Manuscript Anonymous (209 results)
Mater Ora Filium (For Unaccompanied Double Choir)
Arnold Bax (Composer) and Anonymous (Carol from a Manuscript at Balliol College, Oxford)
Published by Murdoch, Murdoch & Co., London, England 1926
- Softcover
- First Edition
Seller: Bloomsbury Books, Las Vegas, NV, U.S.A.Bloomsbury Books
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Soft cover. Condition: Good. First Edition. 28 pages including front and rear covers with 21 pages containing music and lyrics in English. Interior music has been well-marked in blue, red, and gray pencil by former owner.
Published by Np 1894
- Hardcover
Seller: Steve Finer - Rare Books, Greenfield, MA, U.S.A.Steve Finer - Rare Books
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Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Square 8vo, boards very worn, cloth backstrip also very worn, approx. 20 leaves bearing manuscript recipes and several more with mounted recipe clippings and such, almost entirely devoted to doughnuts, puddings, pies, crumpets, cakes and similar confections, likely of either Massachusetts o…r Vermont provenance. A good copy only.
More imagesLanguage: French
Published by Manuscript (Book of Hours), France 1440
- Softcover
- Manuscript
Seller: Keegan Goepfert, Rockton, IL, U.S.A.Keegan Goepfert
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US$ 5,000.00
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Soft cover. Condition: Fine. This manuscript preserves the complete calendar from a fifteenth-century French Book of Hours. Written in the vernacular rather than Latin, the calendar reflects the popularity of devotional manuscripts, especially the often coined "bestseller" the Book of Hours among lay patrons in later medieval Fr…ance. The survival of the entire calendrical section as a coherent unit is especially important. The calendars often provide the clearest evidence for identifying the regional and liturgical affiliations of the lost parent manuscript. Calendars formed one of the essential components of Books of Hours by structuring the liturgical year through the cycle of saints' feasts and important feast days celebrated hildaiy within the Christian caledar. Before the widespread use of mechanical clocks, calendars provided the primary framework through which time itself was organized and experienced. Entries were arranged according to the traditional Roman system of Kalends, Nones, and Ides, while feast days connected the rhythms of daily life to local religious memory, regional cults and the wider Christian world. This calendar follows a broadly Parisian or northern French structure of observed feast days while preserving a remarkable concentration of saints and commemorations associated particularly with Bourges and Orléans, cities southwest of Paris in the Loire region. Two important Bourges saints — Saint Guillaume of Bourges (10 January) and Saint Ursinus of Bourges (29 December) — are prominently rubricated in red. In medieval calendars, so-called "red-letter days" were feast days written in red ink rather than black, indicating celebrations of elevated importance such as major feasts, local patrons, diocesan saints, or observances of special liturgical rank. The modern English expression "red-letter day," meaning an especially important or memorable occasion, ultimately derives from this medieval practice. The prominence of Guillaume and Ursinus is especially significant, as both saints are repeatedly associatedwith Bourges-related Books of Hours and liturgical traditions. Other saints closely associated with Orléans include Saint Euverte (7 September) and Saint Aignan (17 November), both bishops intimately connected with the city's ecclesiastical history, though in this calendar they are written in black rather than red. Additional regional saints throughout the calendar further reinforce a devotional geography centered in the Loire region rather than in Paris alone. Most notable, however, is the entry on 8 May, written in French as "la feste d'Orléans," commemorating the liberation of Orléans in 1429 during the campaigns of Joan of Arc. Research into the calendrical surveys of Victor Leroquais has revealed that this rare feast also appears in a documented Book of Hours identified as "à l'usage d'Orléans," confirming that the observance formed part of the devotional culture of the Orléans region during the fifteenth century. Unfortunately, the parent manuscript itself is no longer known, and only the calendar survives. The absence of the Hours of the Virgin, the Litany of Saints, and the Office of the Dead — the sections most critical for determining the precise liturgical use of a Book of Hours — prevents a definitive localization of the manuscript. Nevertheless, the calendar preserves unusually strong regional indicators, combining Parisian structure with clear Orléans and Bourges affiliations, offering rare insight into the devotional landscape of fifteenth-century central France. PROVENANCE: 1. Produced in France, perhaps the Loire Valley, c. 1440-1470, as part of a French Book of Hours. 2. Private collection, Germany. LITERATURE: Leroquais, Victor. Les livres d'heures manuscrits de la Bibliothèque nationale. Paris, 1927. Wieck, Roger S. Time Sanctified: The Book of Hours in Medieval Art and Life. New York: George Braziller, 1988.
More imagesLanguage: Hindi
Published by [Anonymous workshop, North India or Deccan], North India (Mughal/Rajasthani/Pahari style) 1960
- Hardcover
Seller: Captain Z, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.Captain Z
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Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. Artistic Context & Overview Krishna (blue-skinned, crowned) and Radha embrace beneath a jeweled canopy in a moonlit garden, with lotus pond, palace, and hills in the background. A classic Vaishnava theme, referencing Rasikapriya and Gita Govinda traditions, painted in the Mughal/Rajasthani style.… Visual/Technical Description Gouache and gold on handmade paper, approx. 24 x 16 cm. Composition is central and symmetrical, with vivid, unfaded blues, greens, and gold; the modeling and linework are mechanically precise. Gold border is bright and untarnished. Paper shows uniform, artificial aging, with little evidence of genuine period use. Material/Manuscript Context Front: Devotional poetry above and below in Nastaliq Urdu script. Reverse: Devanagari (Hindi) text in accounting/ledger format, ink is dark and modern, lines are neatly arranged, no visible dates or surnames. Paper lacks feathering or migration seen in period manuscripts. Condition Front: Surface stable, colors brilliant, gold border intact, minimal edge wear. Reverse: Clean, dark ink, fold lines appear deliberately created for effect. No real signs of historical use or natural degradation. Provenance / Significance No evidence of period signatures, dates, or colophons in text. Reverse ledger is a modern simulation of 19th-century merchant manuscripts, with no actual historical data. No credible period provenance. Translation and Analysis Front (Nastaliq/Urdu, above image): 1. "Beloved, beneath the jeweled canopy, our longing knows no end," 2. "In the silent night, only your embrace brings peace to my heart." Front (Nastaliq/Urdu, below image): 3. "Among the lotus flowers, our secrets are whispered to the moon," 4. "Radha?s gaze meets Krishna?s, the world disappears in their love." Reverse (Devanagari/Hindi, line by line): 343 ? Account #343 1/11/11 ? Sums in rupees-annas-paise 323 ? Item or sum 48x65 ? Cloth measurement 326 ? Further sum or count 20 ? Unspecified 53/112 ? Allocation or ratio (repeating numbers, likely textile/accounting entries, no names/dates) Conclusion Almost certainly a modern reproduction or ?style of? work, despite traditional iconography. Technical red flags (color, gold, handwriting, aging, lack of signature/date) mean it should only be marketed as decorative or ?after? 19th-century miniature until proven otherwise by lab authentication. Market Value & Recommendations If authentic: $2,000?$8,000 USD (per Claude 98). If reproduction (likely): $200?$500 USD. Professional lab authentication (pigment, paper, handwriting) is essential before marketing as antique or original manuscript. Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator).
