circa 1650. These are leaves from a Hafez Dewan fragment of Ottoman origin, circa 1650, on paper, measuring 169 x 78 mm., consisting of nineteen lines of delicate black nasta'liq script within geometric designs in blue ink. The author, Mohammed Shams od-Din Hafez, lived from 1325-1399. Hafez was one of Persia's finest lyric poets and wrote in the sophisticated "Ghazal" manner. The Dewan takes the poetic format of six and fifteen couplets and expresses Sufi ideals in lyrics. Framed. #17709/17710. Very Good. More

circa 1760. This is a set of leaves from an anthology or collection of poems by Sa'di, Amir Khusrao, Jami and others. Circa 1760, it is written on paper, in a fine hand, black nasta'liq script with occasional phrases in blue. Written diagonally within two columns, the text throughout is encased in double gold lines with a few exquisite blue and gold floral headings. The fragment also contains illuminated title in polychrome colors of blue gold and red with a final folio of perching birds amongst flower sprays. Framed. #22611/22702. Very Good. More

circa 1825. This brilliantly illustrated leaf is from one of the highest quality medium sized Indian Koran manuscripts, on paper, measuring 192 x 133 mm. This page consists of twelve lines and is a good example, especially because it has a floral margin, which is reserved for only the finest manuscripts produced for important personages. The script is naskh, with thuluth in the headings, and is of a fine elegant hand. A Persian interlinear translation in red has been added. All lines are in gold, as too is the floral border and the Chapter Heading cartouches that are further embellished with blue floral end pieces and white titles. Archivally matted with both sides of leaf visible. #4387. Very Good. More

1830. This leaf is from an Indian Kashmiri Koran, on paper, scribed circa 1830 (233x144 mm.). The simple, but dignified, strong format of thirteen lines of text in neskh script with thick gold margins is embellished by very fine elaborate marginal devices marking divisions of text.  Sura headings are in gold and blue cartouche form, with white thuluth descriptions.  Gold roundels mark verses. Verso: thirteen lines if text in neskh script with thick gold margins.  Many authorities consider 19th century Islamic manuscript work to be as good as any produced at the height of the Safavid period that is acclaimed as the best.  This manuscript proves the point. Archivally matted with both sides of leaf visible. #4682. Very Good. More

India: 1425. Framed rare leaf from the remains of a Koran, on paper, India, Sultanate, originating in the state of Bihar, circa AD 1425 (330 x 250 mm).  Text is from the end of juz 15 and juz 16 – 30. There are eleven lines of large bihari script in black ink; the word Allah picked out in red or gold throughout, first ‘ayah’ of each juz selected in gold, single verse divisions marked with illuminated gold florets, sura headings written in white on illuminated panels with palmetts extending into the margins, inner and outer margins ruled in red and blue, large finely illuminated marginal devices marking sajda instructions, juz, quarter and half and three-quarter juz, text words in black. The condition is in unusually good condition.  Damp staining confined largely to one corner, hardly affecting the text. #17886. Good. More

circa 1825. This brilliantly illustrated leaf is from one of the highest quality medium sized Indian Koran manuscripts, on paper, measuring 192 x 133 mm., circa 1825. This page consists of twelve lines with a floral margin, which is reserved for only the finest manuscripts produced for important personages. The script is naskh, with thuluth in the headings, and is of a fine elegant hand. A Persian interlinear translation in red has been added. All lines are in gold, as too is the floral borer and the Chapter Heading cartouches that are further embellished with blue floral end pieces and white titles. There are slight signs of devotional wear. Framed. #4324. Near Fine. More

Persia. Framed handwritten manuscript leaf from a Koran, Persia, middle of the 16th century, on paper (325 x 220 mm). This leaf comes from a large-sized Koran of fourteen lines of black Nasta’liq script. It has elegant marginal devices recto and verso. Verso: fourteen lines of black Nasta’liq script. #18003. Fine. More

1809. A leaf from a large Koran on polish ivory paper measuring 310 x 190 mm. or approximately 12 1/4 x 7 1/2 inches, with twelve lines of black naskh script between gold rules, gold roundels between verses, sura headings in red on gold panels with polychrome floral spandrels. Red Persian interlinear translation, extensive marginal commentary within gold clouds, elsewhere in the form of Cypress trees and finial shapes. Framed. #6373. Fine. More

Qur'an, Kashmir, 19th Century, Manuscripts on gold sprinkled paper, with fourteen lines of black Naskh script with gold rules, illuminated marginal medallions, Sura headings in white within gold panels, illuminted openig, middle and final biofolios, measuring 240 x 145 mm. Archivally matted with both sides of leaf visible. #31278. More

1846. A leaf from large Koran, Iran, 1846-47, on fine paper. There are fifteen lines of black naskh script, gold rosettes between verses, sura heading in red on illuminated panels, large polychrome medallions in borders, borders ruled in gold, red Persian interlinear translation, colophon signed by the scribe Muhammad'Ali ibn Muhammad Baqir. Framed, measures 345 x 200 mm. #39684. Very Good. More

This leaf is from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours, France, use is unknown, circa early fifteenth century, in Latin, on vellum (132x97mm.). There are twenty-two lines of Lettre Batard script written in brown ink, with twelve minor ilitials in highly embossed gold on an alternating rectangular ground of blue and red pen work. Verso: Twenty-two lines of Lettre Batard script written in brown ink, with thirteen minor initials in highly embossed gold on an alternating rectangular ground of blue and red pen work and interesting catch words on the bottom of the leaf. Archivally matted with both sides of leaf visible. #30770. Fine. More

Persia: 1575. A leaf from an illuminated Safavid Koran, Persia, cica 1575 A.D., Arabic manuscript on paper. Twelve lines of text to the page in black strong hand naskhi script with full vowels and diacritical signs, gold ruled borders, surah headings in white ornamental ruja' script on a gold ground within illuminated panels, blue centered gold roundels mark the 5th and 10th verses and marginal annotations in gold and red. Although some sections of the work were in very poor condition, the majority has survived the ravages of time, though there is the usual light staining in the corners from devotional use. Measures 155 x 90 mm. Archivally matted with both sides of leaf visible. #8627. Fine. More

1830. This leaf is from an Indian Kashmiri Koran, on paper, scribed circa 1830. This simple, but dignified, strong format of thirteen lines of text in neskh script with thick gold margins is embellished by very fine elaborate marginal devices marking divisions of text. Sura headings are in gold and blue cartouche form, with white thuluth descriptions. Gold roundels mark verses. Measures 233 x 144 mm. Archivally matted with both sides of leaf visible. #4518. Very Good. More