A Fine Illuminated Qur'an.

£10,000 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

This is a charming and beautifully illuminated pocket-sized Qajar Qur'an. Likely produced during the reign of Fath'Ali Shah Qajar, this Qur'an has illuminated double-page openings preceeding the text that would have likely been kept for the inclusion of a fihrist and dedication which have remained blank in this copy and likely never completed. Despite the lack of scribal attribution, the hand is a steady and competent example of small-scale naskh: a style of calligraphy executed in Qur'ans that are small in size. Single volume, illuminated manuscript on paper, in Arabic, complete, 218 leaves, 143 x 90 mm; single volume, 17 lines delicate black naskh, surahs in red thuluth, verses marked with gilt dots, catch-words, opening and closing double-page openings with gilt polychrome head-pieces and borders, double-page of gilt and white checkered patterned table and additional double-page opening of gilt medallion carpet-pages preceeding the first text-page (possibly to include a fihrist and dedication to the manuscript that were never completed), text-leaves ruled in gilt and blue, important divisions of the noted in the margins in red and sometimes black, a few small closed nicks and tears to margins, some light finger-soiling and rubbing in places; housed in contemporary lacquered boards, covers with decorative floral displayed framed within gilt decorated borders, corners rubbed and worn, spine skillfully repaired.

• Binding: Hardcover

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