An illuminated Qur'an, copied by 'Ubaydullah al-Dhihni, Turkey, Ottoman, dated...

Arabic manuscript on paper, 307 leaves, plus 4 fly-leaves, 15 lines to the page written in naskh in black ink, ruled in gold, silver and red, verses separated by gold roundels with red and blue dots, surah headings in white thuluth on gold and polychrome illuminated panels, further text divisions marked by gold and polychrome marginal devices, opening bifolio illuminated in gold and polychrome, colophon in a gold and polychrome illuminated roundel, followed by later added prayers copied by Mehmed 'Ilmi, dated 1285 AH/1868-9 AD, in contemporaneous gilt brown leather binding, gilt red leather doublures
13.6 by 8.9cm.

Condition Report:
In good condition overall. The text panels generally clean throughout and the text clear and legible. Some occasional small smudges and minor areas of discolouration and staining, mainly to the margins. Some small creases and tears, some of which with associated restoration. Very slight cropping to the edges of the leaves. The binding stable with some light wear to the gilt decoration. As viewed.

Catalogue Note:
The scribe of the present manuscript, ‘Ubaydullah al-Dhihni, was known as Hafiz and was first Imam at the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque at the Edirne Gate, Istanbul. The colophon relates that this manuscript is his 37th copy of the Qur’an. A contemporaneous Qur'an with almost identical illumination was sold at Christie's, London, 26 April 2012, lot 51.

The manuscript is followed by prayers copied by Mehmed 'Ilmi Efendi, a celebrated scribe who studied under his father 'Ali Shukri Efendi. For further information on this scribe, see Derman 2010, pp. 252-3.