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 about Hafez Dewan Fragment Leaves

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 about Poems by Sa'di, Amir Khusrao, et al., Two Leaves

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 about Indian Koran Leaf

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 about Indian Koran Leaf, circa 1825

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 about Koran Leaf, Large,1809

A leaf from an illuminated poetry manuscript, Moulana Nurruddin Abdorrahman Jami, North India, middle of the 18th century, on gold sprinkled papeer. There are twelve lines to the page written in two columns of elegant nasta'liq script in black ink, inter columnar rules decorated with floral motifs, corner pieces and outer margins decorated with floral sprays and motifs in colors and gold throughout, inner margins ruled in colors and gold. Leaf measures 210 x 140 mm. Framed. #32889. Very Good. More about Leaf from a Poetry Manuscript, Moulana Noor-od Din Abdorrahman Jami

India: 1878. This is a leaf from a remaindered (Dala'il al-Khayrat) prayer book, scripted in India, in 1878, thirteen lines scribed in a strong Naskhi script on a fine lines paper, measuring 204 x 130 mm. It was written in Arabic with Persian translation in red ink between the lines. The holy name of Allah is in red ink. The headings are in gold as well as the borders. Gold rosettes end the verses. The original text was composed by Muhammed ibn Sulayman al-Jazuli. This is one of the most popular devotional prayer books of Islam. Framed. #17661. Fine. More about Leaf from an Indian Prayer Book

Holland. This is a leaf from a Book of Hours, Holland, in Dutch, circa 15th century, on vellum. There are twenty-one lines of Gothic script in black ink, ruled in brown, with versal initials alternating in blue and red inks, delicate floral pen work in red and blue inks which create an exquisite panel border; major initial in blue pen work infilled with a floral on rectangular grounds. Verso: twenty-one lines of Gothic script. Framed. #26405. Fine. More about Leaf from Book of Hours

This is a leaf from a Prayer book and Benedictional for the use of Cistercian Nuns, in Latin, France second quarter of the 16th century (207 x 143 mm). There are eighteen lines in black ink of angular Gothic script from the section of Temporal Benedictions. Provenance: Cistercian House presumably a nunnery since the opening, and only illustrated, office for the profession of female novices, who promise to live secundum regulam sancti Benediciti. The Illumination within this Prayer Book shows considerable similarities with those of the Master of Francois de Rohan, active in Paris from c. 1525 - 1546. Framed. #6802. Fine. More about Leaf from Cistercian Nun Prayer Book

A rare illuminated Koran leaf, probably Heart of Bokhara, late 16th century, on paper. There are fifteen lines to the page: first, eighth, and fifteenth lines of each page written in gold muhaqqaq script with remaining lines written in smaller naskhi script in black ink. Illuminated markers are between verses and illumination flanks the text of each page; surah headings are written in thuluth script in white on illuminated panels in color and gold. All the leaves from this fragment have been remargined due to its age and its interesting provenance (supplied upon request). Framed. #17261. Near Fine. More about Leaf from Koran

Spain: 1650. A leaf from a Medieval Antiphonal or Choir Missal, Spain, circa 1650, in Latin on extremely heavy vellum. Text is in a Spanish rounded gothic hand (Rotunda). Music is on a stave formed of five lines. There are six lines of music and verse. Verso: six lines of music and verse. Framed. #2525. Near Fine. More about Leaf from Medieval Antiphonal

A leaf from a medieval manuscript Bible: Paris, France, mid 13th century, in Latin, on vellum. There are fifty-five lines of double column text in microscopic-miniscule Gothic script. There are book headings, chapter numbers, Book of Tobias [Doway-Rheims] non existent in the King James, Chapters 1-2, Miniature of Tobit lying in bed with a swallow above. Verso: there are fifty-five lines of double column text in microscopic-miniscule Gothic script. Bible leaves from the 13th century are becoming rare. Framed. #2874. Fine. More about Leaf from Medieval Manuscript Bible

1770. This beautiful illuminated leaf is from an anthology of Persian Sufi poetry, including works by Sa'di and Hafiz and is scribed in safina format, produced in Persia, on paper, 1770 AD. The scripts employed are the scarce shikasteh and the more common nasta'liq written diagonally on white within gold-bordered cloud bands. Verso: almost a mirror image in design. Beautifully custom framed. #15929. Fine. More about Leaf from Persian Sufi Poetry