Hafiz (d.1390), Diwan, copied by Rashid al-Din Bigdeli, Tehran, Persia,...

Persian manuscript on paper, 191 leaves, plus 2 fly-leaves, 10 lines to the page written horizontally and diagonally in nasta'liq in black ink, arranged in 3 columns, ruled in gold, green and red, headings in red on gold and polychrome illuminated panels, opening bifolium with illuminated headpiece surmounting text in clouds reserved against a floral illuminated ground, within margins decorated with scrolling arabesques, the following bifolium with text in clouds reserved against a gold ground, in lacquer binding decorated with arabesques and flowers, central cartouche signed 'Abd al-Wahhab, dated 1291 AH/1874-75 AD
21.4 by 13.2cm.

Condition Report:
The manuscript in good and stable condition overall. The opening illumination in very good condition and the pigments remain crisp and strong. Light creases, buckling and minor discolouration to the text panel. The text block has been remargined throughout. The remargining encroaches at times on the outer part of the text panel in order to repair the text panels with the text reinked in these small areas. Occasional, minor repairs to the edges of the text block. The lacquer binding in good condition overall. Small scuffs, mainly to the corners and edges and light wear to the spine. As viewed.

Catalogue Note:
The scribe of this manuscript must be Muhammad Rashid Khan Bigdeli, whose pen-name was Akhgar, and the colophon records that he was the secretary to Hasan ‘Ali Khan, the Minister of Public Works of Iran. The scribe worked under Manuchehr Khan Mu’tamid al-Dawlah in Isfahan, Muhammad Rafi’ Khan governor of Yazd and later through Dust ‘Ali Khan Mu’ayyir al-Mamalik’s recommendations, he entered Nasir al-Din Shah’s court and became the secretary of the hall of audience of Khurasan. He was known as a poet and calligrapher with particular skill in shekasteh nasta’liq and his recorded works date from 1870-77 (Ghelichkhani 2018, pp.122-3). The manuscript bears a bookplate with the library stamp of Prince Firouz Nosrat-ed-Dowleh where it is mentioned that the manuscript was made for Hasan 'Ali Khan.