A Rare Manuscript Copy of Dua Al-Usbu'iyya and Hilye Copied by Mir Mehmed Bin Huseyin Pasha, Turkey, 17th Century

Arabic manuscript on paper, 8 leaves plus a flyleaf, 11 lines to the page, written in fine Naskh script in black ink, verses separated by segmented gold florets pointed in blue and gold, opening illuminated headpiece composed of polychrome flowers and split palmettes reserved against blue and gold grounds, one further illuminated headpiece and numerous polychrome illuminated headings within the text, red morocco binding with gilt-stamped medallions forming chinioserie cloud bands interspersed with flowers, with ropework borders, with flap

In very good overall condition, binding with minor abrasions to corners, a few small stains but pages generally clean and ink bold, illumination bright, deep wormhole in the outer bottom centre margin, as viewed.
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The present manuscript, executed in the finest Naskh script, includes the daily prayers of the week and the hilye (verbal portrait of the Prophet). The signature states the calligrapher's father Huseyin Pasha as 'Huseyin Kethuda' since it was copied before his appointment as grand-vizier.

Mir Mehmed bin Huseyin Pasha (d.1719)

Mir Mehmed bin Huseyin Pasha was born in Istanbul, and his father Huseyin Pasha (as stated in the colophon of the manuscript to hand) served the Ottoman court as kethuda and grand-vizier. He studied under the supervision of Sheikh Ahmed Yek-dest Mekki and was appointed defterdar (Head of Finance) and ruznamche-i evvel (Chief Secretary of the Treasury). Having studied calligraphy under Dervish Ali the Elder and Nefeszade Seyyid Ismail Efendi, he was celebrated not only for his mastery in leading calligraphic styles of naskh and thuluth but also in official calligraphic styles like diwani, siyaqat and tawqi'. He lived in Mecca for more than five years and visited Jerusalem. Mustaqim-zade has stated that his mystic side was respected by many, particularly by followers of the Naqshbandiyyeh Sufi order. He died in 1132 AH/1719 AD and was buried next to Sheikh al-Islam Sadreddin-zade Mehmed Sadik Efendi, in the Molla Chelebi Mosque cemetery, in Findikli, Istanbul.