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An incredible rare 19th century Ethiopian prayer book manuscript - hand written in coptic language in red and black, with occasional painted illustrations. Vellum, bound with wooden board covers. 146 leaves, with x4 painted illustrations to front (some unpainted). Bound within its original wooden boards. Rare. 

A contemporary cast metal figure of a Japanese seated warrior raised on square plinth base, the figure seated and reading a manuscript, height 26cm.

Four 19th century manuscript letters sent by Private W. Hodgson of the Kings Own Borderers from Afghanistan and India to family members 1876-85 together with the Hodgson family Bible in two leather bound volumes by Thomas Stackhouse 1755/6 Condition Report Click here for further images, condition, auction times & delivery costs

Late-Georgian commonplace book, featuring 26 pages of manuscript verse and watercolour illustrations. The book includes a watercolour depiction of a slave looking heavenwards, 'Where slaves once more their native land behold', signed with initials 'M.W.'. The book also includes a page of verse relating to Lord Nelson, with watercolour wreath and flag inscribed 'Victory, Death, Nelson!'; a watercolour illustration of 'A View from Lymestone, Devon', signed 'M.C.' and dated 1810; a grisaille watercolour of Caversham Church with verse by Catherine Cecilia, 1808; an ink sketch of a sailing vessel with verse, 'On the Loss of the Dove', with love heart inscribed 'R.S.' and 'Once a united chain, But now - broken', signed 'S. H. Tracy' and dated 18 February 1830, plus various other watercolour illustrations including botanical. Quarto, quarter-cloth with marbled paper covers

Mid-Victorian commonplace book, c.1860, featuring 126 pages of manuscript verse embellished with pencil and watercolour illustrations and contemporary mounted engravings, to include Valentine interest (illustrations and verse on Dobbs embossed paper). Quarto, worn contemporary calf 

William IV period commonplace book, featuring 130 pages of manuscript verse embellished with pencil and watercolour illustrations and contemporary pasted engravings & lithographs; the book is formed of plain and coloured paper. The book includes watercolour illustrations of butterflies, pasted 'toy theatre' characters, fashion plates, topographical views, portraits. Quarto, worn paper boards

AN OLD ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT LEAF decorated with Latin text in gilt and colours, double-sided, 18 x 13cm

AN INTERESTING COLLECTION OF ARCHIVE MATERIAL from the music publishers Phillips and Page. To include: Charles Gounod: Three hand-written manuscripts for 'The King of Love', 'Adoro te Supplex' and 'For ever with the Lord', each notated in brown ink, titled to front covers and signed, one dated 'Juillet '93', 35 x 27cm; also an inked manuscript for 'Poet's Corner' music by Berthold Tours and words by Alfred Phillips; inked manuscripts and printed music for arrangements of 'Sing me to Sleep' by Edwin Greene; letters and correspondence about and from Edwin Greene; together with printed music scores for 'Floretta' by Mr Sydney Hubert Page (co-founder of the firm) under the pseudonym of Fabian Rose and further printed material and agreements etc., pertaining to the publishing business Footnote: Alfred Phillips and Sydney Hubert Page entered into partnership as music publishers in 1884. In the same year they commissioned Charles Gounod to compose the popular setting of 'The King of Love My Shepherd is'. They also went on to publish further works by the acclaimed composer to include 'O Divine Redeemer'. With regard to secular music the firm looked to Edwin Greene whose greatest success with the public was probably the song 'Sing me to Sleep'.

AN OLD ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT LEAF, double sided, with seventeen lines of Latin text in gilt and colours on vellum, 14.5 x 9cm

