An album of calligraphy in concertina form, copied by 'Ali Reza, Persia, dated AH 982/AD 1574-75

Persian manuscript on gold-sprinkled paper laid down on card, 14 leaves, 5 lines to the page written in fine nasta'liq script in black ink, some words in gold, inner borders of blue paper with inner margin rules in colours and gold, outer borders with stencilled floral motifs, one illuminated headpiece, probably excised from another manuscript, one further illuminated panel on last leaf, small depictions of birds interspersed throughout the text added at a later date, perhaps in India, beginnings of lines slightly trimmed, brown leather binding, doublures of red leather with central stamped medallions
text area 132 x 68 mm.; album 270 x 180 mm.

Provenance
Christie's, Islamic Art and Manuscripts, 10th October 2000, lot 74.
The estate of a distinguished Iranian academic, California, USA.

'Ali Reza 'Abbasi is recorded as a calligrapher at the court of Shah 'Abbas and is one of the most famous calligraphers of the Safavid period. For album pages signed by him see S. R. Canby, Shah 'Abbas: The Remaking of Iran, London 2009, pp.42-44, nos. 5 and 6). He was responsible for the inscriptions on famous monuments including the Shrine of Imam Rida in Mashhad and the Sheikh Lutfullah Mosque in Isfahan. See also Mehdi Bayani, ahval va asar-e khosh-nevisan, vol. II, Tehran 1346 sh., pp.456-61.

Important Notice to Buyers
Some countries e.g., the US, prohibit or restrict the purchase by its citizens (wherever located) and/or the import of certain types of Iranian-origin works. As a convenience to buyers, Bonhams has marked with the symbol R all lots of Iranian (Persian) origin. It is each buyer's responsibility to ensure that they do not bid or import a lot in contravention of the sanctions or trade embargoes that apply to them.