A Qajar photograph album depicting folios from the Saint Petersburg Album and others by Antoin Sevruguin; and another depicting calligraphic exercises, Qajar Persia, dated AH 1311/AD 1893 and AH 1317/AD 1899

(2)

albumen prints laid done on card album pages, the first album with 22 leaves, opening photograph possibly of the patron with the Qajar lion and sun on mount and dated AH 1311, and another of Nasr al-Din Shah Qajar, and 38 photographs of calligraphic album pages, mostly in nasta'liq script, velvet covers with clasp, marbled doublures; the second album with 32 leaves, opening photograph of a young man with the Qajar lion and sun on mount and dated AH 1317, and 61 photographs of calligraphic album pages, green velvet covers, marbled doublures
29.5 x 21 cm.; 31 x 24 cm.(2)

The first album album contains photos of some of 'Imad al-Hasani's signed writings, which include numerous calligraphic pages (in Persian and a few in Turkish), pages from a divan in Turkish with illustrations by Reza 'Abbasi, and practice pages in nasta'liq. They are signed as 'Imad al-Hasani, 'Imad al-Mulk al-Hasani, 'Imad al-Mulk al-Hasani al-Sayfi, Mir 'Imad and 'Imad al-Hasani al-Sayfi, two of which were copied in the Capital cities of Qavin and Isfahan and are dated between AH 1006 (AD 1597-8) and AH 1024 (AD 1615-16). The final page includes a portrait of a young man beneath which are inscribed the details of the photographic studio of Antoine Sevruguin and the date AH 1317. Antoine Sevruguin was the son of a Russian diplomat posted in Iran and, although a Russian subject, spent most of his life in Iran. He was appointed by Nasir al-Din Shah as one of his court photographers and titled Khan. He travelled throughout the country and took photographs of not only officials, but landscapes, monuments and daily life. He travelled to Europe a few times to learn the latest on photography and won two medals at the international photography exhibitions in Brussels and Paris.

List of photographs:

