that the volume was copied in the al-Asqua Mosque, also known as the Haram-i Sharif, in the old city of Jerusalem, by the scribe Ahmad bin Shaykh Nur al-Din.

Ɵ Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi, Al-Hadra al-Unsiyya fi al-Rihla al-Qudsiyya, also known as "al-Rihla al-Wustd" (a travel journal for al-Nabulsi's journey to Palestine, specifically Jerusalem and Hebron), among other extracts, working authorial manuscript copy and first appearance of the text, in Arabic, decorated manuscript on paper [various places throughout the Ottoman Levant, probably c. 1101 AH (1690 AD)]single volume, 154 leaves, informal spacing with single and double columns, varying line counts and extensive marginal annotations throughout in the author's hand, occasional overlining in red, some scattered faint staining or light browning, overall clean and crisp condition, 210 by 145 mm.; fine dark brown morocco over pasteboards with flap, Ottoman style blind-stamped medallions to covers, with ruling and arabesque borders also in blind, hinges of spine cracked and spine ends worn, slightly scuffed else attractive bindingA monumentally important authorial manuscript copy of an eye witness account of the author's journey across Palestine, Jerusalem and Hebron, compiled during his travels in the 1690sText: Abd al-Ghani bin Ismail bin Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi was a poet, mystic and an esteemed scholar of theology and literature. He was born in Damascus in 1050 AH (1641 AD) and was a great traveller in his lifetime, notably visiting Baghdad, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt and Hijaz, before retiring back to Damascus. By the age of twenty, al-Nabulsi was formally teaching legal Fatwa in Damascus, and later spent seven years in isolation to devote himself to the mystic orders of Qadiriyya and Naqshbandi. His father Isma'il bin Abd al-Ghani bin Ismail ibn Ahmad al-Nabulsi was of Palestinian descent, the name 'Nabulsi' meaning 'from Nablus' (a village just North of Jerusalem), and was a scholar and jurist in the Hanafi School. Despite his Palestinian roots, al-Nabulsi (junior) very much associated himself with Damascus and often refers to himself as 'al-Nabulsi al-Damashqi' (al-Nabulsi of Damascus) in the present manuscript. Al-Nabulsi was a prolific writer and compiled many authoritative texts including both theological, poetic and travel treatises. Some of his notable texts are: Idah al-Maqsud min wahdat al-wujud (clarifying what is meant by the unity of Being), Sharh Diwan Ibn Farid (commentary on the poetic works of Ibn al-Farid), al-Sulh bayn al-ikhwan fi hukm ibahat al-dukhan (a legal treatise advocating the lawfulness of smoking tobacco) and Al-Hakika wa al-Majaz fi al-Rihla ila Bilad al-Sham wa Masr wa al-Hijaz (the truth and metaphor in travel to Syria, Egypt and Hejaz). On him see further Brocklemann (II, pp. 473); E. Sirriya 'Ziyārāt" of Syria in a "Riḥla" of 'Abd al-Ghanī al-Nābulusī (1050/1641 - 1143/1731)', Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, (1979), pp. 109-122; and J. Gildermeister, 'Des 'Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi reise von Damascus nacht Jerusalem', Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenlandischen Gesellschaft, 36 (1882), pp. 385-400).This manuscript includes the original commentaries by the author on a journey to Palestine, Jerusalem and Hebron from which al-Nabulsi's text Al-Hadra al-Unsiyya fi al-Rihla al-Qudsiyya was compiled. Given the author's spiritual background, al-Nabulsi was primarily interested in visiting mosques, tombs and shrines in the region for ziarat (a form of pilgrimage to sites associated with Prophet Muhammad), however his mystical beliefs also drew him to spiritual and holy personalities on the journey as well. These human encounters with dignitaries, of past and present worlds, gained him barakat (blessings) and were just as important to al-Nabulsi as his visits to structural places of worship. Thus as well as descriptions of historical sites, which are documented over a period of about 45 numbered days throughout the text, this manuscript also includes descriptions of many encounters with important and influential figures along his journey, some of which come in the form of an Ijazah between al-Nabulsi and a respective recipient. Contemporary manuscript copies of al-Nabulsi's travel codices are rare. An autograph manuscript copy of his al-Hakika wa al-Majaz appears to be among the holdings of the Zahiriyya library in Damascus, where a revised edition of the present text is also listed (Ms. 95661, signed Ali Seyyed Muhammad al-Bashir al-Nadir and dated 1224 AH [1809 AD]). The present text has also been printed, with a summarised version issued in Cairo in 1902 and a publication devoted entirely to his description of the Haram-i Sharif edited by R. Gaf and lithographed by Sallfeld appeared in 1918. The hand in the present manuscript is consistent with an example of al-Nabulsi's signature in the al-Alam bibliography (IV, pp. 32).This manuscript is most probably one of only three copies to come to the open market in living memory. An incomplete nineteenth-century copy of al-Nabulsi's travel journal to Syria, Mecca and the Hejaz, entitled Al-Hakika wa al-Majaz fi al-Rihla ila Bilad al-Sham wa Masr wa al-Hijaz, was sold in Christie's, 7 October 2011, lot 104, signed by the scribe Salih al-Nabulsi (possibly a descendant of the author) and including a colophon that indicated that the manuscript was corrected against the author's copy. Also, an early twentieth-century manuscript copy of this text, signed 'Abd al-Ghani bin 'Abd al-Jalil bin Mustafa bin Isma'il, was sold by Christie's, 9 October 2015, lot 326.

