A LAVISHLY ILLUMINATED QUR'AN, PERSIA, SAFAVID, MID-16TH CENTURY

Illuminated Arabic manuscript on paper, 431 leaves, 12 lines per page written in fine naskhi script in gold-sprinkled cream paper, small gold florets between verses, margins ruled in colours and gold, fifth and tenth verses marked in the margin with illuminated devices, sura headings written in white thuluth script on illuminated panels, each juz' marked by a fully illuminated double page, three further illuminated double pages at the beginning with opening text and three further illuminated double pages at the end with prayers and Falnama, fine original gold-stamped brown morocco binding with central field and border cartouches of floral motifs and cloud scrolls, fine gold-stamped doublures with central field of tightly intertwined cloud scrolls, central medallion and cornerpieces of gilt filigree over polychrome grounds, border cartouches of gilt-stamped calligraphy consisting of pious phrases and an outer border band with further cartouches of gilt filigree, with flap  

In good condition. Some staining and losses to pages with associated repair, ink is still clear, bright and legible. There are some small losses to the leather cover.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This is an exceptional Qur'an manuscript, exquisitely and profusely illuminated with 36 fully illuminated double pages and bearing a superb original Safavid gilt-stamped binding. Many Safavid Qur'ans have two or three double pages of illumination at the beginning and end, but very few indeed have an illuminated double page for every juz'. The sequence of illuminated pages in this manuscript is as follows:
Folio 1b-2a bearing the text of Surat al-Fatiha in white rayhani script within two radiating shamsas within the fully illuminated panels.
Folio 2b-3a bearing the opening text of Surat al-Baqara written in gold rayhani script within cusped medallions in the centre of the fully illuminated panels.
Folio 3b-4a bearing the continuation of Surat al-Baqara written in twelve lines per page on gold ground with radiating border illumination.
There then follow a further twenty-nine fully illuminated double pages, one for each juz' division.
Folio 427b-428a bearing the text Suras CXI-CXIV with interlinear gold and floral illumination and border illumination of scrolling foliate tendrils and cloud scrolls in gold.
Folio 428b-429a bearing the text of a closing prayer written in white thuluth script in central cusped medallions with fully illuminated panels.
Folio 429b-430a bearing further prayers written in white rayhani script in fully illuminated tabular panels with radiating border illumination.
Folio 430b-431a bearing the Falnama written horizontally and diagonally in fully illuminated tabular panels in thuluth and nasta`liq scripts.

Very few Qur'ans with such profuse illumination have appeared at auction in the last two decades. For comparable examples see sales in these rooms, 23 October 1992, lot 581, 27 April 1994, lot 17, and 15 October 2003, lot 5.

The contemporary binding of the present Qur'an is also of exceptional quality and in a good state of preservation.