A firman of Prince Muzaffar (later Muzaffar al-Din Shah Qajar), promoting Sergeant (sarhang) 'Isa Khan, the officer at the Foreign Affairs Office in Adharbayjan, to the rank of Colonel (sartip), Persia, dated Rabi' I, 1311/September-October 1893

(3)

Persian manuscript on paper, five lines of text written in shikasteh script in black ink within cloudbands on a gold ground, interlinear margins ruled in gold, orange and green, seal impression of Prince Muzaffar at upper right within large illuminated medallion, his tughra and signature in separate cartouches, interlinear panels and outer margins decorated profusely with swirling floral motifs and birds in colours and gold, dark red outer border, in mount, in perspex box frame, 510 x 390 mm.
B. A firman of Nasir al-Din Shah Qajar (reg. 1848-96), appointing Mirza Husayn Mustawfi as deputy to Mirza Hidayatullah Vazir Daftar, Persia, dated Jumadi II 1296/April-May 1879, Persian manuscript on paper, seven lines of text written in nasta'liq script in black ink, interlinear rules and vertical margins in gold, red and green, seal impression at top within ornate illuminated medallion, tughra in gold below this, signature and additional note of the Shah within floral cartouches at upper left, in mount, in perspex box frame, 670 x 385 mm.
C. A letter from Qa'im Maqam, chancellor to Prince Muhammad, later Prime Minister to Muhammad Shah Qajar, in reply to his sister, Qajar Persia, circa 1820s-early 1830s, marginal note dated AH 1310/AD 1892-93, Persian manuscript on paper, 15 lines written diagonally in shikasteh script in black ink on a green ground within cloudbands, against a gold ground, upper and right-hand margins with illuminated stylised floral motifs in colours and gold, inner floral border, inner margins ruled in gold and blue, inscription in a freer hand in nasta'liq script in lower outer margin
225 x 150 mm.(3)

B. The added note by Nasir al-Din Shah reads 'For the services of Vazir Daftar, his son is made deputy'.

C. According to the note in the lower margin written by Mirza Aqa Khan Qa'im Maqami in AH 1310/AD 1892-93 (who must be one of Abu'l-Qasim Qa'im Maqam II's grandsons), the letter is from Qa'im Maqam to his sister (named Taj Mah Baygum), who had sent a letter complaining at his lack of communication. He explains the reason as scarcity of paper and that Mulla Muhammad Sahhaf Tabrizi has now provided him with fine paper and ink. Numerous names are mentioned as either having not heard from them for some time or having complained for lack of communication between her and them. In reply to her question on the Crown Prince ('Abbas Mirza Mirza), he writes all is well and that he is involved with royal affairs. At the end, he says there have been burst pipes due to extreme cold and snow.

Mirza Abu'l-Qasim Farahani Qa'im Maqam, known as Qa'im Maqam II, was minister to 'Abbas Mirza Na'ib al-Saltanah, chancellor to Prince Muhammad, then his Prime Minister after he became Shah. He was later murdered by the order of the Shah in 1835. (See M. Bamdad, Dictionary of National Biography of Iran, 1700-1900, vol.1, Tehran, 1966, pp. 60-65).