L13220

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Lot 41
  • 41

An official copy of the treaty of Erzurum, Persia, Qajar, 19th Century

Estimate
10,000 - 12,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • ink on paper, leather binding
Persian manuscript on paper, 21 leaves plus 2 flyleaves, 11 lines to the page, written in nasta'liq script in black ink, keywords picked out in red, catchwords, margins ruled in gold, camel-coloured leather binding and outer hard cover with ribbon

Condition

In good overall condition, a few water stains, ink bold, 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."

Catalogue Note

This is an account of the peace treaty made between Persia and the Ottoman Empire, related by the deputy sent to the peace talks in Erzurum in 1823.

As mentioned by name in the text, this is known to have been Mirza Muhammad 'Ali, who was a chief secretary and private steward to Crown Prince 'Abbas Mirza (see lot 109) in Azarbaijan (see M. Bamdad, Dictionary of National Biography of Iran 1700-1900, vol.III, Tehran, 1966, p.458.). The author recounts how he was sent on authority of both Fath 'Ali Shah and 'Abbas Mirza to meet his Ottoman counterpart Mehmed Emin Rauf Pasha. This is followed by an account of the seven conditions upon which peace was agreed. At the end of the document the author states that he was ordered to write the account for the Amir-e Nezam Mahmud Khan Zangana, the commander in chief of the Qajar army on “Wednesday, the seventh day of the second tenth of the eleventh month of the tenth year of the fifth decade of the third century of the second millenium” (17th Dhu'l-Qa'da 1249 AH/28 March 1834 AD).