Lot 33
  • 33

Abu’l-Khayr Muhammad al-Farsi, Khulasat al-hay’ah ('The Essence of Astronomy'), India, Mughal, 16th century

Estimate
7,000 - 10,000 GBP
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Description

  • ink on paper, bound leather
Persian manuscript on paper, 89 leaves plus 3 flyleaves, 21 lines to the page, written in neat nasta'liq script in black and red ink, some keywords picked out in gold, various marginal glosses throughout, numerous diagrams, catchwords, later composite leather binding with tooled vegetal motifs

Condition

In fair overall condition, margins heavily worm eaten, with associated repair, various stains and smudges, binding worn, 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

Taqi al-Din Abu’l-Khayr Muhammad al-Farsi was an astrologer (munajjim), mathematician, as well as being learned in medicine and a poet with the pen-name Fahmi (d. after 1550). He lived in Shiraz and wrote many books including a risalah on astronomy the oldest known copy being in the Central Library of Tehran University (Fazel Hashemi, The Great Islamic Encyclopaedia, vol.V, Tehran, 1993, pp.445-6).

This manuscript was probably copied in India in the sixteenth century and used in an observatory. A fragment of the original flyleaf gives the title, Khulasat al-hay’ah and the city of Akbarabad, the old name of Agra. The notes written in an Indian hand give the value of purchase paid by various owners, and one note states that the manuscript was the property of Tarbiyat Khan and was given as a gift. There are two officials who were given this title in the seventeenth century: Fakhr-al-Din Ahmad in Kashmir and Shafi’allah Barlas in Orissa and Awadh.

The covers, which are later, bear the seal of the book-binder as ‘Work of Mulla Ziya’ al-Din Sahhaf (the book-binder), dated 1208 AH/1793-94 AD’