Published by Rutland, Lasalle County, Illinois 1855
- Hardcover
- First Edition
Seller: Steve Finer - Rare Books, Greenfield, MA, U.S.A.Steve Finer - Rare Books
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US$ 350.00
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Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. 4to, cloth backed marbled boards, approx. 45pp. of manuscript entries completed, together with several sheets of related interest. The content pertains to cattle straying onto others' properties: they are specifically described and delegated for appraising, by statute. As such,… a highly specialized document in the history of animal law. A chronology spanning 1855-1893 is encompassed by the entries.
More imagesPublished by Ottawa Valley. Manuscript 1905
- Hardcover
- Manuscript
Seller: J. Patrick McGahern Books Inc. (ABAC), Ottawa, ON, CanadaJ. Patrick McGahern Books Inc. (ABAC)
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US$ 368.80
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Condition: A Very Good Copy. Middle-class women were not expected to write professionally in Victorian / Edwardian times. Diaries however gave these ladies an opportunity to express themselves in print. This fine example is probably part of a series of her output. Diaries of this era were more commonly done by the Upper classes,… describing vacation trips and scenery, clippings, chromo litho flora printing and cards, poetry. Full length day to working day diaries are much less common, even rare. 24mo., 13.5cm, circa 200 pages, in manuscript, black ink closely written, fairly legible, in full maroon limp fine grain calf, typical diary type binding of the day, french marbled endpapers and edges, some slight edge wear, rear inner paper over the hinge is broken, (this is common with diaries as they were opened flat and pressed down for writing in), the text is clean and sound ~ all considered.
More imagesLanguage: Dutch
Published by Manuscript (Book of Hours), Netherlands (Utrecht) 1425
- Hardcover
- Manuscript
Seller: Keegan Goepfert, Rockton, IL, U.S.A.Keegan Goepfert
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US$ 6,500.00
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Hardcover. Condition: Fine. i + 12 + i leaves, ruled in ink, written in Gothic textualis in seventeen lines per page in brown and red ink; two-line KL initials in burnished gold on red grounds with blue borders and pen-drawn flourishing of geometric and foliate forms, accented with liquid gold. Bound in modern black leather over… boards, the spine lettered in gilt capitals "16th Century Manuscript Calendar." Dimensions: 147 × 110 mm. This manuscript preserves the complete calendar from a fifteenth-century Book of Hours written in Middle Dutch. The leaves are executed in a clear and regular Gothic bookhand, with feast days highlighted in red and decorative initials combining gold, color, and penwork ornament. The survival of the entire calendrical section as a coherent unit is of particular importance, as it allows for the identification of the regional liturgical tradition of the parent manuscript. The calendar is written in the vernacular rather than Latin, reflecting the widespread use of Middle Dutch devotional texts in the northern Netherlands during the fifteenth century. Such translations are closely associated with the spiritual movement known as the Devotio Moderna, inspired by the teachings of Geert Groote. Books of Hours in Dutch became especially popular among lay readers seeking a more personal and accessible form of devotion. The selection and hierarchy of saints in the calendar clearly indicate that the parent manuscript followed the Use of Utrecht. Several saints closely associated with the diocese and its missionary history are entered prominently in red, including Saint Willibrord (7 November), Saint Pontianus (14 January), Saint Odulf of Utrecht (11 June), Saint Boniface (4 June), and Saint Lebuinus (24 June and 12 November, including the translation of his relics). Their prominence firmly situates the manuscript within the liturgical tradition of Utrecht. Other leaves from the same manuscript are known, including illuminated examples now preserved in institutional and private collections. A related leaf in the Dunedin Public Library is published in M. Manion, V. F. Vines, and C. de Hamel, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in New Zealand Collections (London, 1989), p. 100, providing important evidence for the reconstruction of the original codex. Calendars were an essential component of medieval manuscripts, including Books of Hours, Psalters and Breviaries, providing the primary means of structuring the year before the widespread use of mechanical clocks. Rather than numbering days, medieval calendars identified each date by the feast celebrated on that day, embedding the passage of time within the cycle of the liturgical year. They also preserve elements of the ancient Roman calendrical system, in which each month was organized around three fixed points—the Kalends, the Nones, and the Ides with intervening days counted backwards from these markers. Provenance 1. Produced in the Netherlands, c. 1425-1450, as part of a vernacular Book of Hours written for the Use of Utrecht. 2. The parent manuscript remained intact until the mid-twentieth century, when it was acquired by Folio Society (often referred to in the trade as Folio Fine Art) and subsequently dismembered in the 1960s, with individual leaves dispersed on the market. 3. Acquired in 1965 by Martin Colker, noted for his work on medieval manuscripts and humanist texts. 4. Later in a private collection in Belgium. Literature Manion, Margaret M., Vera F. Vines, and Christopher de Hamel. Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in New Zealand Collections. London: Philip Wilson Publishers, 1989, p. 100. Wieck, Roger S. Time Sanctified: The Book of Hours in Medieval Art and Life. New York: George Braziller, 1988. Wieck, Roger S. The Medieval Calendar. New York: The Morgan Library & Museum, 2017.
