An Illustrated and Illuminated leaf from a manuscript of Firdausi's Shahnameh: The Indian Prince Talhand Dying on his White Elephant Whilst Fighting his Brother Gav, Persia, Safavid, 16th century

Gouache heightened with gold on paper, 13 lines or fewer to the page, written in 4 columns in nasta'liq script in black ink, double intercolumnar rules in gold, title in larger red ink, ruled in colours and gold, reverse with 25 lines of text

In reasonably good condition, some wormholes to the outer margins, a few stains and minor flaking, minor paper repairs, as viewed.
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The present scene sees the Indian prince Talhand, son of Jomhur, dying of natural causes atop his white elephant whilst battling his brother Gav. After this event, the game of chess was thought to have been invented to keep the brothers' mother occupied and to explain how her sons fought each other.