Timurid Qur'an, copied by Mahmoud bin Suleyman, in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on polished paper [Timurid Persia, dated 899 AH (1494 AD)] 389 leaves, complete, single column, 13 lines bold black naskh, surah headings in gold thuluth, opening two leaves with striking blue and gilt decorated borders, colophon and final leaf with panels decorated in polychrome arabesque designs with gold, a little faded, gilt roundels decorated with blue and red dots , a few repairs to outer margins, leaves trimmed, a little faded in places but overall very clean and crisp condition, 208 by 140 mm.; contemporary red calf with flap, centrally stamped gilt medallions to upper and lower covers, ruled in blind and gilt, skillfully rebacked and resewn Provenance: Sotheby's, Oriental Manuscripts and Miniatures sale, 19 October 1994, lot 53, thence to the current owner. Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟAsma'ul Allah wa Husni wa un'Nabi (the names of God and Prophet Muhamad), in Arabic, decorated manuscript on paper [Near East, possibly Safavid Persia, dated 1127 AH (1715 AD)] single volume, 227 leaves (plus 3 contemporary endpapers), complete, single column, 17 lines of black naskh with the words Allah and Muhammad in red throughout, plus additional phrases also in red, catch-words throughout, leaves ruled in red, some very faint water-staining to outer edges, overall very clean and presentable condition, 310 by 205 mm.; contemporary tan morocco, blind-stamped medallions to covers, ruled in gilt, extremities rubbed and a little faded This is a codex devoted entirely to listing the Islamic names of Allah and Prophet Muhammad, in a large and very legible format. It was most probably produced for use by students of Islamic studies. Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟKhawja Shams ud-Din Muhammad Hafez’e Shirazi, known as ‘Hafez’, Ghazalliyat (Collected Poems), in Farsi, illuminated manuscript on paper [Qajar Persia or India, c. 1800] single volume, 233 leaves, lacking first leaf of introduction and probably entire gathering at the end, double column, 12 lines black nasta’liq, gilt head-piece opening the text, columns ruled in black and gilt, catchwords throughout, some small scuffs and smudges, outer edges wormed, many margins repaired, 125 by 85 mm.; in contemporary Western-style calf, ruled in blind, spine gilt with raised bands, “Dewan Hafiz H,M,Anisul Haq.” stamped in gilt to spine, extremities slightly scuffed, overall good condition A charming volume of Hafez’ poetry, perhaps commissioned by a Western orientalist: in a small format, for ease of travelling, and housed in a contemporary European-style calf binding with raised bands. Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟJalal al-din Abu al-Fadi Abd’alrahman bin Abu’Bakir al-Sayuti, known as ‘al-Suyuti’, work on prophetic medicine, in Arabic, decorated manuscript on paper [Cairo, dated 7 Rabi al-Awwal 887 AD (1482 AD)] single volume, 38 leaves, apparently complete, single column, 23 lines of black cursive naskh, some words in red, some small spots to outer edges of leaves rarely affecting text, leaves slightly trimmed with loss to some catch-words, overall very clean copy 183 by 135 mm.; sixteenth century leather-backed boards, rather worn Al-Suyuti (1445-1505) was an Egyptian scholar who wrote on on Islamic theology, with a focus on the religious sciences. The text in the present manuscript, on prophetic medicine, offer remedies for a wide range of illnesses from headaches to smallpox, while simultaneously discussing the Islamic principles of these and the medical ethics behind the proposed practices. This particular copy was copied in the “Masjid al-Sultan Hassan”, the prominent mosque in the Old Town of Cairo, by the scribe Omar bin Ahmad al-Baraji. The date of the manuscript is during the author’s lifetime and al-Sayuti was based in Cairo, suggesting that this was copied from an manuscript associated directly with him. Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟAbu Hamid Muhammad bin Muhammad al-Ghazali, Kitab Kimiyat al-Sa’ad (on the Muslim faith and Sufi life), copied by Isma’il bin Shaikh Hamad Razm’Ali, in Farsi, illuminated manuscript on paper [Ottoman Levant, dated 26 Sha’ban 904 AH (1499 AD)] single volume, 205 leaves, single column, 15 lines of black taliq, some words in red, illuminated head-piece opening the text, decorated in blue and gilt, two marginal circular devices decorating outer edges of first two leaves of text, in gilt, additional marginal roundels marking important sections in the text throughout, all in gilt, leaves ruled in blue and gilt, a few small stains or smudges, else excellent condition, 282 by 260 mm.; eighteenth-century green morocco, a little rubbed and scuffed Provenance: Copied for a female patron named Rabi'a bint Qasim Nuri (and described as one who longs for Ka'ba), as recorded in the colophon. Later passing to Muhammad bin Piri Kat’khoda al-Baghdadi, military quartermaster: ink ownership inscription to title dated 1000 AH (1592-92 AD), and located in Constantinople at that time. Text: This is an important treatise by the Persian mystic philosopher, al-Ghazali (d. 1111), here copied for a lady of rank. The inclusion of a female patron could explain the unusual marriage of manuscript styles present in the illumination of this volume. The taliq script is notably Persian, but the decorative roundels and heading unusually merge Mamluk and Ottoman traditions of manuscript illumination. These varied combinations suggest that the manuscript perhaps originated from Arab lands under Ottoman rule, despite the Farsi language used for the text. Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟSa'd al-Din Mas'ud ibn 'Umar al-Taftazani, Al-Mutawwal Sharh Takhlis al-Qazwini, signed by Hedayat'ullah bin Inayat'ulla al-Hussayni al-Isfahani, in Arabic, decorated manuscript on paper [Persia (probably Isfahan), dated 27 Muharram 1011 AH (17 July 1602 AD)] 283 leaves (plus four endleaves), lacking first leaf (here replaced with facsimile in manuscript), a few leaves loose, 23 lines in black naskh, some important phrases overlined in red, contemporary marginal notation throughout in black naskh, nineteenth-century ink ownership seal and inscriptions to front free endpapers, modern printed book label pasted to upper pastedown, old auction record loosely inserted, 248 by 125mm., nineteenth-century red buckram binding, rather rubbed Provenance: from the Mohamed Makiya collection (their ‘128/100’). Text: Al-Taftazani (1322-1390 AD.) was especially known for his work in rhetoric, logic and theology. Two of his most notable commentaries are on Al-Quazvini’s Talkhis al-Mitfah, a work on rhetoric, entitled al-Mutawwal (the longer commentary) and al-Mukhtasar. These two works were widely accepted and studied throughout the Islamic world, and were considered as the most authoritative texts for the advanced study of rhetoric. Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟMughal Qur’an, copied entirely on 31 leaves, in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on fine polished paper [India (possibly Kashmir), c. 1780] 31 leaves (plus two later flyleaves), complete, single column, 55 lines miniature black naskh per page, surah headings against gilt banners, some diacritics in red, divisions of the text marked throughout with the margins in red, a few notes also inscribed to the margins in black (in a contemporary hand), gilt floral spiralling vines bordering every page of the Qur’an, opening two pages with additional polychrome decorations to the outer margins, ownership inscriptions in Arabic to final free endpaper, a few scattered smudges and chips to paint, some small repairs to gutters of leaves, some faint water-staining to upper outer corners else good overall condition, 245 by 145 mm.; housed in contemporary red morocco, centrally stamped ornaments to covers, coloured in gilt, with ruling around the boards also in gilt, spine ends and extremities a little rubbed A fine and exceptionally detailed Qur’an copied on 60 pages (31 leaves), probably commissioned by a high-ranking and influential patron for talismanic use. Such an item is unlikely to have been used for daily readings and would rather have been owned as a fine example of the calligraphic arts and the beauty of the Qur’an as an object. Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟZayn al-Din Sayyed Isma'il ibn Husayn Gorgani (or al-Jurjani), Zakhireh'i Kharazmshahi (encyclopedia of medical sciences), in Farsi, decorated manuscript on paper [Safavid Persia, completed in 998 AH (1590 AD)] single volume, containing four chapters, final text leaf missing and replaced in manuscript facsimile otherwise each chapter textually complete, together 286 leaves, single column, 31 leaves of black naskh, headings and important words in red, each chapter opening with its own fihrist, some occasional water-staining along upper edges, penultimate leaves torn with slight loss to text (repaired along edges), some small smudges or stains elsewhere, else presentable condition, 370 by 245 mm.; contemporary morocco, covers with decoupé medallions with gol'o bolbol decorations in gilt, top corner of upper board repaired, a little scuffed in places Zayn al-Din Sayyed Isma'il ibn Husayn Gorgani (1040-1136) was a Persian physician, scientist and philosopher best known for being the royal physician for the Urganj region in Uzbekistan. During his time there he served the governor of the area, Khawarazam-Shah Qutub al-Din Muhammad I (reigned from 1097-1127), to whom he dedicated this medical compendium, the Zakhireh'i Kharazmshahi. This vast Persian encyclopedia builds on the foundations of Avicenna's Canon of Medicine, with many new entries added by Gorgani himself. Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟSa’d ibn Mansur ibn Kammuna, Kitab Talkhis li’bab al-Mantiq wa Khulasa al-Hakima (summary on logic), in Arabic, manuscript on thick buff paper [Arabic Levant, dated 685 AH (1276-77 AD)] single volume, two extracts in one volume, 10 leaves, single column, 15 lines cursive and scrawling naskh, title to first leaf, colophon dating the manuscript at the end of first section, leaves trimmed along lower edge (with loss to text from final leaf), overall excellent condition, one modern endpaper inserted at each end, 173 by 135 mm.; nineteenth-century leather, covers stamped in blind with Mamluk-style central circular medallion, ruled in blind with additional gilt ruling to outer edges of covers, rebacked, covers a little rubbed Ibn Kammuna (1215-1284) was a Jewish physician and philosopher, who was based in Baghdad. He is best known for his comparative treatise on the three Abrahamic religions, as well as his commentaries on Avicenna's Canon of Medicine and as-Suhrawardi's Talwihat on Ishraq philosophy. The present volume discusses logic and philosophy and is therefore most probably a short extract from Ibn Kammuna's Talwihat commentary. This codex was copied within the author's lifetime and by an informal academic hand instead of that of a trained scribe, suggesting that may be either an authorial copy or one copied by one of his students from the original exemplar. Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟFin Asla’ha (The Art of Weaponry), in Ottoman Turkish and Arabic, decorated manuscript on paper [Ottoman Turkey, dated 1321 AH (1903 AD)] single volume, 85 leaves, lacking fol. 2 and 12 of text, single column, 22 lines cursive naskh per page, numerous diagrams of arms and weaponry throughout, some heightened in red, opening and closing leaves decorated with spiralling penwork and colourful flower decorations, some leaves a little creased along outer edges and a few small smudges to text, otherwise good condition, 320 by 205 mm.; in contemporary cloth-backed boards, spine backed in morocco, covers stamped with gilt device, a little worn Provenance: copied for royal commission, naming “Ghazi”, the title given to Abdul Hamid II as a veteran of war, and Sultan Selim Khan: bookplate to pastedown. Text: An interesting treatise on arms and artillery with numerous illustrations and diagrams throughout the text, copied during the reign of Abdul Hamid II with his tughra appearing on the titlepage. Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟEuclid. Elementa Geometrica, translation into Arabic ascribed to Nasir ad-Din Tusi, illuminated manuscript on fine polished paper [Timurid Persia, dated Jumada al-Awwal 954 AH (1547 AD)] single volume, 185 leaves, apparently complete, single column, 19 lines black naskh with important words and phrases in red, numerous geometric diagrams and illustrations throughout, also heightened in red, gilt polychrome heading opening the text, rather faded, leaves ruled in gilt, red and blue, first few gatherings rather damp-stained and darkened, edges repaired, one leaf torn without loss to text, a few scuffs and marks elsewhere, otherwise clean copy, two ink ownership seals to recto of first leaf, 185 by 120 mm.; in later red morocco, paper label pasted to spine, corners rubbed and chipped with slight loss Persian polymath Tusi (1271-1274 AD) is often considered to be the founder of trigonometry as an independent mathematical discipline, producing the largest body of work from any single Islamic scholar with over 150 fundamentally important texts on the subject, commentaries and translations. This is his Arabic translation of Euclid’s Elementa Geometrica. It is split into thirteen chapters, focusing mainly on the basic principles of geometry, arithmetic, the theory of numbers, and geometry in relation to space. The popularity of this translation of Euclid’s work was so great, that it became the first work printed in the Arabic language, by the Medici Press in Rome in 1594. Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟSection from a Maghribi Qur’an, in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on paper [probably Tunisia, first half of nineteenth century] single volume, 120 leaves, containing text from surah al-Hajj (22:1) until the end of the Qur’an, a few leaves lacking from final section of the text, single column, 17 lines of sepia maghribi, diacritics and vocalisation in red, full-page frontispiece illumination opening the text, with a rectangular device formed of multiple circles making up geometric shapes, decorative devices extending into the outer margin of the leaf, coloured in red and blue and heightened in gold, illuminated polychrome banner in similar style opening the text, surah heading in kufic script, leaves browned (as common) and a few outer edges chipped, overall good condition, 160 by 180 mm.; in contemporary leather with flap, ruled in blind with central medallions to covers, rebacked, outer edges worn Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟKitab al-Bayan (A commentary on Shi'a Jurispudence), signed by Ali bin Shahib Al-Din, in Arabic, decorated manuscript on paper [Safavid Persia, dated Jumada II 973 AH (December 1565/January 1566 AD)] single volume, 216 leaves (plus one endleaf), single column, 14 lines of black naskh, key words in red, catchwords, contemporary and later commentaries to the margins throughout, ink ownership inscriptions and stamps to endpapers, Persian export stamps to preliminary and penultimate leaves, paper book label to upper pastedown, spine cracked with some leaves loose, 185 by 120mm.; contemporary blind-stamped morocco binding without flap, spine and extremities repaired with later morocco, worn, paper label taped to spine Provenance: from the Mohamed Makiya collection (their ‘129/100’), and previously in the Hagop Kevorkian library; sold Sotheby’s, 18 April 1983, lot 58. Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟMuhammad Qasim Hindu Shah Astarabadi, known as ‘Firishta’, Tarikh-i Firishta, signed by Aref Shah Nuri Hosein Shahi, in Farsi, illuminated manuscript on paper [Mughal India, dated to the 28th year of the reign of Muhammad Shah (1747 AD)] volume I only, 565 leaves (plus one endleaf), a few leaves misbound and later pagination incorrect in places, but apparently complete, single column, 17 lines in striking black nasta'liq, key words and phrases in red, single polychrome and gold illuminated headpiece opening the text, fol. 2 loose, a few small spots, worming throughout (mostly affecting margins), printed label pasted to upper pastedown, 310 by 180mm., later morocco-backed boards, extremities rubbed Provenance: from the Mohamed Makiya collection, their ‘105/200’. Text: Firishta (1520-1620) was born in Astarabad, Northern Iran, and moved to Ahmandgar in India where he studied alongside Prince Miran Husain Nizam Shah whom his father tutored. The friendship of the prince allowed Fihrista to rapidly climb the social ranks and become captain of the guards in 1587. A few years later he moved Bijapur, where ruler Ibrahim Shah II recognised his scholarly abilities and asked Firishta to compile a history of India with emphasis on the history of Deccan dynasties, as no work thus far had given equal treatment to all regions of the subcontinent. The product of that was the Tarikh-i Firishta, also known as Gulshan-i Ibrahim, a monumental twelve-part history of India that was dedicated and handed to Ibrahim Shah II in 1606. The present volume is the first book of this historical anthology, dealing primarily with the Kings of Ghazni and Lahore. Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