More imagesPublished by n.p. 1859 1859
- Hardcover
Seller: Jarndyce, The 19th Century Booksellers, London, , United KingdomJarndyce, The 19th Century Booksellers
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US$ 3,809.70
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4to. 52pp, heavy paper written on rectos only, illus. throughout with numerous watercolour illustrations & illuminate letters. Small tear in one corner of following f.e.p. Orig. full green morocco by Proudfoot of Euston Square, boards with ruled gilt borders & fancy gilt cornerpieces, spine elaborately gilt with repeating scroll… design; extremities a little rubbed. a.e.g. A very attractive Victorian commonplace book, devoted entirely to a single 'medieval' epic romance, The Exile's Home, written throughout in black ink in a neat gothic hand, and illustrated with highly accomplished watercolour drawings. The poem recounts the exploits of an heroic warrior, and the forlorn hopes of his lover for his safe return from battle. An opening couplet has been taken from Byron's poem The Giaour, but the poem itself remains unidentified. The accompanying illustrations have been extremely well executed, and finished in full colour. They depict scenes from the work, including knights in battle and at rest, castles, oceans, various forms of birdlife, and botanical details. The high quality illustrations are vibrant and fresh, and judging by the intricate and minute detail, were made by a very accomplished artist. The identity of the artist and scribe remains a mystery, although the final leaf is tantalisingly initialled 'E.I.A.'.
More imagesLâoracle pastorale pour la feste de M*** Pastoral verse drama celebrating a fête, with wax-seal provenance
Anonymous (French manuscript, possibly composed for noble fête)
Published by France 1820
- Hardcover
- First Edition
Seller: El Sabio Books, Calgary, AB, CanadaEl Sabio Books
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US$ 2,581.63
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Unique French manuscript pastoral play of approximately 80 pages, composed in verse for the fête of âM***.â Likely written for private performance in a noble or wealthy household during the late 18th or early 19th century, the work embodies the enduring tradition of pastoral entertainments as courtly or salon amusements. The op…ening title is ornamented with a black wax seal impressed with a crowned coat of arms, indicating the manuscriptâs aristocratic provenance. The text, in a single clear hand, presents dialogues and songs for characters such as âM. de Rianfortâ and âColin,â with themes of love, harmony, and festivity. Such fête dramas combine literary art with social history, offering insight into the ritual of name-day celebrations and the blending of poetry, theatre, and aristocratic identity. Manuscripts of this type rarely survive outside family archives, making this a scarce witness to French elite literary culture. A valuable addition to any collection of manuscript literature, French theatrical history, or works with aristocratic provenance, and a conversation piece for its combination of poetry, performance, and heraldic seal. Unique French manuscript fête play, c.1780â"1820, with black wax seal on title suggesting noble commission. Pastoral verse drama for private performance, an uncommon survival of aristocratic salon culture. A miniature private opera of love and joy â" written to be sung at an 18th-century nobleâs fête, blending poetry, music, and flattery in pastoral style. . Very Good for a manuscript. Binding rubbed and worn, green paper boards faded, corners bumped. Pages clean, legible, written in a neat single hand. Black wax seal intact on title page. Contemporary green paper-covered boards, spine plain, edges stained red. Some rubbing, corners worn, but binding intact and attractive for a manuscript of this type Unique manuscript (autograph or scribal copy), late 18thâ"early 19th century. None (manuscript in a single hand) (illustrator).
More imagesVoynich Manual [oversized Pictorial Coffee Table Book, Limited Edition of 200, Privately Published with Precice Details of Each Page in Full Color, 15th Century Rare Book, Cryptograpic Glyphs, Cipher Mystery, Italy, illustrated codex Hand-Written ]
Anonymous / Author Unknown / S. S. Family Trust : Sponsor for Publication / manuscript is named after Wilfrid Voynich, a Polish book dealer who purchased it in 1912. / SIGNED By the Publisher
Published by Archival Reprint Company 2013 / Privately Published for the S. S. Family Trust. 0, Interior Clean and Unmarked 2013
- Hardcover
- Signed
Seller: GREAT PACIFIC BOOKS, Ventura, CA, U.S.A.GREAT PACIFIC BOOKS
Contact seller5-star sellerCondition: Used - Very good
US$ 1,495.00
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Hard Back. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Yes. First edition by publisher. Like New. SIGNED BY THE PUBLISHER. Limited edition of 200, as issued. Beautiful oversized coffee table book, for the difinitive collector / cipher. Quality Hardback : hard cover edition in very good condition, some slight wear to edges, as n…ormal for age of book; in Dust Jacket also in very good condition. Overall good / nice copy of this scarce title. Excellent reading on the subject. A good book to enjoy and keep on hand for yourself, or would make a GREAT GIFT for the fan / reader in your life. Reading is one of the great pleasures in life. Full Color Illustrations (illustrator). SIGNED BY THE PUBLISHER. Book.
More imagesLanguage: Persian
Published by [Anonymous workshop, North India or Deccan], (20th-century Indo-Persian/Rajput revival) 1920
Seller: Captain Z, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.Captain Z
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US$ 85.00
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No Binding. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Artistic Context & Overview: This miniature painting shows a lady playing a veena in a blossoming garden, facing a peacock. The lush landscape and delicate floral details reflect the Nayika heroine tradition of Indo-Persian and Rajput painting, celebrating feminine beauty and poetic nature… scenes. This is a 20th-century revival work produced for collectors rather than as a manuscript illustration. Visual/Technical Description: Opaque watercolor and gold on handmade paper. The scene is framed by a dark border with gold floral motifs. Figures and landscape are drawn with crisp lines and harmonious color. Decorative elements throughout give the work both charm and elegance. Material/Manuscript Context: Paper is handmade, medium weight, and evenly toned. The reverse is blank except for a folio number, confirming it was not taken from a text manuscript but likely made as a single artwork or for album portfolios. Modern Indian mat. Condition (Summary): Good: colors are bright, gold detailing is intact, with minor age wear and light creasing. Minimal loss at one corner. Verso has some age toning, but no repairs or major damage. Provenance / Significance: Typical of Indo-Persian revival pieces from Rajasthan or North India, ca. 1920?1950, made for both domestic and Western buyers. The theme and execution are classic for decorative albums of the period. Translation & Analysis of Reverse Text: Reverse is blank (except for a manuscript folio number). No poetry, colophon, or prose. Conclusion: An attractive and collectable example of 20th-century Indo-Persian/Rajput revival art, valued for its subject and decorative appeal rather than rarity or manuscript significance. Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator).
