A Qur’an bifolium in Maghribi script, North Africa or Andalusia, late 12th/13th century AD

text: surah al-naml (XXVII), part of verse 30 to part of verse 36
Arabic manuscript on pink paper, 5 lines to the page, written in large and bold Maghribi script, vocalisation in gold, verses separated by illuminated roundels containing ‘abjad letters in white, blue and red, large round illumination marginal device and drop-shaped verse marker, modern black leather binding  

In good overall condition, the margins have been cropped and are clean, water-staining affecting the top margin, two illuminated roundels containing letters have lost some gold, the major damage consisting in the loss of half of the gold, minor rubbing of the ink, 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."

This is a fine example of Islamic manuscript production from the Muslim west, and the twenty-volume Qur'an from which this bifolium originates is remarkable in many ways. It was written on paper, which in medieval Islamic Spain was unusual, vellum still being the preferred material for the writing of the Qur'an; the paper was dyed pink, a rare luxury aspect; the script is a fine example of large scale Maghribi (the marking of the hamzas indicating a probable Andalusian origin) and the spacious arrangement of the script on the page allowed for the clear marking of the diacritics and vocalisation in colours and gold and the elaborate illuminated devices between verses. A particularly unusual aspect of the verse divisions is the use of abjad letters to mark the exact verse count of every verse.

A bifolium from the same manuscript is in the David Collection, Copenhagen (see von Folsach 2001, no.5, p.57). A section from the same Qur'an, containing 215 leaves, formerly in the collection of Maréchal Lyautey, was sold at the Hotel Georges V, Paris, 30 October 1975, lot 488, and subsequently in these rooms, 14 April 1976, lot 247. Two further leaves from that section were sold in these rooms, 23 April 1997, lots 42 and 43, while a bifolium and a single leaf were sold 15 October 1998, lots 10-11. More recently, bifolia were sold in these rooms 3 October 2012, lot 17 and 6 April 2011, The Stuart Cary Welch Collection, Part One, lot 11; whilst single leaves were sold 8 October 2014, lot 13; 22 April 2015, lot 51, and 7 October 2015, lot 204.