Ardeshir stabbing Ardavan (the last Parthian king), leaf from an illuminated manuscript copy of Firdawsi's Shahnameh, in Farsi, illuminated miniature on paper [Safavid Persia (Shiraz), c. 1600] single leaf, ink and gouache on polished paper, depicting Ardeshir stabbing Ardavan outside a palace with attendants in view, text in four columns, 4 lines elegant black nasta'liq with interlinear colouring in gilt, borders mounted to edges, some oxidisation from reverse of leaf, a little rubbed in places with fractional loss of pigment, overall attractive image, 280 by 180 mm.; in modern card mount, framed and glazed

ƟTaqi al-Din ibn al-Ma'ruf, Al-Kawakib al-Durriyya fi wadh' al-Bankamat al-Dawriyya, in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on polished paper [probably Ottoman Turkey, mid-nineteenth century] 54 leaves, including 3 blank endpapers, complete, catch-words throughout, single column, 12-13 lines black nasta'liq per page, a few words highlighted in red, opening to text with gold and polychrome heading, opening two leaves ruled in gilt, 52 pages illustrated with diagrams of horological fittings, two leaves skilfully repaired along old tears, else excellent condition internally, 242 by 170mm.; contemporary limp leather, spine cracked with slight loss, covered rubbed, gatherings loose in binding with a few becoming loose, edges gilt An important Arabic translation of the first and only work in the Islamic world dedicated to mechanical automated clocks, first compiled in 1559 AD by Ottoman astronomer Taqi al-Din ibn Ma'ruf (d. 1585 AD). Taqi al-Din invented the turn-split, used in steam engines, popularised decimal fractions, used mechanical clocks for observations and wrote the last authoritative text on optics in the Islamic world. He was also known for correcting and completing Ulugh Beg's Zij and is referenced in Katib Celebi's Kashf al-Zunun. The introduction of this work praises Samiz Ali Pasha (Grand Visier of the Ottoman Empire between 1561 and 1566) for allowing Taqi al-Din access to their personal private library and collection of European mechanical clocks, which were used to compile this text. The introduction also includes a dedication to Suleyman I, reigning Ottoman Sultan at the time of composition. The inclusion of both of these dedications in this nineteenth-century translation strongly indicates that the text was translated from an original source, and that copied during the reign of Suleyman I (d. 1566). The text is exceptionally rare. A tiny handful can be traced in institutional ownership, and no copies are recorded on the open market at all. Taqi al-Din famously constructed the first conservatory in Istanbul but after falling out of favour with Sultan Murad III, this institution was closed and his library and private papers cast out. By happy chance they made their way through an improperly understood route to Leiden University by the seventeenth century, where they remain today. This fact explains their exceptional rarity in the Islamic world, in that few manuscripts remained there for future generations. This manuscript, even though an Arabic translation, is one of those original descendants of copies distributed by the author. Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟArabic Almanac for the year 1254 AH, printed in Arabic, Bulaq Press [Egypt (Cairo), dated 1253 AH (1838 AD)] single volume, complete, single column text with some calendars printed in the text, front free endpaper with manuscript title of the work in English and Arabic, some very light foxing but overall clean and crisp condition, small 8vo (135 by 95 mm.); contemporary paper wrapper printed with navy tulip pattern (probably Dutch paste-papers), title in manuscript to upper cover Provenance: Leut. Col. Brettell-Packar, military engineer in Cairo, inscription dated 28 June 1838. This is a charming little almanac volume printed for the year 1254 Hijri by the Bulaq press. The manuscript note in English to the front free endpaper reads “Arabic Almanac for the years 1254, from 28 March 1838 to March 16 1839, both days inclusive”. Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟNazm al-Ma’ali fi Sharh Nathr al-la’Ali (Tales of Imam Ali), Persian translation of Nathr al-la’Ali attributed to Sadr al-Dahdabi, in Farsi, illuminated manuscript on polished paper [Eastern Ottoman provinces, c. 1780] single volume, 31 leaves, both single and double columns, mostly in 8 lines of black nasta’liq with interlinear text-blocks in thuluth, some headings in red, three polychrome banners and head-pieces illuminated in gilt, leaves ruled in red, blue and gilt, some light water-staining to outer edges (rarely affecting text), a few small smudges, overall bright and clean copy, 168 by 105 mm.; fine block-stamped and gilt calf boards, notably Western in style and design, rebacked, rubbed and a little worn, with marbled doublures A charming volume relating to tales of the last prophet in Islam, Ali bin Abu Talib, originally compiled by Diya al-din Abual-Rida Fadlallah al-Hussayni al Rawandi and present here in Sadr al-Dahdabi’s translation from Arabic to Farsi. Al-Dahdabi also re-formatted the text into mathnawis (verse) and added an introduction to the text. This copy of the text not only has the added introduction, but also includes the colophon added by Al-Dahdabi bearing the original date of completion, 15 Muharram 867 AH (1462 AD), suggesting that this copy may have been copied from an original manuscript of Al-Dahdabi’s work. Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟCalligraphic quatrain signed Mir' Ali, in Farsi, illuminated manuscript on paper [Safavid Persia, first half of sixteenth century] single leaf, single column, four lines diagonally written nasta'liq with interlinear colouring of decorated gold designs, triangular panels at the top with polychrome decoration and bottom with the calligrapher's signature, laid on a gold-speckled album page and framed within multiple borders of turquoise and gilt designs, total 315 by 210 mm. (panel 150 by 80 mm.); in modern card mount, framed and glazed, old printed auction label (probably English and 1980s) pasted to reverse A fine and early Safavid calligraphic panel by the master scribe Mir' Ali al-Harawi, himself a student of the Timurid masters, Zayn al-din Mahmoud and Sultan al-Mashhadi. Other examples of Mir' Ali's works date to 1508-1541 (Mehdi Bayani, Painters and Calligraphers, 1959, pp. 125-131). Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟMuhammad Hussayn al-Isfahani, known as ‘Salik’, a royal Qajar Prayer Book, in Arabic with interlinear translation to Farsi, illuminated manuscript on paper [Tehran and Iraq, dated 1276 AH (1859-60 AD)] 18 leaves, single column, 7 lines bold black naskh with important words in red, gold or green thuluth, with interlinear translation to Farsi in red nasta'liq, gilt polychrome heading opening the text, colouring around the texts in gold throughout, ownership inscription to recto of first leaf, a little rubbed and faded, overall excellent condition, 168 by 100 mm.; contemporary limp red morocco, with decorative floral devices and ruled in gilt, with marbled doublures The colophon states that the text was commissioned by Shahzadeh Firuz Mirza Qajar, who was Fath Ali Shah Qajar's grandson. Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