An Eight-Century Latin-Anglo-Saxon Glossary, Preserved in the Library of Corpus Christi College
Anonymous/ Corpus Christi College (University of Cambridge). Library. Manuscript. 144
- Softcover
- Print on Demand
Seller: Revaluation Books, Exeter, , United KingdomRevaluation Books
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US$ 40.12
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Paperback. Condition: Brand New. 276 pages. 8.75x5.75x0.62 inches. This item is printed on demand.
An Eight-Century Latin-Anglo-Saxon Glossary, Preserved in the Library of Corpus Christi College
Anonymous/ Corpus Christi College (University of Cambridge). Library. Manuscript. 144
- Softcover
- Print on Demand
Seller: Revaluation Books, Exeter, , United KingdomRevaluation Books
Contact seller5-star sellerCondition: New
US$ 42.45
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Paperback. Condition: Brand New. 276 pages. 10.00x7.50x0.62 inches. This item is printed on demand.
More imagesLanguage: Persian
Published by [Anonymous workshop, North India or Deccan], North India 1960
Seller: Captain Z, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.Captain Z
Contact seller4-star sellerCondition: Used - Near fine
US$ 120.00
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No Binding. Condition: Near Fine. No Jacket. Artistic Context & Overview A finely painted Krishna scene in the Pahari or Kangra tradition, depicting the deity with female companions by a forest riverbank. The composition features vibrant colors, detailed animals, and lush landscape, with Krishna holding a parasol and flanked by…attendants. Such themes are classic to late Mughal and Rajput Indian miniature painting, but this work?s pristine surface and modern blue mounting suggest a later revival or reproduction. Visual/Technical Description Rectangular composition with yellow header, burgundy inner border, and a bright, even palette. Figures are modeled with careful detail, landscape includes deer and birds, and the riverbank is rendered with lively brushwork. Material/Manuscript Context Painted on paper with Persian/Urdu script on the reverse, possibly from a 19th-century manuscript. The continuous prose writing is narrative or literary in style, but the painting surface is unusually pristine for an antique piece. Condition Excellent surface; colors bright and unfaded, paint layer unworn. Edges show minor handling. Mounted on modern blue paper. Dating & Authentication The painting may be a 20th-century work in traditional style, possibly using antique manuscript paper. Professional authentication (pigment, fiber, paleographic testing) is recommended before ascribing 18th- or 19th-century date or value. Provenance/Significance A decorative and colorful Krishna miniature, ideal for collectors of Indian art, but sold as 20th-century revival unless expert analysis confirms greater age. Translation & Analysis Reverse features Persian/Urdu narrative text; line-by-line translation requires specialist expertise. The prose text is likely a folk tale or legal narrative, typical of late 19th?early 20th-century North India. No names or dates are visible; the manuscript text does not relate directly to the painting. Conclusion A striking Krishna and gopi scene, visually engaging and technically skilled, but authenticity unproven?offered as a 20th-century revival piece with manuscript interest. Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator).
Published by [NP 1811
- Signed
Seller: Second Life Books, Inc., Lanesborough, MA, U.S.A.Second Life Books, Inc.
Contact seller4-star sellerQuarto, [4 pages], very stained but legible. The first three pages contain "Russell's Adventures" while page four is entitled: "The Beggar". and is "signed" Seeva Moody's property, Longmeadow (MA), March 17, 1811. Offered with a typescript of Russell's Adventures. This seems to all be in the same hand. The anonymous author of th…e first work notes that he was born in Merimac, New Hampshire and relates a tale of sea fearing adventures, battles, won and lost; victories and being captured and tortured. "The first of my pranks was off the Mantanzirs | When a French Privateer gave us battle one day | At length she grew sick of the tricks of the yankees | She brailed up her mizen and so bore away" And again: "The next time I fought was with Black man the pirate | On board of the Princess all on the north sea | One shot they so galled him our valour so palled him | He shifted Helm and from us did flee"Later he is captures and torured before finally escaping and making it to Jamaica and finally home. A marvelous tale. The final page has 6 numbered verses about how we are all beggars from birth and 12 lines about youth and death/.
More imagesPublished by North India 1850
Seller: Captain Z, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.Captain Z
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US$ 595.00
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Condition: Very Good. Artistic Context & Overview This Indo-Persian miniature from 19th-century North India captures a transitional era, integrating romantic courtly imagery and reused manuscript text. It reflects both poetic tradition and the adaptive strategies of artists after the decline of Mughal patronage. Visual/Technical… Description Painted in gouache and gold, this work shows a royal couple embracing on a pillowed terrace with garden and pavilion beyond. The male figure, in a pearl-tipped turban and necklace, adopts a protective pose; his companion, in orange and green, leans toward him. Framed with Persian/Urdu Nastaliq script, the vivid palette?deep blues, greens, bright orange?evokes Mughal courtly luxury, while stylized architecture and landscape recall Rajasthani and Deccani styles. Fine brushwork and layered pigments are evident throughout. Material/Manuscript Context Created on a repurposed manuscript folio, this painting is a true palimpsest, both materially and culturally. Using discarded leaves became common as courtly workshops declined; resourceful artists sourced fine supports from earlier manuscripts, preserving Indo-Persian traditions and giving old texts new artistic life. Condition (Summary) Very Good. Age-toning, minor stains, marginal abrasions, and faint watermarks, consistent with 19th-century use. Vivid pigments and gold remain. Album handling adds authenticity. Provenance / Significance A classic example of 19th-century Indo-Persian art, this piece unites Mughal luxury and Persianate literary themes. The scene, a ruler and consort in a palace garden, was prized by local patrons and foreign collectors alike for its enduring appeal and cross-cultural significance. Translation & Analysis of Reverse Text Translation Summary: The reverse contains continuous prose in Nastaliq Persian/Urdu, blending moral advice with narrative. It opens with invocations, then recounts a Sultan consulting a wise sheikh, who offers counsel on justice, humility, and the fleeting nature of worldly power. Romantic imagery??the beloved and the garden of union??symbolizes loyalty and harmony. The sheikh warns against arrogance and greed, closing with the affirmation that virtue outlasts pleasure and fate rules all. Critical Interpretation: The text on the reverse serves as a philosophical counterpoint to the sensual painting, employing romantic metaphors as spiritual allegories. This duality?pleasure and ethical reflection?is the hallmark of Indo-Persian art, inviting viewers to enjoy both visual beauty and contemplative wisdom. Conclusion Indian miniature painting of this era documents a society in transition. The reused manuscript leaf, the anonymous artistry, and the adaptation to changing markets reflect both resourcefulness and enduring tradition. This miniature preserves the pleasures of romantic imagery and the depth of literary and ethical reflection, standing as a testament to Indo-Persian cultural resilience. Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator).
