A manuscript of poetry, signed by Ikhtiyar al-Munshi, Persia, Safavid, dated 975 AH/1567-68 AD

Persian manuscript on paper of varying colours, 17 leaves plus a flyleaf, remargined, 5 lines to the page, written in shikasteh ta'liq script in black, white, gold and red within cloud bands, foliate scrolls filling the interstices, f.1a with calligraphic roundel in gold with dedication, ownership inscriptions above and on end doublures, red morocco binding with applied foliate decoration, with bespoke slip-case

Copied for the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, as indicated in the opening roundel in gold.
Entered the library of Mahdi Khan Astarabdi, the minister to Nadir Shah and was entrusted to ‘Mulla-bashi’ in 1191 AH/1777-78 AD. The seal impression of Mahdi Khan is below the note.
In the library of a Qajar official with the name Husayn in 1289 AH/1872-73 AD (based on the seal impression below the note).
Purchased from Haji Sayyid Muhammad Sarraf (a money changer) for 820 (?) tumans by Husayn Qavam-dafter in 1313 AH/1895-96 AD, who wrote a note praising the manuscript as unique and rare and hoped his son ‘Ali Asghar would keep it for as long as he could. A few Persian couplets were written by Qavam-dafter at the age of 90 in 1337 AH/1918-19 AD).
A note indicates that it was bought at the auction of Qavam Daftar’s house in 1325 AH/1907-08 AD.

 

In good overall condition, slip-case slightly worn, torn halfway down one side, manuscript remargined, minor creasing and stains, calligraphy bold, as viewed.
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The text of the present poetic manuscript includes texts of letters composed for various people including the text of the letter of Sultan Husayn Mirza to ‘Abd al-Rahman Jami, quoted from Jami’s Baharistan.

Khwaja Ikhtiyar Ibn 'Ali Gunabadi Munshi, the most celebrated calligrapher of the style known as ta'liq or shikasteh ta'liq, was born in Gunabad but lived in Herat and worked as a secretary at the court of the Safavid prince Sultan Muhammad Mirza, son of Shah Tahmasp, in Herat for about thirty years. His signed pieces are dated between 949 AH/1538-9 AD and 970 AH/1562-3 AD (M.H. Semsar, Ikhtiyar Munshi, The Great Islamic Encyclopaedia, edited by K. Musavi Bojnurdi, vol.VII, Tehran, 1998, pp.175-8). The present album of calligraphy is his latest recorded work.

Two pages of ta'liq calligraphy by Ikhtiyar al-Munshi were sold in these rooms 22 April 1999, lot 33, whilst a calligraphic page in shikasteh ta'liq script was included amongst a group of Safavid calligraphies sold at Christie's 8 April 2008, lot 189. For other work by the hand of the calligrapher in the Ghazi Collection, please see lot 125.

Sokollu Mehmed Pasha (d. October 1579) was an Ottoman statesman who attained many positions including the office of Grand Vizier in 1565. This manuscript must have been copied when he was the Grand Vizier.