THREE ILLUMINATED ALBUM PAGES WITH SHIKASTEH SCRIPT, PERSIA, QAJAR, 19TH CENTURY

Ink, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, mounted with borders of pink paper

Adrienne Minassian, New York, 1955

A: In good overall condition, a few stains on the outer left and lower margins and two pinholes in the upper right hand margins, bold calligraphy on bright illumination. As viewed. B: In generally good condition. Small loss to bottom left hand corner with remnants of adhesive tape, mild abrasions to reverse right-hand edge, calligraphy bold, marginal illumination bright, few very minor stains. As viewed. C: Overall condition good, few minor stains on top outer margin, ink bold and strong, with some abrasions on extremities. As viewed.
"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."

The three pages are as follows:
A: Persian ghazals in shikasteh script.
B: A practice sheet using a text of Darvish Abd al-Majid Taliqani, in shikasteh script.
C: Persian poetry in mathnawi form.  According to the colophon, it was written as practice on 17 shawwal without the year. A small oval seal of 'Hulaku' could be that of the Qajar Prince Hulaku (d. 1271/1854-5), son of Hasan Ali Mirza and grandson of Fath Ali Shah.  He was a poet, and these verses might be his own work in his own hand.