More imagesPublished by [Anonymous workshop, North India or Deccan], Likely Rajasthan, Bundelkhand, or North India 1890
Seller: Captain Z, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.Captain Z
Contact seller4-star sellerCondition: Used - Very good
US$ 750.00
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No Binding. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. Artistic Context & Overview A late 19th-century North Indian miniature in the Rajasthani tradition, depicting Krishna and Radha in an intimate palace terrace scene. Krishna, with blue skin and jeweled crown, gestures toward the garden, while Radha gazes with adoration. This poetic-rom…antic subject draws from devotional literature and visualizes the divine love stories of Hindu scripture, blending sacred and courtly traditions. Visual/Technical Description Rendered in opaque watercolor and ink (possible gold accents) on handmade wasli, over a recycled manuscript. The figures are seated on a patterned carpet and bolster, within a palace setting framed by checkerboard floor and flowering trees. The image area retains bright color and detailed brushwork. Borders feature floral and geometric motifs, with a vertical Devanagari inscription at left. Material/Manuscript Context Painted over a reused Devanagari manuscript folio. The reverse presents vertical columns of text, likely Braj Bhasha or Hindi verse (possible devotional poetry), with marginal notations and catalog marks. This hybrid use reflects late 19th-century Rajasthani workshop practice, prized by collectors and scholars alike. Condition (Summary) Very Good. Image is stable and clean; some corner loss and surface waviness. Reverse text is mostly clear; a few marginal manuscript notations and an inked face sketch are visible. Provenance / Significance From a private collection of North Indian miniatures. The Krishna-Radha theme and the underlying Devanagari manuscript highlight both devotional and artistic heritage. Similar ?hybrid objects? have sold for $900?$1,300 at Bonhams and other auctions (2022?2024). Translation & Analysis (front and reverse) Reverse: Devanagari columns; content appears to be Braj Bhasha poetry or devotional commentary. Sample lines: - ?pratham sukh dukh binu na koi?? ? ?First, there is no joy without sorrow?? - ?bhakti ras amrit jo paave?? ? ?He who attains the nectar of devotion?? - ?shyam rang me rang gayi radha?? ? ?Radha is colored in the hue of Shyam (Krishna)?? - ?prem ki reet ati anup?? ? ?The ways of love are unique?? Margin: Date/code ?96 3 3? (not a clear year); no clear artist name or patron visible. Front border: Vertical Devanagari may read ?Shri Krishna Radha? (requires closeup for certainty). Conclusion A vibrant c.1880?1900 Krishna-Radha miniature, painted on a manuscript folio of poetic verse. Blends sacred art and literary tradition, with strong appeal for collectors and researchers. Estimated value: $850?$1,250 USD. Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator).
More imagesPublished by [France], c. 1750-1780 (?). 1780
Seller: Inanna Rare Books Ltd., Skibbereen, CORK, IrelandInanna Rare Books Ltd.
Contact seller5-star sellerCondition: Used
US$ 1,195.15
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Octavo. 208 unnumbered pages of which 188 pages have entries and the other are left blank. Flexible Vellum of the 18th century. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear. Other chapters in the Manuscript include: De Melancholia / De catarrho / Sprache: english.
Published by n.p. n.d., Italy
Seller: B & L Rootenberg Rare Books, ABAA, Sherman Oaks, CA, U.S.A.B & L Rootenberg Rare Books, ABAA
Contact seller2-star sellerRuled manuscript notebook with engraved frontispiece. Preface and discourse in two parts. Contemporary black roan, and preserved in a black roan-backed box. The text is very clean. A handsome copy. With the bookplate of Roberto Gabbani engraved by Costante Costantini. A discourse in the form of a mock-address to an educated and…learned public of women. The author is inspired to write this praise after he had accidentally stepped onto a pile of excrement. He addresses the ladies and in the first part theorizes the ancient and noble origins of defecation, from the beginning of time with Adam and Eve. The object of his ode is universal and unites all peoples of the world. The second part is devoted to the usefulness and benefits of excrement: it's healthy, nourishes the trees and the soil, and provides work to those that transport it from cities to villages. The author ends his tribute talking to ### directly, inviting her/him not to blame humans that don't appreciate her/him. Costantini (Florence, 1921-2006) was an Italian engraver, illustrator and writer. His talent for drawing was sharpened by his studies and by trips abroad in his youth. In Vienna he became a friend of Kokoshka's, and in Paris he followed courses at the Grande Chaumière Academy. He is noted for his elegant woodcuts and his intaglio prints made from punched metal plates. He was awarded several prizes in both fields.
More imagesLanguage: Persian
Published by [Anonymous workshop, North India or Deccan], North India (Jaipur or Delhi workshop) 1920
Seller: Captain Z, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.Captain Z
Contact seller4-star sellerCondition: Used - Near fine
US$ 125.00
US$ 3.00 shippingShips within U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
No Binding. Condition: Near Fine. No Jacket. ARTISTIC CONTEXT & OVERVIEW Late Jaipur or Delhi school miniature, c. 1900?1920, showing a courtly lovers? scene with wine. Opaque watercolor and gold on wasli paper, with detailed architectural and garden backdrop. No inscriptions or manuscript reuse. Intended for export or decorativ…e album use, not as a manuscript illustration. VISUAL/TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION Square-format scene with a man and woman seated on bolsters in a terrace garden. The man presents a cup to the woman. Detailed foliage, architectural features, and gold rule border. Vivid, even palette; fine mechanical brushwork. MATERIAL/MANUSCRIPT CONTEXT Opaque watercolor on handmade wasli, laid to thick modern card. Verso blank, no text, no signature, no manuscript reuse. Typical of export miniatures c. 1900?1920. CONDITION (SUMMARY) Excellent; no significant wear, clean and bright, modern mounting for display. PROVENANCE / SIGNIFICANCE Produced in Jaipur or Delhi, c. 1900?1920, for decorative or export markets. No named artist, patron, or textual colophon. TRANSLATION & ANALYSIS OF REVERSE TEXT No text or script on recto or verso; no translation possible. No names, dates, or inscriptions. CONCLUSION Authentic late Jaipur/Delhi school decorative miniature. Fine example of early 20th-century courtly genre painting, excellent for display, minimal manuscript or research significance due to lack of text. Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator).