Ɵ Sharh al-Tahrir fi Faru' al-Fiqh (a commentary on Fiqh), second volume only, in Arabic, decorated manuscript on paper [Jerusalem, dated 1134 AH (1722 AD)]single volume, 62 leaves, single column, 21 lines of black naskh with headings in red, possibly copied in two contemporary hands, catchwords throughout, title to fol. 1r with red decorations around the triangle-shaped text-block, catchwords throughout, a few contemporary annotations and inscriptions to margins, later ownership inscription to verso of final leaf and title, some slight foxing and scattered staining, overall clean and presentable condition, 215 by 165 mm.; contemporary pink paper boards with flap, spine and outer edges backed in leather, boards with central filigree details in yellow stamped paper, covers a little soiled and stained in places, extremities rubbed A popular work on Fiqh by Imam Jalal al-Din al-Mahalli al-Shaf'i (d. 1485), copied here by the scribe Abd'ulla bin Muhammad al-Khalili al-Muqadassi al-Shai'fi in the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Despite this manuscript being only a section from a larger work, it was copied in one of the holiest Islamic sites in the world, located in the heart of the old city of Jerusalem and during a period of Ottoman rule when it was also an important centre for Islamic study.

Ɵ Ahmad bin Ibrahim bin Khalil al-Halabi, Jadval Mu'arif Matla' al-Kawakib al-Khamisa asiyyara l'maqib al-Shams ... (being an astronomical treatise), in Arabic, decorated manuscript on paper [Damascus, dated Rabi I 853 AH (1449 AD)]single volume, complete, 8 leaves plus a later endleaf at each end, 10 full-page astronomical tables in red and black, some very slight marginal damp-staining, otherwise exceptionally clean condition, 280 by 95 mm.; nineteenth-century morocco over pasteboards, covers with centrally stamped device in blind, covers also ruled in blind, upper cover and extremities a little scuffedKhalil al-Halabi (d. 1455) was a Syrian astronomer who held the prestigious role of al-Muwaqqit (time keeper) at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. The colophon records that the present manuscript was copied by the scribe Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Abu'bakr al-Tizini al-Hanafi al-Muwaqat in the very same location, during the author's lifetime. The scribe was therefore likely a student of Khalil al-Halabi and probably copied from an authorial copy, either for use as personal reference or for fellow students at the holy mosque.  

Ɵ Abu al-Fazl Hubaysh bin Ibrahim al-Tiflisi, Nazm al-Suluk wa Taqwim al-Adviyeh (a dictionary of medicine and guide to herbal remedies), in Arabic, decorated manuscript on paper [Ottoman Levant (possibly Jerusalem), dated Shawwal 974 AH (1556-7 AD)] single volume, 274 leaves plus an additional endleaf at each end, perhaps lacking a Fihrist at the front of the volume (indicated by the pagination of leaves), single column, 19 lines informal black naskh with headings and important words in red, title on fol. 1r with text in alternate lines of red and black, pagination and contemporary catchwords throughout, a few marginal inscriptions and a few ink ownership inscriptions to title page, some finger-soiling to margins, else overall clean and very presentable condition, 210 by 140 mm.; eighteenth-century leather over pasteboards with flap, boards and flap with some provincial tooling in blind, Ottoman style central medallions and corner-pieces with additional florets and stamps surrounding these, rebacked, resewn and doubleurs added, some repairs to binding, overall very neat and clean conditionAbu al-Fazl Hubaysh bin Ibrahim al-Tiflisi was a physician and astronomer, given the title 'al-Mutabbib' (the doctor) for authorship of numerous medical texts; including the present volume as well as the Kafiyat al-Tibb (Encyclopedia of Medicine). Though little is known about al-Tiflisi's working life, he is thought to have lived around 600 AH (1203 AD): see Brockelmann (Suppl. i. 893) and C. P. Rieu (British Museum Catalogue, 1883, p. 852). The present codex forms a substantial work on herbal medicine and acts as a reference work for medication and the application of practical remedies. The colophon is signed by Ismail bin Abd'ulhaq al-Hamsa Damashqi al-Mutabbib, whose title most probably records the use of the volume by an early medical practitioner. It clearly stayed in such use for some centuries, and an early eighteenth-century ownership inscription to the title indicates that it was still used then by another Mutabbib, Afif al-Din bin Sadaqa bin Afif, who worked in the al-Salahi Hospital in Jerusalem. The binding currently housing the manuscript was probably added by Afif and used in the Salahi Hospital, one of the foremost centres for Islamic medical studies in the Middle East.

Ɵ Dawud Ibn 'Umar al-Antaki, Majmia' al-Munafia al-Badaniyaat at-Tibb wa li'Sayailat (treatise on pharmacy and medicine for the human body), in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on paper [Near East (possibly Jerusalem), on or before 1130 AH (1717 AD)] single volume, complete, 26 leaves plus a later endleaf at each end, single column, 21 lines of cursive black naskh, key words and headings in red, illuminated polychrome heading opening the text in typical Ottoman style probably added at a later date, some contemporary annotations to margins and recto of first leaf, single line of text including date and place of manuscript possibly in a different hand, catchwords throughout, some stains and smudges (rarely affecting text), 230 by 160 mm.; contemporary leather-backed marbled boards, outer edges repaired in later leather, repaired, a little scuffed Dawud Ibn 'Imar al-Antaki (d. 1599), also known as David of Antioch, was a Syrian-born Christian who despite blindness became a pharmacist and physician. He was best known for his Tadhkira, an Arabic language reference on medicine and the occult sciences, and the Tayzin, a collection of romantic poetry including a commentary on Christian and Arab traditions. The present text appears to be an abridgement of the Tadhkira, and was apparently copied for a Muslim community as the text opens with "Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim". 

