An Illuminated Ottoman Qur'an Commissioned by Grand-Viziers Mehmed Rushdi Pasha, Hazinedar-zade Osman Pasha and Hazinedar-zade Suleyman Pasha, Copied by Abdulvehab Ahmed Zihni Effendi, Turkey, Dated 1252 AH/1836 AD

Arabic manuscript on paper, 307 leaves, 17 lines to the page, written in neat naskh script in black ink, verses separated by varying forms of gold florets, pointed in blue and red, surah headings in white on gold ground cartouches within florally decorated and coloured panels, margins ruled in gold, marginal illuminations in various polychrome floral designs, catchwords, opening double page illuminated frontispiece decorated with floral interlace against blue and punched gold grounds, the text within spheres with scolling borders, illuminated dedication page and colophon, brown morocco binding, one side decorated with gold interlacing ribbon motif

"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 rare Qur'an is also signed by the court illuminator to Sultan Mahmud II (r.1808-39), Ahmed Shakir Effendi, better known as 'Shakir of Laleli'. Both the calligrapher and illuminator of the manuscript were students of master calligrapher Kebeci-zade Mehmed Vasfi Effendi (d.1831), court calligrapher under Sultan Selim III (r.1789-1807) and Sultan Mahmud II (r.1808-39). The illumination of the manuscript is extremely fine and the almost 'naturalistic' rose on the last page of the manuscript, representing Prophet Muhammad (Gul-i Muhammadi), is particularly noteworthy.

Patrons of the Manuscript

As stated in the dedication, the manuscript in hand was commissioned by Grand-vizier Mehmed Rushdi Pasha, Hazinedar-zade Osman Pasha Governor of Trebizond, and his son Hazinedar-zade Suleyman Pasha. A celebrated bibliophile, Hazinedar-zade Osman Pasha was responsible for building the Orta-hisar Library, in Trebizond (Trabzon), in 1842. During the Russian invasion in the early twentieth-century, four hundred and ninety-seven manuscripts from this library were taken to Russia by Professor Inavovitch Ouspenski. A second library, the Hatuniye Library, was opened in Trebizond by Hazinedar-zade Osman Pasha in 1844.