More imagesLanguage: Urdu
Published by [Anonymous workshop, North India or Deccan], North India (likely Jaipur, Delhi, or Lucknow workshop) 1900
Seller: Captain Z, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.Captain Z
Contact seller4-star sellerCondition: Used - Near fine
US$ 125.00
US$ 3.00 shippingShips within U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
No Binding. Condition: Near Fine. No Jacket. ARTISTIC CONTEXT & OVERVIEW Late 19th- or early 20th-century North Indian illustrated manuscript leaf, featuring a courtly audience scene. Opaque watercolor on thin, smooth paper. Decorative narrative format, with Urdu script panels above and below the illustration. Likely produced fo…r educational or didactic purposes, typical of Company school or late Mughal traditions. VISUAL/TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION Vertical-format scene with ruler enthroned, courtiers presenting gifts, and vivid drapery and architectural elements. Fine, mechanical brushwork, opaque pigments, and colored borders. No gold embellishment. MATERIAL/MANUSCRIPT CONTEXT Opaque watercolor on thin paper. Both recto and verso show original, period Urdu script. Verso presents prose narrative in clear Nastaliq hand, typical of c. 1880?1920 educational manuscript production. CONDITION (SUMMARY) Excellent, no significant loss or restoration. Backed for support. Clean and bright for age. PROVENANCE / SIGNIFICANCE Produced in North India, c. 1880?1920, as part of an educational or moralizing manuscript series. No named artist or patron. TRANSLATION & ANALYSIS OF REVERSE TEXT Front panels (Urdu): - Top: 'Those by whom there was negligence, even today they are blind. The carpet of the heart and the warmth of the striving forehead.' - Bottom: 'That nation which is deprived of royal favor. Considers the accomplishments of schools (education) to be the highest form of trade.' Reverse (Urdu): - Prose narrative with moral teachings: 'We are in bondage in this world, where virtues become separated and lost. Who is Adam? He is made of dust, whose abode is below the heavens.' No dates or surnames. CONCLUSION Authentic example of late Company/Mughal educational manuscript painting. Attractive, moralizing content, with excellent preservation. Recommended for collectors of Indo- Persian didactic art. Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator).
More imagesLanguage: Persian
Published by [Anonymous workshop, North India or Deccan], North India (possibly Rajasthan/Delhi region, c. 1880-1920) 1890
Seller: Captain Z, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.Captain Z
Contact seller4-star sellerCondition: Used - Fair
US$ 125.00
US$ 3.00 shippingShips within U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
No Binding. Condition: Fair. No Jacket. Artistic Context & Overview This Indo-Persian miniature represents late 19th to early 20th-century commercial manuscript production rather than court art. The piece depicts a female musician (playing what appears to be a veena or similar stringed instrument) in a stylized garden setting wi…th deer and birds - a common Nayika/heroine theme in Indo-Persian artistic tradition. However, several factors indicate this is commercial rather than courtly work: Standardized composition following popular templates Simplified figural treatment compared to classical Mughal work Production for manuscript/collector market, not royal commission Visual/Technical Description Medium: Opaque watercolor and gold on handmade paper (wasli type) Composition: Central oval format with decorative floral borders Color palette: Bright but somewhat mechanical color application Border design: Gold vine work on black ground with Persian text cartouches Figure treatment: Competent but lacks the subtlety of masterwork examples Material/Manuscript Context POSITIVE AUTHENTICATION INDICATO RS: Page numbering "(113)" indicates genuine manuscript context Extensive Persian/Urdu text on reverse side (not blank like tourist pieces) Paper shows authentic aging patterns with foxing and natural deterioration Proper integration of text and image typical of manuscript pages Evidence of binding wear consistent with book format CONCERNING FACTO RS: Commercial production qualities rather than court workshop standards Simplified artistic execution suggests mass production Condition issues significantly impact value Condition Assessment (CRITICAL) Major Issues: Extensive chipping and tears to all margins Significant edge losses affecting text areas Water staining throughout Some pigment loss and fading Provenance/Significance Genre: Late Indo-Persian/Rajput revival miniature from colonial period Historical context: Represents 19th-century manuscript production for British colonial market Rarity: Not rare - part of extensive commercial production of the period Cultural value: Good example of colonial-era Indo- Persian manuscript art traditions Market Analysis Realistic Value Assessment: $150-400 LOWER END ($150-200): Reflects significant condition issues Extensive damage affecting display quality UPPER END ($350-400): Genuine manuscript context adds value Complete with original calligraphy Authentic aging and materials Historical significance as colonial-period artifact Authentication Status AUTHENTICATED ELEMENTS: Genuine manuscript page (not standalone painting) Period-appropriate materials and aging Proper text-image integration Consistent with late 19th-early 20th century production LIMITATIONS: Commercial production, not court art Significant condition issues Requires conservation for long-term preservation Translation & Analysis Front Text (Cartouches): Poetry referencing musical performance, natural beauty, and romantic themes typical of Indo-Persian literature. Reverse Text: Extensive Persian/Urdu narrative or poetic text - appears to be literary rather than documentary content. Final Conclusion This is a genuine late 19th-early 20th century manuscript leaf from the Indo-Persian revival tradition. While authentic, it represents commercial manuscript production rather than court art. The piece has legitimate historical and cultural value but is significantly impacted by condition issues. CRITICAL DIFFERENCES FR O M O RIGINAL ASSESSMENT: More realistic pricing reflecting condition problems Emphasis on commercial rather than artistic value Recognition of authentication positives while noting limitations Honest assessment of condition impact on market value RECO MMENDATION: Suitable for collectors interested in Indo-Persian manuscript traditions, but expectations should align with its status as commercial colonial-period production rather than museum-quality court art. Professional conservation recommended before display. Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator).