Ɵ Ibrahim Haqqi of Erzurum, Ma'rifetnama (an Encyclopedic Compendium), in Ottoman Turkish, decorated manuscript on paper [Ottoman Turkey, early nineteenth century] single volume, 267 leaves, lacking a few leaves from the front of the volume (all of these likely from the Fihrist), single column, 16 lines black naskh, words and headings in red throughout, over ten leaves with full-page illustrations and diagrams, some of these in colour, including the double-page illustration of the globe as spheres, many tables and diagrams also appearing throughout the text, contemporary foliation throughout, a few scuffs and smudges, overall clean copy, spine cracked with a few individual gatherings becoming loose, 230 by 160 mm.; contemporary leather-backed cloth boards, cloth with stamped tughra of sultan to covers (these upside down), leather spine worn with slight loss to leather at extremities, cloth also worn with loss  Ibrahim Haqqi was a revered sufi saint, poet, theologian and one of the last traditional encyclopedic scholars of the Ottoman Empire. Born in Ezrum, he spent much of his life in Tello and Istanbul where he worked under the patronage of Sultan Mahmut I. Haqqi's aim in compiling the Ma'rifatnama was to encompass every field of knowledge he had gained from his years of travel and study in one single volume, and the text encompasses medicine, Islamic theology, psychology, geology, mathematics and astronomy. It was the first work by an Islamic scholar to incorporate the astronomical conclusions of Nicolaus Copernicus (d. 1543) and place the sun at the center of the universe. Although this work was first published in 1756, no known surviving manuscript predates the first quarter of the nineteenth century. The British Library holds a copy (MS.Or.12964) that was compiled in 1235 AH (1820 AD), and the earliest known manuscript copy was thought to be that in the Khalili collection (J.M.Rogers, Empire of the Sultans, 1995, no. 74, pp. 121 & 123) dated 1226 AH (1811 AD), until a copy predating this was sold by Bloomsbury Auctions on 7 December 2014 (Western and Oriental manuscripts and Miniatures, lot 123) that preceded the Khalili copy by 7 years.This copy of the text is in a relatively informal hand, however, the diagrams have been executed to an excellent standard. The text and drawings were likely executed in different workshops as the scribe allocated far more space than necessary for the illustrator, resulting in numerous blank pages throughout the text.  

Ɵ An Astronomical treatise, in Arabic, decorated manuscript on blue paper [Ottoman Turkey or possibly Qajar Persia, dated 1231 AH (1816 AD)] single volume, 32 leaves (uncollatable), apparently complete, single column, 15 lines of fine black nasta'liq, some headings in red, illustrated with over 40 tables and diagrams, most of these ruled in red with annotations in black nasta'liq (by the same hand), some later comments and ownership inscriptions to endpapers, some light finger-soiling, else clean condition, a few early ownership seals, 220 by 170 mm.; contemporary brown leather over pasteboards, ruled and tooled with central medallions in blind, spine strengthened at ends (tightening the binding), a little worn at extremities An appealing work on astronomy with over 40 skilfully diagrams of a celestial nature, together with numerous charts and tables probably pertaining to the movements of the sun and moon.

Ɵ Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Hasan ibn Duraid al-Azdi al-Basri ad-Dawsi, known as "Ibn Duraid", Kitab Sharh al-Maqsurah (commentary on the poetic treatise), in Arabic, decorated manuscript on paper [Ottoman Levant, dated 1249 AH (1833 AD)] single volume, two parts in one volume, complete, 56 leaves including a final free blank, single column, 26-7 lines of black cursive naskh with headings and important words in red, titles in alternating lines of black and red, some worm-holes (rarely affecting text) and a few scattered smudges, else clean condition, some contemporary annotations to margins and preliminary leaves, 210 by 155 mm.; contemporary marbled boards with edges and spine in morocco, worn and darkened, binding becoming loose from text block A commentary on the poetic eulogium dedicated to Shah ibn Mikal and his son Abd'ul Abbas Ismail, of the Abbasid Caliphate, by revered grammarian Ibn Duraid (d. 933 AD). Ibn Duraid is known as one of the earliest poets of the Arabic language from the Abbasid era, whose Jamhara fi 'l-lugha (comprehensive dictionary of the Arabic language) is considered one of the greatest lexicological texts to date.

Ɵ Jalal al-din Mawlana Rumi, Divan'e Shams'e Tabrizi, in Farsi, illuminated manuscript on polished paper [Ottoman provinces, dated 1248 AH (1832-33 AD)] single volume, complete, 10 leaves including a blank at either end, plus two endleaves, single and double column, 19 lines of bold black ta'liq script, illuminated polychrome heading at the beginning of the text, decorative painting of a pink rose at the end of the text, leaves ruled in black and gold, catchwords throughout, near-fine condition, small ink ownership seal to front free endpaper, 218 by 125 mm.; contemporary red morocco with flap, covers and flap with green silk panels, leather ruled in gilt, small stain to lower edge of upper board, extremities a little rubbed, overall a very bright and attractive volume A fine and very attractive copy of one of the masterpieces of Farsi literature, containing verses of lyrical poetry formed of ghazals, tarji-bands and quatrains by the revered poet Rumi. 

