An illustrated and illuminated manuscript of Jami's Yusuf wa Zulaykha, signed by 'Ali Reza Al-Katib, Herat or Bukhara, Safavid, dated 982 AH/1574 AD

Persian manuscript on paper of various colours, 154 leaves, 14 lines to the page written within gold-sprinkled text boxes in two columns in fine nasta'liq script in black ink, double intercolumnar rules, margins ruled in colours and gold with inner border of gold scrolls, wide outer margins with applied coloured paper cartouches, coloured paper with marginal decoration consisting of large leafy interlacing scrolls in gold, 4 finely painted miniatures with borders of polychrome floral cartouches, opening leaf with a polychrome shamsa heightened with gold, followed by a double page of illumination composed of tight-knit scrolling split-palmettes and other floral devices, the text within embellished cloudbands on a hatched ground, gold strapwork inner borders, lacquer binding depicting scenes of flora and fauna

In generally good overall condition, some slight abrasions to lacquer binding, some wormholes, paper repairs, mostly in the final few leaves, paintings in good condition, one with slight areas of flaking, as calligraphy strong and paper clean, as viewed.
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Colophons signed by 'Ali Reza al-Katib' can be found in numerous manuscripts in various libraries, and they are generally dated between 940-1024 AH/1533-1615 AD. This indicates that there were at least two scribes who signed with the same name. Unforunately neither are recorded. However, a copy of Hatifi's Layla and Majnun is known, copied in Bukhara in 972 AH/1564 AD, and the same scribe seems the likely copyist for both manuscripts (see Mehdi Bayani, ahval va asar-e khosh-nevison, vol.II, Tehran, 1346 sh., pp.464-66).