ƟCalligraphic quatrain signed Ahmad al-Husayni, in Farsi, illuminated manuscript on paper [Safavid Persia, second half of sixteenth century] single leaf, single column, four lines diagonally written with interlinear colouring of decorated gold designs heightened with polychrome florets, triangular panels at the top with polychrome decoration and bottom with the calligrapher's signature, pasted to album page framed within multiple borders containing 24 cartouches of nastaliq verse, total 293 by 245 mm. (panel 192 by 91 mm.); framed and glazed Ahmad al-Husayni was a calligrapher in the Safavid court of Shah Tahmasp and was apparently the scribe responsible for all correspondence with the Ottomans during that period. He also worked in the court of Mir' Murad Khan and later Shah Isma'il's court in Qazvin. Al-Husayni was a student of the master scribe Mir' Ali (Mehdi Bayani, Calligraphers and Painters, 1959, pp. 138-41). Ɵ Indicates that the lot is subject to buyer’s premium of 25% exclusive of VAT (0% VAT).

An illuminated scroll comprising the last 36 suras of the Qur'an (Juz XXX), in the manner of Ahmad al-Suhrawardi, with date AH 681/AD 1282-83 Near East, 20th CenturyArabic manuscript on paper, in scroll form, text written in muhaqqaq script in black ink with diacritics and vowel points in black, illuminated rosettes between verses, the bismallah and the word Allah picked out in gold, sura headings written in ornamental eastern kufic script in white within illuminated rectangular panels in colours and gold, richly decorated with illuminated panels in colours and gold at beginning and end, some creasing otherwise in good condition 10 m. 27 cm. x 23 cm.

Mirza Rafi', known as Badhil Mashhadi (d. 1711), and Azad Kashmiri (d. 1721), Hamlah-i Haydari, a verse account of the life of the Imam 'Ali, with nine illustrations North India, probably Kashmir, late 18th/19th CenturyPersian manuscript on paper, 435 leaves, 19 lines to the page written in four columns of nasta'liq script in black ink, inner margins ruled in green, blue and black, headings in nasta'liq script in red ink, one illuminated double-page frontispiece in colours and gold, one illuminated headpiece at the start of the second section (Azad's text), nine illustrations in gouache and gold, all within the first book (of Badhil), contemporary Kashmiri painted papier-mache binding, doublures with an attractive stylised spray of flowers issuing from a vase, spine rebacked 295 x 200 mm.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: •

Zahir Faryabi, Divan, Persian poetry, copied by the scribe 'Abd al-Jabbar Isfahani, a pupil of Mir 'Imad Persia, dated Ramadan 1026/September-October 1617Persian manuscript in prose and verse on gilt-sprinkled paper, 172 leaves, 14 lines to the page written in two columns of elegant nasta'liq script in black ink, double intercolumnar rules in gold, inner margins ruled in red, blue and gold, illuminated rectangular panels in colours and gold, two illuminated headpieces in colours and gold, prose preface at beginning, remargined, some waterstaining mostly restricted to the last few folios, covers of stamped gilt morocco decorated with intertwining floral and vegetal motifs and Chinese cloudbands, trimmed and rebacked, doublures of brown morocco with stamped central medallions with gilt filigree now missing, on a blue ground 272 x 185 mm.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: • R

A collection of seven documents relating to Maharajah Duleep Singh, written by his guardian, Dr John Login, as a record of events, of the details of the treaties with the Sikh nation, the financial settlements of the Maharajah's affairs, and his conversion to Christianity England, the earliest dated July 1854, the latest shortly after January 1860manuscript on paper, all in the hand of Dr Login, with the exception of one in the handwriting of Edith Login the largest 340 x 210 mm.; the smallest 166 x 110 mm.(7)

A military despatch from Mir Singh, a general in the Sikh khalsa army, to a British officer, Sir Paul [...], recovered by the British after the Battle of Gujarat, 1849 Punjab, early 1849Persian manuscript on paper, eight lines of text written in nasta'liq script in black ink, inscribed in the right-hand margin From the Seikh Camp at Goojrat, captured on the 21st Feby 1849, seal impression of Mir Singh verso 295 x 135 mm.

* Howard (Henrietta Elizabeth, circa 1806-1892, & others). A large family archive of sketchbooks and drawings, comprising approximately 50 sketchbooks, containing a wide variety of pencil sketches, pen & ink drawings, and watercolours, including: topographical scenes, including Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Yorkshire, Somerset, Wales, Scotland, etc., e.g. views of Castle Howard (one entitled 'From my window'), Siddington Manor, Newstead Abbey, Naworth Castle; many scenes of foreign travel, including France, Germany, Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice), Canada, and many other places; portrait sketches and figure studies; a few cartoons; landscapes and seascapes, and a number of sketches of mountains, including Mont Blanc; costume studies; architectural details and stained glass windows; animal studies, one album incorporating mounted pressed botanical specimens, mainly ferns, mosses, and seaweeds, some books with blank leaves, and many with manuscript notes, most albums with ownership names and some with inscriptions, many titles and dates to drawings, various bindings and sizes, some loose leaves, but generally in good condition, plus a number of loose watercolours and drawings (including some miniature drawings) and photographs (Qty: approximately 50)NOTESHenrietta Wright was the daughter of Ichabod Wright and of his wife Harriet (née Day). In 1824 she married The Very Rev. The Hon. Henry Edward John Howard DD (1795-1868), Dean of Lichfield and son of Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle. Also included in the lot are works by their son, Captain John Henry Howard RN (1827-1925) and grandson Commander Robert John Howard RN (1878-1965), as well as other family members, such as Elizabeth Howard, Edith Howard and Emily G. Howard. 