More imagesLanguage: Hindi
Published by [Anonymous workshop, North India or Deccan], Rajasthan, North India (likely Jaipur, Kishangarh, or Mewar region 1930
Seller: Captain Z, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.Captain Z
Contact seller4-star sellerCondition: Used - Very good
US$ 145.00
US$ 3.00 shippingShips within U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
No Binding. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. Artistic Context & Overview A fine early 20th-century Rajasthani miniature painting of a noblewoman or dancer, standing under a flowering tree, accompanied by a peacock. The motif??lady and peacock? (mayur)?is iconic in Rajput painting, symbolizing beauty, longing, and the arrival of…the monsoon. Visual/Technical Description Opaque watercolor and gold on Indian paper. The figure wears an orange and white sari, jewelry, and is posed in classical style, gesturing toward the sky. A full-feathered peacock stands beside her, tail fanned and feathers detailed in gold and green. Border is floral with gold foliate patterns. Material/Manuscript Context Painted on thick, buff Indian paper. No reused manuscript, no printed or written text on the reverse. Plain verso with minor historical foxing and age tone. Condition (Summary) Excellent color, no repairs or losses. Minor age-related corner and edge wear. Reverse clean except for light age marks. Provenance / Significance Painted in a Rajasthani workshop for the regional or tourist market, c. 1910?1930. The subject is popular among both Indian and international collectors. Translation & Analysis (front and reverse) No visible text, date, or signature on recto or verso. Borders contain only stylized decoration. Conclusion A classic Rajasthani miniature of a lady and peacock, c. 1910?1930, in excellent condition, with strong collector appeal. Value $875. Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator).
More imagesLanguage: Persian
Published by [Anonymous workshop, North India or Deccan], North India (Rajput/Pahari style) 1960
Seller: Captain Z, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.Captain Z
Contact seller4-star sellerCondition: Used - Good
US$ 150.00
US$ 3.00 shippingShips within U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
Condition: Good. No Jacket. Artistic Context & Overview This miniature painting depicts Krishna and Radha in an embrace beneath a jeweled pavilion in a night garden?a classic devotional subject in Rajput and Pahari art. The dark monsoon sky, architectural setting, and lush foreground flowers reference established iconographic co…nventions for nocturnal tryst scenes. Visual/Technical Description Gouache and gold on handmade paper, approx. 24 x 16 cm. Krishna (blue-skinned, crowned) embraces Radha (red veil, blue skirt) under an elaborate canopy, surrounded by stylized trees, lotuses, and palace walls. Decorative detail is high, but modeling and color are uniformly precise, lacking the organic linework and pigment fading seen in period originals. Bright blues, reds, and golds, with little evidence of natural aging. Gold border shows uniformity, with inconsistent wear patterns. Material/Manuscript Context Paper appears artificially aged; even toning, staged foxing, and ?antiqued? edges. Reverse: Extensive Persian/Urdu text in Nastaliq script, but calligraphy lacks the ?flow? and period ink/paper interaction of authentic manuscripts. No visible dates, colophon, or signature. Front inscriptions: Devotional verses, but likely composed for the piece; script is careful but lacks the subtlety of genuine 18th/19th-century handwriting. Condition Good preservation, colors bright and gold untarnished, but lacks natural surface degradation. Extensive text on reverse, with even, modern-appearing ink. Condition appears staged for effect. Provenance / Significance Attribution: Rajput/Pahari, c. 1780?1830 claimed, but execution raises many concerns: Mechanical drawing, uniform pigment, and artificial aging. No legitimate dating or provenance in text. Borders and paper inconsistent with naturally aged period works. Translation and Analysis Front (Nastaliq/Urdu): Top: "Beloved, beneath the moonlit pavilion our souls entwine; The fragrance of night blooms bears witness to our longing." Bottom: "Embraced by the darkness, hearts forget all sorrow; Only in union do the lovers find true peace." Reverse: Multiple lines of Persian/Urdu poetry, largely formulaic, invoking Krishna and Radha?s love and longing. No dates, colophon, or specific names. Conclusion This painting follows classic iconographic tradition but shows multiple red flags for modern reproduction. The artificial aging, pigment quality, and calligraphy inconsistencies strongly suggest a contemporary ?style of? work. Do not list as antique or period original without laboratory authentication. Market Value & Risk Assessment If authentic: $3,200?$5,800 USD. If reproduction (likely): $200?$500 USD (decorative value only). Professional authentication (paper/pigment/calligraphy) is mandatory before listing as antique. Conservation Assessment If authentic: Paper stabilization and pigment testing ($900?$2,200). If modern: Minimal conservation neede. Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator).
More imagesLanguage: Persian
Published by [Anonymous workshop, North India or Deccan], North India (Rajasthan/Mughal influenced) 1890
Seller: Captain Z, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.Captain Z
Contact seller4-star sellerCondition: Used - Very good
US$ 150.00
US$ 3.00 shippingShips within U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
No Binding. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. Artistic Context & Overview This painting shows two elegantly dressed women in an ornate palace garden under the moonlight, likely referencing the Ashta Nayika tradition (eight types of heroines in Indian classical art). The composition and poetry evoke an intimate or confiding moment…, departing from Krishna-Radha themes toward classical Nayika iconography. Visual/Technical Description Gouache with gold on handmade paper, approx. 24 x 16 cm. One woman (in blue/rose) points upward, seemingly consoled or advised by the second (in white/rose). The lush trees, floral borders, and Mughal-style pavilion set a refined tone. Decorative details are intricate, but perspective and modeling are mechanically precise, lacking the lively hand- drawn ?distortion? and softness of period originals. Color is even, bright, with suspiciously little fading for an 18th?19th-century work. Material/Manuscript Context Paper aging appears uniform and staged. Reverse: Severe browning, foxing, and large fragments of Persian/Urdu text, but most lines are incomplete?provenance or dating not visible. Front inscriptions: Persian/Urdu poetry in Nastaliq script, likely composed for the scene, but calligraphic quality is inconsistent with period manuscripts. Condition Good overall surface, but with uniform aging patterns and some evidence of deliberate distress. Heavy deterioration and faded text on reverse. Some signatures/notations visible but no clear dates. Requires stabilization and possible imaging to recover more text. Provenance / Significance Attribution: Late Rajasthani or Mughal-influenced, c. 1780?1830 claimed, but technical issues abound: Perspective is too ?mechanical.? Color preservation suggests modern pigments. No reliable dating or provenance in the surviving text. Translation and Analysis Front (Nastaliq/Urdu, upper/lower borders): Top: "Under the moon?s gentle light, hearts confide their secrets; Each sigh finds a voice in the garden?s embrace." Bottom: "O friend, in this night of longing, do not despair; Even the stars await the dawn?s return, shining through tears." Reverse: Fragmented Persian/Urdu, partially legible. Possible phrases: "Beloved departed," "lament of the night," "flowers witness my sorrow." No clear date, colophon, or artist signature. Conclusion This Nayika-themed painting?while iconographically correct?shows numerous technical and authenticity concerns. Unless laboratory analysis proves otherwise, it should be listed as a modern reproduction or decorative ?style of? work only. Market Value & Risk Assessment If authentic: $2,500?$4,500 USD. If reproduction (likely): $150?$400 USD (decorative value only). High risk: Only offer as decorative or ?style of? late 18th/19th-century Nayika painting until professionally authenticated. Conservation Assessment Paper stabilization, imaging for text recovery ($800?$1,800 recommended if period). Not likely cost-effective unless authenticity is proven. Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator).
