Leaf form the Muqamat of al-Hariri of Basra, manuscript on paper [Mamluk territories, c. 1300]

Illustrated leaf form the Muqamat of al-Hariri of Basra, in Arabic, decorated manuscript on paper [Mamluk territories (probably Syria), probably c. 1300 AD] single leaf, containing a depiction of a young man paddling a small boat, single column, text in 13 lines black thuluth verging on muhaqqaq, some early water-staining causing some faint fading to pigments, some small chips to paint, c. 360 by 245 mm.; in card mount, framed and glazedThe first illustrated copies of al-Hariri's Maqamat were produced in the beginning of the thirteenth century, with only six copies surviving before the present manuscript was produced (two attributed to Syria: BnF, Arabe 3929 and 6094; two from Baghdad in the 1230s: St Petersburg, Academy of Sciences, inv.no.s23 and BnF Arabe 5874; and two further copies without a definitive origin produced around the middle of the century: Suleymaniye Library, Istanbul, in.no.2916 abd British Library, London, Or.1200). For more information on the Muqamat see lot 29.