Textile Samples. A large ledger of textile samples, 1933, approximately 1,600 woven textile samples on rectos and versos of approximately 100 leaves, arranged usually 8 to a page in a column within a printed grid, the remaining columns filled in with contemporary manuscript and headed with printed titles: 'no.', 'width', 'weight in ozs', 'composition', 'range no.', and 'remarks', a few samples lacking or partially missing, some dust-soiling, stationer's ticket of Preston Brothers & Co., Huddersfield, to front pastedown, contemporary half calf with leather belt strap and carrying handle, worn, with spine flaked and corners showing, large thick folio (Qty: 1)

* Dress. A deconstructed embroidered dress, circa 1810, 10 matching pieces of hand-stitched ivory starched muslin embroidered in wool, in shades of pink, white, green, and yellow, comprising: a long ungathered skirt with side seam (some remnants of thread at waist), hem with two wide bands of large alternating sprays of white lilac and pink pea flowers, length 99 cm (39 ins), doubled width 128 cm (50.5 ins); a sleeveless bodice with early metal hook and eye fastenings, chest 66 cm (26 ins); two three-quarter length sleeves with narrow cuffs, length 39.5 cm (15.5 ins); 4 shoulder(?) pieces, edged with pale pink satin ribbon, length 42 cm (16.5 ins); a pair of pointed cuffs, with metal hook and stitched loop fastening, overall length 16.5 cm (6.5 ins), width 14 cm (5.5 ins), and three other small fragments matching, together with two long starched muslin trimmings, decorative scalloped edge hand-worked in pink wool, joined with one seam, width 11.4 cm (4.5 ins), overall length 312.5 cm (123 ins), plus two additional hand-stitched wide gathered sleeves (without side seam), and two 19th century machine-stitched aprons, one with matching mob cap, all pieces generally in good condition, plus an early manuscript note on a single sheet pertaining to the dress, paper watermarked 'Green & Son 1839' (Qty: 21)NOTESThe accompanying documentation reads: 'I do not know the history of this dress. It came from Paris about 55 [years] ago but Aunt Lusan(?) was not likely to buy anything so expensive. I think it may have been given her by Madame Campan - one of the Royal family gifts to her - or Madame de Gaules. It has never been worn. I send it to see if any use can be made of it. The flounces go between the work on the skirt', and beneath in a later hand 'Harriet Rose who sent this about the year 1870 was born January 21st 1815'. Jeanne Louise Henriette Campan (1752-1822) was a French educator, and lady-in-waiting to Queen Marie Antoinette before and during the French Revolution, writing of the experience in her published Memoirs. She championed the wider education and advancement of women and in 1794 established a school at Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

* Embroidery. A collection of embroidered fabrics, 19th-20th century, seven pieces of embroidery, including: a panel of yellow moiré silk hand-embroidered with French Empire design of swags and tassels, with bees and garlands of flowers, within a foliate border, worked in appliqués of ivory drawn threadwork ribbon and matching silk thread, incorporating spangles and seed beads, selvedge to right-hand side, 44 x 55 cm (17.5 x 21.75 ins); a piece of cream satin with machine-embroidered overall floral pattern, three sides with earlier border of hand-embroidery similar (approximately 11-18 cm/4.5-7 ins wide), incorporating a strapwork design of metalled threads, some manuscript ink markings to one edge, lined with linen, overall size 96 x 114 cm (37.75 x 45 ins); and a large linen wall hanging, hand-embroidered with floral posies and baskets, with border of pyramids and floral sprays, hanging loops along top edge, some marks and stains, one area wearing slightly thin, with a 3 cm tear (not affecting embroidery), 246 x 241 cm (97 x 95 ins), plus part of a theatrical cloak with damask pattern in gold and colours (Qty: 8)

* Chinese Robe. A Chinese silk robe from the family of Sir Thomas Francis Wade, mid-late 19th century, a fine and heavy robe of peacock blue silk, elaborately embroidered overall with butterflies in a variety of colours, with border of butterflies and braid to neck, sleeve edges, and gusseted sides, quilted cream silk lining (with some minor discolouration in a few places), a few loose stitches and minor marks, but generally in very good condition, length 133cm (52.5ins), together with an old manuscript note 'Mandarin's Coat to MSH from T. Wade. Uncle Tom. Sir Thomas Wade First English Minister to China. Used as Opera Cloak by MSH also MFH' (Qty: 1)NOTESProvenance: Given by Sir Thomas Wade (1818-1895) to his sister-in-law Maria Sophia Hardcastle, née Herschel (1839-1929), and thence by descent. A quite magnificent robe with an interesting ownership history. Sir Thomas Wade was an eminent British diplomat and sinologist who spent over forty years in China. He taught himself Mandarin, wrote extensively on Chinese studies, and his pioneering work led to the famous Wade-Giles system of romanization for Mandarin Chinese. Thomas Wade was the first professor of Chinese at Cambridge University. In 1868 he married Amelia Herschel, the daughter of astronomer Sir John Herschel, and sister of Maria Sophia.

* After Nicholas Hilliard (1547-1619). Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, early 20th century, circular head and shoulders portrait set into a powder compact, watercolour and bodycolour on ivory, depicting a young Queen Elizabeth I, signed 'Hilliard' to right-hand side, diameter 5 cm (2 ins), glazed and inset into the lid of an ivory powder compact, lid with inset black and red stained ivory roundels, diameter 8 cm (3.25 ins), base with old paper label inscribed in manuscript 'Queen Elisabeth' (Qty: 1)

* Murnaghan (Art, 1875-1953). Saorstat Eireann Official Handbook, 1932, two colour lithograph prints of the designs by O'Murnaghan for the front and rear covers of the Irish Free State official handbook, published in 1932 by the Talbot Press, Dublin, each 24.8 x 14.5 cm (9.8 x 5.75 ins), mounted on cream backing paper (38 x 27.5 cm), with pencil inscription in capital letters to lower blank margin of each 'ART O'MURNAGHAN ILLUMINATION. BOOK COVER DESIGN' (Qty: 1)NOTESThe Saorstát Éireann, the Irish Free State Official Handbook published in 1932, was a luxurious yearbook celebrating the achievements of the state since its foundation, and the most famous publication of the Talbot Press. Murnaghan's updated Celtic Revival style combines bright modern colours with the tradition of early Irish illuminated manuscript calligraphy, exemplified by the Book of Kells.