Panel of calligraphy from an Ottoman Muraqqa, in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on green paper [Ottoman Turkey, dated 1277 AH (1859-60 AD)] single leaf, text split into three panels, the top containing a single line of large muhaqqaq, the second with three lines fine of black naskh and the third with a smaller text panel containing the signature and date (this rather scuffed and illegible), gilt decorations and floral devices adorning the first and second panels, leaf rather rubbed with loss to text on lower panels and some outer margins, 140 by 210 mm.; in modern card mount, framed and glazed

Leaf from a Qur'an in kufic script, in Arabic, decorated manuscript on parchment [Near East or possibly Persia, probably late ninth century] single leaf, single column, 23 lines of sepia kufic, a few corrections added in a later hand in black, reverse rather scuffed and faded with loss to text, extremities creased and chipped with slight loss to margins, a little stained at outer edges, 153 by 210 mm. The compact format of the text and lack of illumination or vocalisation suggests that this leaf was produced in an early and provincial workshop in the Levant, removed from the formal and trained workshops in Abbasid North Africa.

Two leaves from a large Eastern Kufic Qur'an, in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on buff paper [Seljuk Persia, first half of the twelfth century]two loose leaves, each in single column, with 15 lines of angular sepia eastern kufic script, diacritics and vocalisation in red and green with some also in blue, decorative rosettes marking the verses in gilt, ornamental devices to the margins also in gilt and heightened in orange and green, surah heading with additional prayers outlined in a gold box with a large gilt roundel extending into the margin, some early marginalia in red, leaves damaged and worn along old vertical crease to the centre of each leaf, edges a little damp-stained, some repairs to extremities, trimmed with slight loss to marginalia, each leaf 338 by 298 mm.

Ɵ Prayerbook of Du'a, with a dedication to Amir Shahrukh Sultan bin Timur Lang, in Arabic and Farsi, illuminated manuscript on paper [Timurid Persia (possibly Herat), c. 1430] single volume, 120 leaves plus an additional later endleaf at each end, single column, 9 lines of black naskh with eastern influences, some phrases at the front of the volume in red, 31 du'a headings in gilt banners opening different du'a throughout, these often decorated in red and blue, fol. 1r with an inscription dedicating the work to Shahrukh Sultan, apparently copied in a different hand, some of the leaves in the first section of the codex ruled in red, a few margins with annotations in a later hand, first and final few endleaves with eighteenth- century ownership inscriptions and annotations, a few leaves with repairs to small tears (rarely affecting text), some very faint water-staining, else bright and attractive overall, 100 by 110 mm.; early eighteenth-century leather over pasteboards, a little rubbed, outer edges a little wornA charming travel-sized book containing a collection of prayers, known as Du'a, beginning with the Du'a of Adam Ali al-Salam. Copied by a professional hand in an angular naskh with notable Central Asian influence, on thick buff paper, seemingly produced in a formal Timurid workshop.The first leaf includes a dedication to Amir Shahrukh Sultan bin Timur Lang, second ruler of the Timurid Empire from 1405 to 1447 and youngest son of Timur the Great, who founded the dynasty in 1370. Shahrukh Sultan strengthened trading routes between Europe and Asia, along the silk road, during his reign and notably relocated the capital of the Timurid Empire from Samarqand to Herat. This manuscript was illuminated and copied on fine thick paper, and likely produced in Herat either for Shahrukh himself or a member of his court as a personal gift.

Ɵ Jalal-al-Din Rumi "Molavi", Mathnavi, copied by Haji Hussayn ibn Badr al-Din al-Mashhadi, in Farsi, fine illuminated manuscript on paper [early Safavid Persia (probably eastern regions), dated 20 Rajab I 909 AH (1503-04 AD)] single volume, 6 parts in one volume, 320 leaves, lacking at least 11 leaves (the first two leaves, one bifolia and the first leaves to five of the six books), text in four columns, 22 lines of elegant black nasta'liq, headings in red throughout, one large heading opening the second book of the Mathnawi, in Timurid style of blue and gilt with title in white thuluth decorated with green spiralling vines, some contemporary and later inscriptions to margins and endleaves, some early repairs to outer margins, worming to outer edges (rarely affecting text), some scattered ink smudges and stains, spine cracked with some gatherings and bifolia becoming loose, 242 by 170 mm.; seventeenth-century diced leather boards, stamped in blind with central medallions and cartouches to the borders, crudely rebacked in red morocco, boards worn A fine example copied in a trained hand from the very earliest period in Safavid period, still drawing heavily on the Timurid style of manuscript production.

Leila and Majnun fainting at the sight of each other, scene from Nizami's Khamsa, leaf from an illuminated manuscript in Farsi, on paper [Safavid Persia, second half of the sixteenth century] single folio, miniature depicting Leila and Majnun surrounded by animals including a lion, leopard, deer and rabbits, villagers seen watching them from a distance with bedouin tents in the background, ink and gouache heightened in gilt, text in four columns of fine black nasta'liq, reverse with 21 lines, leaf ruled in gilt, some light surface scratching with slight loss of pigment, 315 by 195 mm.; in modern card mount  

Ɵ Nur al-Din Abd'ulrahman Jami, Divan (collected poems), copied by Qazi Mahmoud bin Amir Muhammad al-Herati, in Farsi, fine illuminated manuscript on paper [Safavid Persia (probably Herat), dated 971 AH (1563-4 AD)]single volume, probably from a two-part series, 280 leaves, apparently complete in itself, double column, 17 lines of fine black nasta'liq, plus additional lines of verse extending diagonally outwards from the text-block, also in black nasta'liq, occasional headings in red, blue or green, two large gilt polychrome headings in exceptionally vibrant colours, leaves ruled in multi-coloured lines of red, blue, green and gold, columns also ruled in gold, catchwords throughout, some minor soiling and scattered small worm-holes (mostly affecting margins), spine cracked with many gatherings becoming loose, 245 by 170 mm.; near-contemporary leather over pasteboards, with inlaid and deep-set medallions and decorative border to covers, hand-painted additions in the form of gilt flourished added, spine split along upper hinge, outer edges of boards worn with loss, rather rubbed and showing evidence of wormingProvenance: The property of a UK collector since the 1960s, with an early ink inscription to the front free endpaper and typewritten description in English loosely inserted. Text: An exceptionally fine and illuminated example of one of the most celebrated works of Farsi literature, copied within the first century after the author's death by a scribe possibly working in the same court in which Jami himself worked in Herat.

