Matthew Thomas
Senior Specialist
Lot 17•,R
Sa'di, Gulistan, copied by Faqir Jan Muhammad North India, late 17th/early 18th Century
26 October 2020, 11:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£1,200 - £1,500
Looking for a similar item?
Our Islamic and Indian Art specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAsk about this lot
Sa'di, Gulistan, copied by Faqir Jan Muhammad
North India, late 17th/early 18th Century
North India, late 17th/early 18th Century
Persian manuscript on paper, 161 leaves, ten lines to the page written in fine nasta'liq script in black, red and blue ink in one or two columns, inner margins ruled in gold, orange and blue, one illuminated headpiece in colours and gold, headings and significant words in red and blue, some marginal commentaries and catchwords, later European-style binding, half-marbled, red leather gilt
287 x 193 mm.
287 x 193 mm.
Footnotes
Provenance
The estate of a distinguished Iranian academic, California, USA.
The scribe is not recorded.
The front endpaper has a number of notes, including:
'Gulistan of Sa'di, one hundred and sixty-one folios' (the colophon page also has the number 161).
A round seal impression, of a person with the name 'Buzurg [?] Mir Khani, AH 1121, regnal year 3/AD 1709-10.
A longer note in a poor hand (not fully deciphered) indicates that the manuscript was confiscated by a certain Muhammad Quli Khan and is being sold. It is dated 15th Rajab 1170/5th April 1757, regnal year 9; alternatively, 15th Rajab [1]117, regnal year [4]9/2nd November 1705. Three people ruled between Muhammad Shah (1719-48) and Shah 'Alam (1759-88) but none for 9 years, so that 15th Rajab [1]117, regnal year) [4]9/2nd November 1705 seems most likely, and hence the dating of the manuscript.
Another note, in a fine hand, states that the manuscript belongs to the library of 'Nanu or Banu [?] Jit Singh Sahib.
Important Notice to Buyers
Some countries e.g., the US, prohibit or restrict the purchase by its citizens (wherever located) and/or the import of certain types of Iranian-origin works. As a convenience to buyers, Bonhams has marked with the symbol R all lots of Iranian (Persian) origin. It is each buyer's responsibility to ensure that they do not bid or import a lot in contravention of the sanctions or trade embargoes that apply to them.