* Miniature. Portrait of Madame de Montesson , early 19th century, watercolour and bodycolour on ivory, oval half-length portrait of a young lady wearing a salmon-pink gown with white ruffle around the low neck, and a matching pink ribbon in her ringletted powdered wig, 6.5 x 5.5 cm (2.5 x 2 ins), glazed ebonised frame with thistle, rose, and shamrock hanger, verso with the subject's name in early manuscript and a printed paper label 'Dempster' (Qty: 1)NOTESCharlotte-Jeanne Béraud de La Haye de Riou (1738-1806), known as Madame de Montesson, was mistress, and later wife, to Louis Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans. She established a small theatre for the enjoyment of family and friends, and wrote and acted in a number of plays.

* German School. 'Engelhaus v. d. Buchauer Dorfn'?, late 19th or early 20th century, pen, black & grey ink and grey wash on wove paper, heightened with touches of bodycolour, depicting the village of Engelhaus (now Andelská Hora) with the ruined castle above, signed indistinctly lower left 'A. Lewy'?, title in pencil manuscript on verso, with ink number '2378', title 'Englehaus' on window mount, 14.5 x 28 cm (5.75 x 11 ins) mount aperture, framed and glazed (Qty: 1)

* Painted fabric. Three pieces of hand-painted fabric, English, 18th century, three matching cotton fragments, painted by hand in shades of bue, pink, purple, and black, on a natural cotton ground, two hand-painted with a cornucopia of flowers, one with additional joined piece below featuring bows and swags, some small holes (with occasional stitched consolidation) and light toning, largest 92.5 x 53 cm (36.5 x 21 ins), smallest 46.5 x 57 cm (18.25 x 22.5 ins), each stitch-mounted onto a double backing of cotton and linen, the other painted with a large oval posy of flowers tied with a bow, forming part of a large lined cushion cover, faded and lightly toned, 53 x 43 cm (21 x 17 ins), together with a hand-painted Regency bridal stole, circa 1800, silk gauze, delicately painted in shades of pink, blue, brown, green, and purple, and incorporating onlaid beads and spangles, with a heart-shaped foliate wreath at each end enclosing a pair of love birds and a quiver of arrows, above a floral swag and bows, with foliate border around edge, lined with muslin, and edged with cream satin ribbon, spotted, worn, and fragile, with losses, 359.5 x 41 cm (141.5 x 16.25 ins), with pinned paper label inscribed in early manuscript 'My dear Mother's work C. Williams' and below in another hand 'For Arthur Seymour Hope his Great Grandmother's work EHope 1877', plus another early manuscript label attached with thread 'Painted by M. F. Weinne(?) Seymour's Gt Grand Mother her Wedding Scarf', plus a set of three hand-painted decorative wall hangings, early 20th century, watercolour on silk gauze, depicting dog roses and butterflies, chrysanthemums and virginia creeper, and wisteria respectively, spotted and worn, 175 x 52 cm (69 x 20.5 ins), together with another slightly larger wall panel similar, painted in thick gouache on silk satin, depicting violets and heather, paint flaking in places, each backed and sewn onto batons (Qty: 8)

Sample book. Book of tatted lace samples, circa 1867, 141 tatted lace samples stitch-mounted onto rectos and versos of 18 pages (the blue leaves sewn two together with neat slip stitches to edges thereby obscuring the mounting thread), each sample numbered in contemporary manuscript, generally lightly toned, all but first page with samples missing, a small number of blank leaves, rear pastedown with contemporary ownership inscription 'Bessie Rickard, Laurel Cottage, Huish, Langport, Somerset, 1867', original roan-backed cloth, rubbed and some fraying to extremities, tall 8vo (Qty: 1)

* Attributed to Ludovico Cardi, il Cigoli (1559-1613) . Joachim and the Angel (after Durer), pen, brown ink and dark brown wash on laid paper, old manuscript number in brown ink to lower margin '1012', sheet size 30.5 x 21.4cm (12 x 8.4ins), window-mounted (Qty: 1)NOTESProvenance: Estate of Michael Jaffe (1937-1997). Attributed in pencil to Ludovico Cardi by Michael Jaffe with his pencil note to mount. A copy after Albercht Durer's Joachim and the Angel, from the series The Life of the Virgin. Of 1504 (Bartch 78, Holstein 190). Another engraved version of this woodcut was issued by Marc-Antonio Raimondi (Bartsch 622).

* Hemy (Thomas M. Madawaska, 1852-1937). The Fisherman's Hut, 1875, watercolour, heightened with bodycolour, on paper, signed lower right, ink manuscript title, date and artist on verso, 31 x 38.5 cm (12.25 x 15.25 ins), moulded gilt frame, glazed (Qty: 1)

* Hawes (Meredith William, 1905-1999). Breakwater - Lyme Regis, gouache on paper, signed lower left, three labels on verso: one with ink manuscript artist, title and price, a Royal Academy Exhibition label, and a framer's label, 38.5 x 28 cm (15 x 11 ins) mount aperture, framed and glazed (Qty: 1)

* Silhouette. Oval Portrait of Harriet Ray (1807-1897), circa 1830s, black scissor cut heightened with gilt, half-length portrait of a young lady profile to right, wearing a gown with low neckline and large blouson sleeves, and pendant earrings, her hair in a tall bun with forehead curls, 13 x 9.5 cm (5 x 3.5 ins), oval ebonised frame, glazed, paper label on verso with notes pertaining to the sitter in early (and later) manuscript, together with Oval portrait of Reverend John Mead Ray, (1753-1837), circa 1800, reverse painting on convex glass, half-length portrait of a gentleman profile to right, 8.5 x 7 cm (3.25 x 2.5 ins), original ebonised frame, with acorn hanger, various manuscript notes on verso pertaining to sitter (Qty: 2)NOTESThe first item with details on verso of frame as follows: 'Catherine Mary Jackson. Your gt. gt. Aunt Harriet Ray, Grandma Burton's sister who loved & cared for us all in our childhood and was kind to you. She died at the age of ninety, 1897, a true Christian woman.' The notes on the second item indicate that the sitter married Elizabeth Shepherd, whose father, William Shepherd of Coxside, married Mary Gainsborough, daughter of Thomas Gainsborough's elder brother, John.