A seated Mulla in conversation with a youth, leaf from a Shahnameh, in Farsi, illuminated manuscript on polished paper [Safavid Persia (probably Shiraz), last decades of sixteenth century] single leaf, text in 4 columns, 15 lines black nasta'liq (verso with 23 lines nasta'liq) above the miniature on the bottom half of the leaf, depicting a seated Mulla in conversation with a youth, on a hillside with an attendant in waiting, image heightened in gilt, panel ruled in orange, gold and black, miniature heightened in silver and gold, a few darkened areas and some light smudges, some light restoration to old chips, overall presentable and bright, 330 by 240 mm.; in modern card mount     

Three fine calligraphic leaves from the Gelpke Album, in Arabic and Farsi, illuminated manuscripts on paper [Timurid and Safavid Persia, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries] three loose leaves, comprising: (i) a Timurid panel of calligraphy formed of two lines of large black thuluth framed around two smaller lines naskh, all outlined in clouds against a gold background, ruled in red, rather rubbed, with lines of Persian verse to the reverse in blue gold and black nasta'liq, with very decorative pink margins painted with delicate gilt spiralling flowers and vines; (ii) large panel of 18 lines of black naskh, signed Abd'ullah at the end of the colophon, two sections in slightly varying naskh scriptions written diagonally, reverse similar to item "i" above; (iii) panel with 12 lines of black nasta'liq in one and two columns, with three panels of verse above and below the text-block, gilt decorations to the margins, reverse from a similar manuscript with 12 lines of black nasta'liq in one and two columns, with a single line of larger nasta'liq both above and below the text-block, margins also painted with gilt decorations; all with a little surface soiling, overall very presentable leaves, each c. 290 by 175 mm.

Calligraphic quatrain of poetic verse, in Farsi, illuminated manuscript on paper, from a Safavid album [Safavid Persia, probably late seventeenth century] single leaf, depicting a single quatrain (four lines)of elegant black nasta'liq calligraphy, in cloud-shaped outlining margins with a gilt background, framed within multiple coloured banners of blue pink and green, each decorated with a gilt foliate design, outer margins also decorated with gilt patterns or spiralling floral vines, some light rubbing and surface soiling, mounted on thick card, in card mount, 395 by 257 mm.

Ɵ Baha al-Din Muhammad al-Amili, Tashrih al-Aflak (The Anatomy of Celestial Spheres), in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on polished paper [Safavid Persia, early eighteenth century] single volume, text including four chapters of this work, 22 leaves plus an additional later endleaf at each end, single column, 9 lines of elegant black naskh, some phrases in red or blue, numerous spherical diagrams throughout the text in red and blue, some of these heightened in gilt, contemporary annotations and marginalia throughout in a slightly later hand, including inscriptions to preliminary and penultimate leaves, two ownership seals at the end of the text, 205 by 120 mm.; later limp leather, rebacked, extremities scuffed Baha al-Din Muhammad al-Amili (d. 1621) was a Lebanese architect and astronomer who spent most of his working life in the Persian courts. The historic Naq'she Jahan Square and Charbagh Avenue structures in Isfahan, both famous Safavid sites, are attributed to al-Amili. As well as his architectural achievements, he is also known as one of the first Islamic astronomers to suggest the possibility of the earth's rotation on an axis, prior to the spread of the Copernican Theory and other western influences. The present text is a summary of theoretical astronomy, also known as a majmu'a (compilation), and includes the Earth's axis theory as well as discussing other planets in the solar system inclusive of the sun.  

Ɵ Jalal-al-Din Rumi "Molavi", Mathnavi, in Farsi, decorated manuscript on paper [rural Central Asia (probably Uzbeck regions), dated 1123 AH (1711 AD)] six books in one volume, seemingly complete (one gathering misbound at the end of the volume), 408 leaves plus an additional endleaf at each end, text in four columns, 17 lines of confident black nasta'liq, 6 vibrantly painted head-pieces, painted in yellow orange and red with primitively drawn flowers and arabesque shapes, some leaves with text-blocks ruled in black, catchwords throughout, a few gatherings and bifolia loose or becoming loose from spine, some scattered ink smudges and stains, some inscriptions to endpapers in a slightly later hand, 315 by 225 mm.; fine eighteenth-century green Safavid boards with three centrally stamped cartouches, ruled in blind, inner covers with stamped paper decoupage designs using silver, yellow and red paper, extremities chipped with a little loss, covers lightly scuffed

A Qur'an leaf written in kufic script on vellum Near East or North Africa, 9th CenturyArabic manuscript on vellum, 7 lines to the page written in bold kufic script in brown ink with vowel points in red, one verse-marking consisting of three small gold dots in a triangular formation, losses to edges 195 x 292 mm.Footnotes:TextSura II, al-Baqarah, The Heifer, part of verse 259 to part of verse 260.Leaves from this dispersed Qur'an manuscript are notable for their strong and disciplined hand, as well as the strong, exaggerated mashq present here, indicative of 'perfect mastery of the pen' (François Déroche, The Abbasid Tradition, London 1992, p. 69). Other sections from this Qu'ran are in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, The Iran Bastan Museum, Tehran (Ms. 4289: see M. Lings, The Qur'anic Art of Calligraphy and Illumination, Westerham 1976, no. 5), and the Pars Museum, Shiraz.Various other folios from this Qu'ran displaying the same features have appeared at auction: see for example, Sotheby's, 24 October 2007, lot 4; two leaves, 9th April 2008, lot 13; 1 April 2009, lot 2; 14 April 2010, lots 1 & 5; 5 October 2011, lot 54; a bifolium, 24 April 2013, lot 3; 20 April 2015, lot 2; 19 October 2016, lot 152.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: PP This lot is owned by a private individual. The right of return enjoyed by EU customers is not applicable.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

