A prayer book (Dalail al-Khayrat), Turkey, copied by Suleiman Muratib known as...

A prayer book (Dalail al-Khayrat),

Turkey, copied by Suleiman Muratib known as Ebul Balakci-zade pupil of Sheker zade, dated 1168AH/1755AD,

Arabic manuscript on paper, 128ff, 2fl., 11ll. of black naskh per page within thin gold margins within black and red rules, heading in white naskh script on gold ground within lobed cartouches flanked by interlocked floral tendrils forming lozenges within thin white borders dotted in red, quartered plain gold roundels as verse markers, red annotations in text panels, sometimes interlinear, marginal notes in black and red ink, seal impression to first folio, notes in two different hands in black ink to front flyleaf, folios scuffed, patched in scattered places, some staining, closing bifolio detached, original binding with tooled lobed medallions containing intertwined scrolling floral tendrils, the corner pieces and flap with similar decoration, the fore-edge flap torn and fritted, the binding worn overall

folio 17 x 10.5cm.

Provenance: Private Collection of Professor W.M. Ballantyne (1922-2021)