* Handkerchiefs. A collection of handkerchiefs, 19th and early 20th century, 17 whitework and lace cotton handkerchiefs, variously embellished with embroidery (including figures and buildings, names or monograms, love birds), drawn threadwork, lace inserts and borders, one with ink stamp 'M.M. Gandy', and two with Traphagen School printed fabric label attached with pin, various condition, largest 51 x 52 cm (20 x 20.5 ins), together with Victoria (Queen of Great Britain & Ireland) , A large white linen table napkin used at the Lord Mayor's Banquet at the Guildhall given in honour of Queen Victoria's Coronation , woven with the Arms of the City of London and a city scene with London Bridge, incorporating the words 'Lunden' and 'Temeswar', with an early manuscript note 'Mrs. Bradford (then Miss Dornville) was permitted to dress up as a waitress & so obtained a sight of the show & got one of the napkins as a souvenir', a few small brown marks, 80 x 67 cm (35 x 26.5 ins), plus a set of thirteen good quality starched white damask napkins, with all-over design of national shields and George V's cypher, and embroidered initials 'RA' to one corner, a few light marks, but in very good condition, 68.5 x 68.5 cm (27 x 27 ins), and a white embroidered cotton cloth, with border of flowers, leaves, and barley, and a crest at one corner with ribbon cartouche lettered 'Quand Meme', 80 x 85 cm (31.5 x 33.5 ins) (Qty: 32)

One volume ' Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam ', translated by Edward Fitzgerald, with introduction by A. C. Benson, reproduced from a manuscript, written and illuminated by F. Sangorski and G. Sutcliffe, published by Siegle Hill & Co. London circa 1910, together with one volume ' Manson Lescaut ', translated from the French of the Abbe Prevost by D. C. Moylan and illustrated by Arthur Symons, published London 1928Some staining to spines and covers. Page edges are stained and foxing to Manso Lescaut.

Large 19th Century scrap book containing many original engraved and manuscript items, inscribed ' A Birthday Present to Hannah Sexton from her Mother, December 24th 1823 ' (cover detached)

Small red cloth bound album containing a collection of valentines, love tokens, manuscript messages etc, inscribed to the inner cover Mapleton Lodge, 1861Not stuck down (but were at some point, but glue has dried out). There are approximately 20+ pages in the album.

A Persian manuscript, with hand-painted miniature of a nobleman and his attendants, and bearing Arabic text, with further text to verso, glazed to both sides, in gilt frame, 23.5 x 18cm

GEORGE III: (1738-1820) King of the United Kingdom 1760-1820. D.S., George R, as King, at the head, two pages, folio, Court at St. James's, 30th January 1799. The manuscript document is addressed to Dudley Ryder and Thomas Steele, Joint Paymaster General of Our Guards, Garrisons and Land Forces, and is a warrant for a salary payment of two hundred and thirty seven pounds and one shilling to be made to Lieutenant Colonel John Sontag, military superintendent of Hospitals. Countersigned at the conclusion by William Windham (1750-1810) British Statesman, Secretary at War 1794-1801. With detached blank integral leaf. Some light age wear and a few very small tears to the edges, not affecting the text or signature, about VG

VICTORIA: (1819-1901) Queen of the United Kingdom Great Britain & Ireland 1837-1901.A good D.S., Victoria R I, as Queen, at the head, three pages, folio, Court at St. James's, 20th November 1854. The manuscript document approves the appointment made by the King of the Belgians for Alfred Lloyd Fox 'to be His Vice Consul at Falmouth'. Countersigned at the conclusion by George Villiers (1800-1870) 4th Earl of Clarendon, English Diplomat & Statesman, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 1853-58. With blind embossed paper seal affixed. An attractive and clean document, VG Alfred Fox (1794-1874) British Businessman, a member of the Quaker Fox family of Falmouth and owner and developer of Glendurgan Garden. As well as acting as Consul in Falmouth for Belgium, Fox also served as Vice Consul of the United States of America (1858-65), Russia, Italy, Greece, Brazil, Mexico and other countries.

CHARLES I: (1600-1649) King of England, Scotland & Ireland 1625-49. A fine D.S., Charles R, as King, at the head, one page (vellum), oblong folio, Palace of Westminster, 17th May 1634. The manuscript document is addressed to Sir William Duedale, Knight Treasurer of the Chamber, and is a warrant for the payment of wages to Thomas Flooyd, a trumpeter appointed to replace the late John Smith, and states, in part, 'Whereas wee have appointed Thomas Flooyd to bee one of our Trumpetors in ordinary in the place of John Smith and have allowed him for his attendance in our service the wages of eight pence p[er] diem. These are therefore to will and command you out of our treasure remaynig in yo[u]r custody from time to time to paie….the said Thomas Flooyd….the said wages of eight pence p[er] diem from the time of the death of John Pendry late one of our Trumpetors during the naturall life of the said Thomas Flooyd att the foure usuall feastes or termes of the yeare. That is to saie, att the feast of the nativitie of St John Baptist St Michael Tharchangell the birth of our Lord God and Thannunciat[i]on of the blessed virgin Mary by even and equall port[i]ons……' With blind embossed paper seal affixed. Some light overall age wear and with three original corrections to the text where certain words and passages were neatly erased and replaced. VG The present document is of interest in so much as that it provides the names of three of King Charles I's musicians.

ERNST I: (1601-1675) Duke of Saxe-Gotha (1640-75) and Saxe-Attenburg (1672-75), known as ‘Ernest the Pious’. D.S., as Duke of Saxe-Gotha, one page, small 4to, Friedenstein, 26th July 1652. The brief manuscript document, comprising five lines of text, is a money order and the lower half features an eight line holograph receipt signed by Andreas Didelius. Some very light, extremely minor age wear and uniform toning, otherwise VG

[CALLIGRAPHY] BUCHINGER MATTHIAS: (1674-1740) German Calligrapher, Artist & Magician, known as 'the little man from Nuremberg'. An extremely rare example of manuscript calligraphy signed ('Matthew Buchinger'; upside down) by Buchinger, one page, small oblong 8vo, Inverness, 13th November 1728. In an attractive hand Buchinger has penned the letters A B C, and again in mirrored writing opposite, adding the place and date in between and immediately beneath stating 'This was written by Matthew Buchinger, born without Hands or Feet, 1674 in Germany' Several of the lines are in mirror writing or upside down. Some overall age toning and staining and a few tears at the head (repaired with old tape to the verso), only slightly affecting the text and signature. About G