Two leaves from a dispersed manuscript of al-Qazwini's Aja'ib al-makhluqat wa ghara'ib al-mujudat (The Wonders of Creation and Oddities of Existence), depicting the constellations Sagittarius and Hydra India, 17th CenturyArabic manuscript on paper, 18 lines to the page written in naskhi script in black ink, headings written in larger naskhi script, other headings in red ink, inner margins ruled in red, in mounts obscuring outer margins, framed 190 x 125 mm.(2)Footnotes:ProvenanceThe Shakerine Collection.The first leaf depicts Sagittarius (Kawkaba al-Qaws), depicted as a centaur; the second the constellation Hydra (Kawkabah al-Shuja'), depicted as a serpent, together with the constellation of the Cup (kawkab al-Batiyyah).For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A courtesan at a balcony Mughal, 18th Centurygouache and gold on paper, laid down on a large album page, nasta'liq inscription in red, numbered 25 in Arabic, album page borders decorated with floral motifs in gold; verso, Mullah Dopiaza mounted on an emaciated horse, Mughal, 18th Century, nasta'liq inscription at top, single line of Arabic (text not identified) in thuluth script excised from a manuscript above painting, blue floral inner border, outer border with floral motifs on a buff ground paintings 225 x 160 mm. and 208 x 150 mm.; album page 447 x 285 mm.Footnotes:Mullah Dopiaza was a character from a sequence of folk tales from Northern India which featured the Mughal emperor Akbar and his humorous courtier Birbal. He was portrayed as an entertaining and witty man, who was one of Akbar's chief advisors and a rival of Birbal. Although the stories about the Mullah date from the end of Akbar's reign (1556–1605), this character continued to appear at later dates and became well known by writers in the late 19th century. Most scholars believe him to be a completely fictional character, though some think he was an historical, 16th Century figure, whose original name was Abdul Momin. He is believed to have been buried in a tomb situated in Handia in Uttar Pradesh.For a similar depiction, see Christie's New York, Indian and Southeast Asian Art, 21st March 2008, lot 715 (where the dog is in the same pose).For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

Muhya al-Din Lari (d. 1526), Kitab Futuh al-Haramayn, a guide in Persian verse for pilgrims on the Hajj, illustrating the stations of the pilgrimage and the rituals to be observed, with 15 coloured drawings of the holy shrines and sites India, 17th CenturyPersian manuscript on paper, 40 leaves, 15 lines to the page written in two columns of nasta'liq script in black ink, double intercolumnar rules in gold, titles written in nasta'liq script in red, inner margins ruled in blue and gold, 15 illustrations in colours and gold, most with later additions, marbled endpapers, red morocco binding 219 x 145 mm.Footnotes:The list of illustrations is as follows:1. The Qa'ba.2. Al-Ma'ala cemetery at Mecca, the burial place of the Prophet's mother and his first wife, Khadija.3-4. Two illustrations of Jebel Nur and Ghar Hira, the cave where the Prophet received his first revelation from the Archangel Gabriel.5. The site of the stoning of the three jamarat (pillars) near Mina.6. Jebel (Mount Mifrah) between Mecca and Medina, with the mosque and well of 'Ali in the foreground.7. The holy sanctuary of Medina.8. The Guristan cemetery at Baqi' in Medina, the burial place of the Prophet's wives, children and Halima, his wet nurse.9. Jebel (Mount) Abu Qubais and the split moon in gold.10, Suq al-Layl (the Night Market), the birthplace of the Prophet, the Imam 'Ali, Fatima, and Abu Bakr's shop (dukan).11. The road between Safa and Marwa.12. Jebel 'Arafat, the mount where the Prophet delivered his farewell sermon.13. Qaba mosque, with two wells and two palm trees.14. The Masjid al-Qiblatayn (The Mosque of Two Qiblas).15. Jebel Uhud, the tomb of the martyr Hamza, the Prophet's uncle, and the tombs of the martyrs of the battle of Uhud.Kitab Futuh al-Haramayn (Revelations of the Two Holy Sites) was one of the earliest pilgrimage guides. Muhyi al-Din Lari dedicated the work to Muzaffar bin Mahmudshah, ruler of Gujarat, in 1505. The earliest known copy is in the British Museum (Or. 3633, dated AH 951/AD 1544). All were well illustrated, as here, with stylised depictions of the various holy places and other sites of interest. Twelve of the surviving copies of the text have colophons indicating that they were written in Mecca itself, though India was another frequent source at slightly later dates. See V. Porter (ed.), Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam, London 2012, pp. 46-47; and J. M. Rogers, The Arts of Islam: Treasures from the Nasser D. Khalili Collection, Sydney 2007, pp. 200-201, no. 219 (an example from Mecca).For further reading, see:V. Porter (ed.), Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam, London 2012.V. Porter and L. Saif (edd.), The Hajj: Collected Essays, London 2013.E. Wright, Islam, Faith, Art, Culture: Manuscripts from the Chester Beatty Library, London 2009.M. Rogers, The Arts of Islam: Masterpieces from the Khalili Collection, London 2010.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: • P• Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.P This lot is owned by a private individual. The right of return enjoyed by EU customers is not applicable.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

