Nazm al-Ma’ali fi Sharh Nathr al-la’Ali (Tales of Imam Ali), Persian translation of Nathr al-la’Ali attributed to Sadr al-Dahdabi, in Farsi, illuminated manuscript on polished paper [Eastern Ottoman provinces, c. 1780]

Nazm al-Maali fi Sharh Nathr al-laAli (Tales of Imam Ali), Persian translation of Nathr al-laAli attributed to Sadr al-Dahdabi, in Farsi, illuminated manuscript on polished paper [Eastern Ottoman provinces, c. 1780]

single volume, 31 leaves, both single and double columns, mostly in 8 lines of black nastaliq with interlinear text-blocks in thuluth, some headings in red, three polychrome banners and head-pieces illuminated in gilt, leaves ruled in red, blue and gilt, some light water-staining to outer edges (rarely affecting text), a few small smudges, overall bright and clean copy, 168 by 105 mm.; fine block-stamped and gilt calf boards, notably Western in style and design, rebacked, rubbed and a little worn, with marbled doublures

A charming volume relating to tales of the last prophet in Islam, Ali bin Abu Talib, originally compiled by Diya al-din Abual-Rida Fadlallah al-Hussayni al Rawandi and present here in Sadr al-Dahdabis translation from Arabic to Farsi. Al-Dahdabi also re-formatted the text into mathnawis (verse) and added an introduction to the text.

This copy of the text not only has the added introduction, but also includes the colophon added by Al-Dahdabi bearing the original date of completion, 15 Muharram 867 AH (1462 AD), suggesting that this copy may have been copied from an original manuscript of Al-Dahdabis work.

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