A page from a Qur'an
A calligraphic page, signed 'Imad al-Hasani dated 1021 (1612-13)
A page with three pieces, two signed 'Imad al-Hasani, one dated 1018 (1609-10) (n.388)
A page with three pieces, all signed 'Imad al-Hasani, none dated.
A page with three pieces, two signed 'Imad al-Hasani, one Mir 'Imad al-Hasani dated, 1024 (1615-16), the date in one is not clear (n.398)
A page with three pieces, signed 'Imad al-Hasani, one dated 1020 (1611-12)
A page with four pieces, three signed 'Imad al-Hasani, one not clear (n.370)
A page with four pieces, two signed 'Imad al-Hasani, one 'Imad, none dated (n. 371)
A page signed 'Imad al-Hasani, dated 1017 (1608-09)
A page signed 'Imad al-Hasani, copied for the library of an unnamed person, undated.
A practice page, unsigned and undated.
A practice page signed 'Imad al-Hasani for Haji Muhammad, undated.
A page signed 'Imad al-Hasani, undated
A page signed 'Imad al-Hasani, undated. (n. 335)
A page with four pieces, signed 'Imad al-Hasani, none dated
A page with four pieces, 2 signed 'Imad al-Hasani, one Mir 'Imad, none dated
A page with four pieces, 3 signed 'Imad al-Hasani, none dated (n.376)
A page with four pieces, 3 signed 'Imad al-Hasani, none dated (n. 373)
A page signed Mir 'Imad, dated 1022 (1613-14)
A practice page signed 'Imad al-Hasani, undated,
A page signed Mir 'Imad al-Hasani, undated
A practice page unsigned and undated
A page signed 'Imad al-Hasani, dated 1017
A practice page unsigned and undated (n. 367)
A page with three pieces signed 'Imad al-Hasani, one dated 1010 (1601-02) (n. 380)
A page with three pieces, two signed 'Imad al-Hasani, none dated
A practice page, unsigned and undated (n. 361)
A practice page, written for 'the son of the scribe' signed twice, once 'Imad al-Hasani and once 'Imad, dated in words 1019 (?) (1610-11) (n. 357)
A page signed 'Imad al-Hasani, undated
A page signed 'Imad al-Hasani, undated (n 335)
A practice page signed Mir 'Imad, undated
A practice page signed 'Imad al-Hasani, undated
A page signed 'Imad al-Hasani, undated (n. 348)
A page signed 'Imad al-Hasani, dated 1006 (1597-8) (n 338)
A page with three pieces signed 'Imad al-Hasani, two dated 1018 (1609-10) and 1022 (1613-14) (n.394)
A page with three pieces signed 'Imad al-Hasani, two dated, one 1024 (1615-16), another with an unclear date (n. 381)
A page with three pieces signed 'Imad al-Hasani, one dated in words Rabi I, 1008 (September-October 1599) (n.396)
A page with three pieces signed 'Imad al-Hasani, one written in the Capital Qazvin, none dated (n.383)
A page with four pieces signed 'Imad al-Hasani, none dated (n.372)
A page with four pieces signed 'Imad al-Hasani, none dated (n.372)
A page with three pieces signed 'Imad al-Hasani, one written for Nur al-Din Muhammad in the Capital Isfahan, dated 1022 (1613-14)
A page with three pieces signed 'Imad al-Hasani, one signed as 'Imad al-Mulk al-Hasani al-Sayfi, dated 1023 (1614-15) (n.387)
Two pages from a Turkish divan, signed 'Imad al-Mulk al-Hasani, dated 1023 (1614-15). The painting signed by Reza 'Abbasi
Two pages from the same Turkish divan with the painting by Reza 'Abbasi (n.406)
A page with three pieces signed 'Imad al-Hasani, two dated 1014 (1605-06) and 1018 (1609-10) (n. 386)
A page with three pieces two signed 'Imad al-Hasani and one as 'Imad al-Mulk al-Hasani, none dated.
A page signed 'Imad al-Hasani, undated (n. 349)
A page signed 'Imad al-Hasani, undated (n. 345)
A page with three pieces one signed 'Imad al-Hasani (n.401)
A page with three pieces signed 'Imad al-Hasani, one dated 1012 (1603-04).
A page with three pieces two signed 'Imad al-Hasani, one as 'Imad al-Mulk al-Hasani, none dated.
A page with three pieces one a practice page, two signed 'Imad al-Hasani and one 'Imad, one with an unclear date, (n.399)
A page of two practice pages unsigned and undated
A page of three practice pages one signed 'Imad al-Hasani and one 'Imad, none dated
Two pages from a Turkish divan (see 2918 & 2919)
Three pages signed 'Imad al-Hasani and 'Imad al-Mulk al-Hasani, dated 1022 (1813-14). (n. 385)
A page, unsigned and undated.
A page, signed 'Imad al-Hasani, undated.
A practice page, signed Ibn Mawlana Yahya (possibly copied by 'Imad from Ibn Yahya) undated (n.364)
A page, of five pieces, one signed 'Imad al-Hasani, one 'Imad al-Hasani al-Sayfi, written in the Capital Isfahan dated 1022 (?) (1613-14), the image is not clear. There is also a note on the illuminated heading of the third piece, but unclear.
A page of three pieces, two practice pages, unsigned and undated.
A photo of a young man (unidentified)

The second album contains photos of a finely illuminated text of the sayings of Imam 'Ali with their Persian translations in quatrain forms, copied in fine nasta'liq. It was commissioned by 'Abdullah Khan Keshikchi-bashi (the Chief Royal Guard), and copied by his son Habibulah Qajar on 7 Rabi' II, 1311 (18 October 1893). It must have been presented to Nasir al-Din Shah, with a photograph of the King, who added a note at the beginning identifying the scribe as the young boy nasaqchi-bashi (Royal body guard), and praising his hand. This note was written in the Jajrud building during Jumadi II 1311 (December 1893-January 1894). At the end is a photograph of a man who is likely to be the patron 'Abdullah Khan (titled 'Ala' al-Dawlah), who was in charge of the Royal Guard House (see M. Bamdad, Dictionary of National Biography of Iran, Vol. II, Tehran, 1966, p. 299).

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