An illuminated Genealogical Scroll tracing various Muslim dynasties to the Prophet Muhammad, his family, companions and Imams, copied by Haji Isma'il Bokhari Central Asia, probably Bokhara, 19th CenturyArabic manuscript on cream-coloured paper backed with linen, in scroll form, the text written in naskhi, thuluth and nasta'liq scripts in black ink, proper names contained within gold circular devices, borders decorated with floral motifs in colours and gold, the bismallah written in bold thuluth script and the shahadah written in ornamental kufic and thuluth in black ink on either a gold or floral ground, surmounted by an illuminated headpiece in colours and gold approx. 657.5 x 26 cm.Footnotes:ProvenanceThe Shakerine Collection, acquired Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 1st May 2003, lot 73.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

An illuminated Qur'an copied by Isma'il bin 'Umar Qalbawi Ottoman, provincial, dated AH 1171/AD 1757-58Arabic manuscript on paper, 307 leaves, 15 lines to the page written in neat naskhi script in black ink with diacritics and vowel points in red and black ink, gold roundels between verses, inner margins ruled in two shades of gold and red, catchwords, sura headings written in thuluth in white within illuminated rectangular panels, one illuminated double-page frontispiece in colours and gold, occasional illuminated devices in wide outer margins, contemporary brown morocco, covers decorated with panels incorporating a diaper pattern in gold, with flap of green morocco with similar decoration, upper cover detached, doublures and endleaves of green paper embossed with an interwining vegetal motif, gilt edges 135 x 95 mm.Footnotes:ProvenanceThe Shakerine Collection.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: •• Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A large Qur'an leaf probably Yemen, circa 1300-1350Arabic manuscript on paper, 13 lines to the page written in thuluth, naskhi and muhaqqaq, the first and last lines on each page written in large muhaqqaq, these lines recto rewritten on pieces of paper stuck over the original text, the seventh line on each page written in large thuluth in gold outlined in black, large rosettes between verses, illuminated devices in outer margins 370 x 296 mm.Footnotes:ProvenanceBonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 17th October 2001, lot 15.The Shakerine Collection.TextSura XXI, al-Anbiya', The Prophets, from the middle of verse 40-the middle of verse 71.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

Al-Jazuli, Dala'il al-Khayrat wa shawariq al-anwar, copied by Hajji Abu Bakr Rachid, a pupil of Hajji Muhammad al-Rushdi, with two illustrations of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina Ottoman Turkey, dated AH 1264/AD 1840-41Arabic manuscript on paper, 106 leaves, 11 lines to the page written in naskhi script in black ink with significant words in red, gold roundels between verses, inner margins ruled in gold, catchwords and other marginal notes, one illuminated headpiece, and other headings, in the rococo style, two naturalistic depictions in colours and gold of the cities of Mecca and Medina, dark red morocco gilt with stylised floral sprays, doublures of orange paper with painted floral sprays in rococo style 145 x 103 mm.Footnotes:ProvenanceBy repute (according to a typewritten label in French on the front endpaper, also containing details of the scribe and date), the manuscript was purchased in Damascus by the Emir Abd al-Karim, son of the Emir Selim, son of Sultan Abdulhamid (reg. 1876-1909), after the collapse of the Ottoman dynasty (1924).This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: • P• Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.P This lot is owned by a private individual. The right of return enjoyed by EU customers is not applicable.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A Qur'an leaf in gold and black muhaqqaq script Persia, probably Shiraz, mid-16th CenturyArabic manuscript on cream-coloured paper, 12 lines to the page written in elegant muhaqqaq script in alternating black and gold with diacritics and vowel points in red and black, on alternating pale blue, buff, brown and buff grounds, roundels decorated with coloured dots marking the verse-endings, interlinear rules in blue, inner margins ruled in colours and gold, illuminated marginal devices, in mount leaf 360 x 255 mm.Footnotes:ProvenanceThe Shakerine Collection.TextSura XI, Hud (The Prophet Hud), part of verse 14–part of verse 29.This leaf comes from a dispersed manuscript of the Qur'an which epitomises the high quality of work being done in cities like Shiraz at this date. The use of muhaqqaq (favoured because of its flowing form) and of alternating black and gold, are typical, but the green and brown sprinkling is much less so.Another folio from the same Qur'an is in the Khalili Collection of Islamic Art (see David James, After Timur: Qur'ans of the 15th and 16th Centuries, Oxford 1992, pp. 170-171, no. 42). Other leaves from the manuscript have appeared in these rooms, Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 10th April 2008, lot 19; 7th October 2010, lot 10; and at Sotheby's, 23rd November 1976, lots 317-319; 3rd May 1977, lots 96-100; 18th July 1978, lots 177-79; 9th October 1978, lots 3-4; 24th April 1979, lots 229-235; 23rd April 1997, lot 44; 15th October 1998, lot 29; 3rd May 2001, lot 13; 19th October 2016, lot 168.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: RR This lot is subject to import restrictions when shipped to the United States.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A Sufi genealogy of the al-Qadiri order, in scroll form, copied by Shaykh Suleyman al-Qadiri, for Ahmed Semim al-Qadiri Ottoman Turkey, dated AH 1210/AD 1795-96Ottoman Turkish and Arabic manuscript on European watermarked paper, in scroll form, several sheets of paper joined together, the text written in naskhi script, each name incorporated in a roundel, with the names of God, the angels Israfil, Mikail and Jibra'il, the Prophet Muhammad, the Four Companions, the Twelve Imams and senior sufis (including Abdul Qadir al-Gilani) picked out in red ink, and enclosed in a series of concentric bands, all surmounted by an illuminated triangle flanked by two roundels incorporating the names Allah and Muhammad, the remainder of the Sufi genealogy written in black ink, lines connecting roundels and inner margins drawn in black ink 8 m. 46 cm. x 34 cm.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: PP This lot is owned by a private individual. The right of return enjoyed by EU customers is not applicable.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

