ABU 'ALI MUHAMMAD BIN MUHAMMAD AL-BAL'AMI (D. 974 AD)
A translation and abridgement of Al-Tabari’s celebrated Annals of the Prophets and Kings, Persian manuscript on paper, 555 leaves plus six flyleaves, each folio with 25 lines of elegant Ottoman naskh text within gold and blue rules, numerous words picked out in gold, red, orange, brown and blue, catchwords, paginated, illumina- ted opening shams stating the manuscript belonged to the treasury of Suleyman the Magnificent (r.1520-66), followed by a finally illuminated opening bifolio, one further illuminated headpiece, colophon with signature and date, in brown morocco with blind tooled cusped central medallion, cream paper doublers.
text panel :16 by 9 cm. folio: 25.6 by 15.7 cm.
The Tarikhnama of Bal’ami is one of the earliest works in prose composed in Persian and one that ‘inaugurates the long and brilliant series of Persian historical writings’. It was commissioned by the Samanid Amir Al-Man- sur bin Nuh (r. 961-976) in 352 AH/963-64 AD as a translation from Arabic to Persian of Tabari’s seminal al-Tarikh (‘Annals of the Prophets and Kings’). Originally composed in Arabic, Tabari’s ‘Annals is a celebrated history and a very important source of information on the medieval Islamic civilisation. It describes the events between the Creation and the year 915 AD (See Chase F. Robinson, ‘Al-Tabari (839-923)’ in Cooperson and Toorawa, 2005, pp. 332-343).
It is also exceptional as it bears a dedication to the Library of Sultan Suleyman illustrating the imperial traditi- on of book collecting. Mehmed II Fatih (d. 1481) and more particularly Bayezid II (d. 1512), two of Sulayman’s predecessors, were recognised bibliophiles. After his victory on the Safavids, Bayezid II’s successor Selim I (d. 1520) acquired the manuscripts that made the Topkapi Sarayi Library one of the richest collections in the world.
Suleyman was able to enrich the library through a series of successful campaigns between 1521 and 1566. However acquisitions were also reinforced by gifts such as that of the great Great Shah Tahmasp Shahnama, thought to have been given to Selim I by the Safavid Shah as an accession present. Bal’ami’s Tarikhnama was undoubtedly highly regarded by the Ottomans as this manuscript was produced to enter the Sultan’s library. It also demonstrates their well-known interest for works.
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A translation and abridgement of Al-Tabari’s celebrated Annals of the Prophets and Kings, Persian manuscript on paper, 555 leaves plus six flyleaves, each folio with 25 lines of elegant Ottoman naskh text within gold and blue rules, numerous words picked out in gold, red, orange, brown and blue, catchwords, paginated, illumina- ted opening shams stating the manuscript belonged to the treasury of Suleyman the Magnificent (r.1520-66), followed by a finally illuminated opening bifolio, one further illuminated headpiece, colophon with signature and date, in brown morocco with blind tooled cusped central medallion, cream paper doublers.
text panel :16 by 9 cm. folio: 25.6 by 15.7 cm.
The Tarikhnama of Bal’ami is one of the earliest works in prose composed in Persian and one that ‘inaugurates the long and brilliant series of Persian historical writings’. It was commissioned by the Samanid Amir Al-Man- sur bin Nuh (r. 961-976) in 352 AH/963-64 AD as a translation from Arabic to Persian of Tabari’s seminal al-Tarikh (‘Annals of the Prophets and Kings’). Originally composed in Arabic, Tabari’s ‘Annals is a celebrated history and a very important source of information on the medieval Islamic civilisation. It describes the events between the Creation and the year 915 AD (See Chase F. Robinson, ‘Al-Tabari (839-923)’ in Cooperson and Toorawa, 2005, pp. 332-343).
It is also exceptional as it bears a dedication to the Library of Sultan Suleyman illustrating the imperial traditi- on of book collecting. Mehmed II Fatih (d. 1481) and more particularly Bayezid II (d. 1512), two of Sulayman’s predecessors, were recognised bibliophiles. After his victory on the Safavids, Bayezid II’s successor Selim I (d. 1520) acquired the manuscripts that made the Topkapi Sarayi Library one of the richest collections in the world.
Suleyman was able to enrich the library through a series of successful campaigns between 1521 and 1566. However acquisitions were also reinforced by gifts such as that of the great Great Shah Tahmasp Shahnama, thought to have been given to Selim I by the Safavid Shah as an accession present. Bal’ami’s Tarikhnama was undoubtedly highly regarded by the Ottomans as this manuscript was produced to enter the Sultan’s library. It also demonstrates their well-known interest for works.
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