Mirza Mahdi Khan Astarabadi, the Jahan-gusha-ye Nadiri, North India, dated 1171 AH/1757-58 AD

Persian manuscript on paper, 435 leaves plus 8 flyleaves, 17 lines to the page, written in neat naskh script in black ink, occasional marginal comments, margins ruled in colours and gold, 27 full page miniatures in gouache heightened with gold, f.1b with an illuminated headpiece composed of scrolling polychrome vines within lobed cartouches, later reddish-brown morocco binding with gilt-stamped and tooled cartouches and cornerpieces

In reasonably good overall condition, paper repairs throughout, pages generally clean and ink bold, paintings with vivid colours and bright gold, some rubbing and paint losses, particularly to lower outside corners, some water stains, as viewed.
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This is a rare and lavishly-illustrated copy of the Jahan-gusha-ye Nadiri of Mirza Mahdi Khan Astarabadi. It is also the earliest recorded version of the text, which chronicles the life of Nadir Shah (r.1736-47), written in 1757-58, only ten years after his death. 

All the lithographed copies and manuscripts used for the publication of Jahan-gusha-ye Naderi by Anvar were copied in nasta’liq. This copy is the only one in naskh and similar in style to a few manuscripts copied by order of Nadir Shah, now in the Gulistan Palace Library in Tehran. According to this manuscript, Astarabadi, Nader Shah's official historian, had planned a second volume dealing with subsequent events. However, there is no record of this text so it does not seem to have ever been written.

Whilst it seems more likely that a manuscript chronicling the life of Nadir Shah would be produced in Persia, the general feel of the illumination, calligraphy and style of illumination point towards an origin in North India. Parallels can be drawn in terms of both the palette, composition and style with an illustrated leaf from an unidentified manuscript related to the Siyar-i Nabi, attributed to Northern India (or even Sindh), formerly in the collection of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, and now in the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto (see S.R. Canby, Princes, Poets & Paladins, London, 1998, p.177, no.136). Although attributed to the nineteenth century, the similarities between the two illustrations, combined with the date of the present manuscript, suggest the possibility that it may perhaps be earlier. 

The twenty-seven illustrations are as follows:

1. Mahmud Afghan in Isfahan.
2. Marriage of Nadir with the daughter of Baba ‘Ali Bayg.
3. Battle of Nadir with Malik Mahmud Sistani.
4. Malik Mahmud retreats to Nishapur on hearing the approach of people of Kalat.
5. Nadir meets Shah Tahmasp II on their fight against Malik Mahmud.
6. Execution of Fath’ali Khan Qajar by the order of Shah Tahmasp II.
7. Nadir fights Ashraf Afghan on Mehman-dust river near Damghan.
8. Nadir crosses Khwar Gorge to fight Ashraf for the second time.
9. Nadir arrives in Isfahan.
10. Nadir at the court of Shah Tahmasp II.
11. Battle of Nadir with Ashraf Afghan in Zaraqan near Shiraz.
12. The Ottoman army retreats in the battle with Nadir near Hamadan.
13. Nadir marries Fatimah Sultan Baygum daughter of Shah Tahmasp II in Mashhad.
14. Nadir holds a meeting on deposing Shah Tahmasp and electing Shah’s son ‘Abbas Mirza as the ruler.
15. Nadir fights the Ottoman commander Tupal ‘Uthman.
16. Nadir fights the Ottoman commander ‘Abdallah Pasha near Yerevan.
17. Nadir Shah enthroned.
18. Nadir Shah appoints his son Riza Quli Mirza as Prince Regent before leaving for India.
19. Nadir Shah fights the Mughal army in Punjab.
20. Nadir Shah fights the Mughal army in Pamipat.
21. Marriage of Nadir Shah’s son Nasrallah Mirza with the Indian princess.
22. The Uzbak Abu’l-Fayz Khan submits to Nadir in Bukhara.
23. Nadir Shah donates funds and endows precious objects to the Shrine of Imam ‘Ali in Najaf.
24. Nadir Shah’s battle with the Ottoman commander (ex-Prime Minister) Yegin Muhammad Pasha in Yerevan.
25. Nadir Shah’s nephew ‘Ali Quli Khan claims the throne and calls himself ‘Adil Shah in Mashhad.
26. Shahrokh, grandson of Nadir Shah assumes power.
27. The blind Shahrokh is brought back to Mashhad.