An illuminated Qur'an, with numerous prayers including the Falnama, in a lacquer binding signed by Isma'il and dated AH 1293/AD 1876-77 Persia, 18th-19th CenturyArabic manuscript on paper, 129 leaves, 25 lines to the page written in naskhi script in black ink with diacritics and vowel points in red and black ink, interlinear gilt rules throughout, gold roundels between verses, inner margins ruled in blue, red and gold, catchwords, sura headings written in thuluth in gold, numerous illuminated devices and commentaries in Persian written diagonally in shikasteh in black ink, nine pages at beginning and six pages at end richly decorated with vegetal and floral motifs in colours and gold, one illuminated headpiece in colours and gold, lacquer binding, covers decorated with religious verses written in thuluth script in beige and red on a green ground 186 x 115 mm.Footnotes:ProvenanceThe Shakerine Collection.The lacquer binding is signed 'The work of Isma'il 1293 (1876-7)'. Isma'il has not been identified. He is not the famous artist of the same name, a painter of lacquer and watercolour, who was honoured with the title 'the Chief Painter' (naqqash-bashi) in AH 1275/AD 1858-59, which he always included in his signed pieces. The text, written in riqa', is a saying of the Prophet Muhammad relating to the Qur'an.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: • R• Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.R This lot is subject to import restrictions when shipped to the United States.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A small illuminated Qur'an copied by Abdullah bin 'Ashur Qajar Persia, dated AH 1235/AD 1819-20Arabic manuscript on paper, 173 leaves, 21 lines to the page written in neat naskhi script in black ink with diacritics and vowel points in red and black ink, gold roundels decorated with blue dots between verses, inner margins ruled in gold, catchwords, illuminated rectangular panels between suras incorporating headings written in thuluth script in red ink, illuminated devices in outer margins, one double-page frontispiece richly decorated with floral motifs in colours and gold, folios 2v-3r with interlinear gilt decoration, and outer borders decorated with intertwining floral motifs in gold and some colour, lacquer binding with covers decorated with a diaper pattern in gold on a black ground, doublures decorated with floral sprays on a red ground, rebacked 102 x 64 mm.Footnotes:ProvenancePrivate Spanish collection.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: • R P• Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.R This lot is subject to import restrictions when shipped to the United States.P This lot is owned by a private individual. The right of return enjoyed by EU customers is not applicable.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

An illuminated Qur'an Qajar Persia, 19th CenturyArabic and Persian manuscript on paper, 332 leaves, 13 lines to the page written in naskhi script in black ink with diacritics and vowel points in black and red, gold roundels decorated with coloured dots marking verse-endings, interlinear Persian translation written in small nasta'liq script in red ink, interlinear rules in gold, inner margins ruled in gold, red and blue, catchwords, occasional illuminated marginal devices, some containing commentaries in shikasteh in black ink, fine illuminated double-page frontispiece in colours and gold, preceded by the index, sura headings written in large naskhi script in gold on a blue ground within illuminated rectangular panels, several leaves at beginning and end of manuscript used to record family information with dates ranging between AH 1251 and 1337 (AD 1835 and 1918), Qajar floral lacquer binding, doublures with gilt floral decoration on a red ground, spine rebacked 282 x 170 mm.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: • R P• Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.R This lot is subject to import restrictions when shipped to the United States.P This lot is owned by a private individual. The right of return enjoyed by EU customers is not applicable.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A talismanic chart written in ghubari script on vellum, commissioned by Hajji Husain Aqa Qajar Persia, late 19th CenturyArabic manuscript on thin vellum, text written in ghubari and small naskhi script in varying sizes and in black ink and colours, a central panel of text surmounted by a roundel, numerous side panels and cartouches, several panels with gold and silver grounds 60 x 36 cm.Footnotes:ProvenanceThe Shakerine Collection.For two examples of such talismanic charts on vellum from the Qajar period, one dated AH 1337/AD 1919, the other circa 1900, see F. Maddison, E. Savage-Smith, Science, Tools and Magic: Part One, London 1997, pp. 110-112, nos. 44 and 45.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: RR This lot is subject to import restrictions when shipped to the United States.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

An album page of calligraphic practice writing (siyah mashq) in profuse nasta'liq script Persia, 17th-18th CenturyPersian manuscript on paper, closely intertwining nasta'liq script written diagonally in black ink within cloudbands on a ground of floral motifs in colours and gold, the composition laid down on an album page with blue floral inner border and wide outer border with scrolling floral motifs in gold on an orange ground composition 211 x 140 mm.; album page 392 x 264 mm.Footnotes:ProvenanceThe Shakerine Collection.See lot 41 for a page from the same album and by the same calligrapher.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: RR This lot is subject to import restrictions when shipped to the United States.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

Sa'di, Gulistan Ottoman Turkey, Constantinople, dated AH 955/AD 1548-49Persian manuscript on paper, 123 leaves, 11 lines to the page written in nasta'liq script in black ink, significant words picked out in red, inner margins ruled in blue and gold, one illuminated headpiece in colours and gold, later red morocco with gilt-stamped central medallions and outer border, doublures of marbled paper, with flap 168 x 108 mm.Footnotes:ProvenanceFormerly in the collection of the late Jafar Ghazi.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: • P• Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.P This lot is owned by a private individual. The right of return enjoyed by EU customers is not applicable.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com