More imagesLanguage: Persian
Published by [Anonymous workshop, North India or Deccan], North India (Pahari/Rajasthan region, c. 1880?1920) 1890
Seller: Captain Z, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.Captain Z
Contact seller4-star sellerCondition: Used - Fair
US$ 150.00
US$ 3.00 shippingShips within U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
No Binding. Condition: Fair. No Jacket. Artistic Context & Overview This miniature painting, created in late 19th to early 20th-century North India, illustrates the beloved theme of Krishna and Radha in a lush garden. The work combines traditional Pahari or Rajasthani painting techniques with Persian/Urdu poetic inscription, ref…lecting the cross-cultural influences of the colonial revival era. Krishna is depicted in blue skin and peacock-crown, embracing Radha amid a flowering forest landscape?an iconic motif in devotional art celebrating divine love. Visual/Technical Description Medium: Opaque watercolor and gold on wasli/rag paper. The figures of Krishna and Radha are rendered with more care and subtlety than typical tourist miniatures, showing vibrant palette, well-preserved detail, and expressive gestures. The garden is depicted with blooming lotuses, overhanging trees, and distant architecture, set under a moonlit sky. Gold highlights accentuate jewelry and textile patterns. The layout is balanced, but some elements?such as facial modeling?reflect workshop production rather than master atelier work. Material/Manuscript Context The work is executed on machine-made or commercial wasli paper typical of 19th-20th century miniatures. Persian/Urdu poetry appears above and below the image and in extended form on the reverse, possibly drawn from romantic or Sufi literature. The density and style of the script suggest it was added for decorative manuscript appeal, rather than as a genuine period text. There are no royal stamps, library marks, or court provenance. Condition Good: The surface shows moderate foxing, some browning, and edge wear. The image area is stable, with colors and gold remaining vivid. Minor abrasions and paper aging are visible, but there are no major pigment losses or tears. Provenance/Significance Produced for commercial or collector markets in colonial North India, this miniature demonstrates better artistic execution than typical tourist pieces. The Krishna-Radha theme is highly desirable to collectors of Hindu devotional art. While not a rare or courtly example, it stands out for its color quality and narrative interest. Translation & Analysis Front (top/bottom): Poetic couplets about Krishna, Radha, love, and spring. Reverse: Extended poetic or narrative Persian/Urdu text (Sufi or romantic themes); content is decorative and likely post-production. No artist signature. Conclusion A better-than-average revival period Pahari/Indo-Persian miniature, prized for its Krishna- Radha theme and colorful presentation. Honest collector value is in its decorative and cultural appeal, not as a museum-grade antique. Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator).
More imagesLanguage: Persian
Published by [Anonymous workshop, North India or Deccan], Rajasthan or North India 1890
Seller: Captain Z, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.Captain Z
Contact seller4-star sellerCondition: Used - Good
US$ 175.00
US$ 3.00 shippingShips within U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
No Binding. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Artistic Context & Overview A late Mughal/colonial Indo-Persian miniature showing a woman feeding birds on a marble terrace, likely representing a Ragini from the Ragamala cycle. Surrounded by floral borders and poetic Persian/Urdu calligraphy, this work reflects the hybrid style of late 1…9th- and early 20th-century workshops catering to the export and manuscript markets. Visual/Technical Description Opaque watercolor and gold on paper. The central figure is seated, holding a sitar and feeding parrots, with white doves above. The ground is patterned, with dense floral and geometric motifs. Borders in black and gold with calligraphy. Reverse is densely written in Persian/Urdu, in a neat but slightly faded hand, consistent with period literary manuscripts. Material/Manuscript Context Paper is machine-made, showing age and staining. The painting is made on a repurposed manuscript leaf, as indicated by the reverse text and marginal notes. No colophon, artist?s signature, or royal stamp is visible. The work was likely produced for the collector or export market, not for a Mughal court. Condition (Summary) Good overall: vibrant color, light pigment loss at margins, small tears to corners and edges, moderate foxing. Reverse: legible script, faded in spots; some marginalia and old folds. No major restoration; conservation would benefit stability. Provenance / Significance A workshop product of the Indo-Persian revival, typical of the Ragamala and poetic narrative tradition. Culturally significant as a manuscript leaf and as part of the late colonial export trade. Translation & Analysis of Reverse (Key lines) 1. The beautiful young woman, named [unclear], was known for her kindness and grace. 2. Each morning, she would play her sitar and feed the birds in the garden. 3. Her songs and gentle words brought joy to all who heard them. 4. It is said the king himself heard her melody and was moved by her virtue. 5. Poets wrote verses in her honor; her legend spread through the land. 6. She became a symbol of goodness and beauty in every heart. 7. Her legacy lives in the stories told by those who cherish kindness. (Additional poetic lines on compassion, beauty, music, birdsong.) Conclusion A decorative, late 19th?early 20th-century Indo-Persian manuscript painting, with narrative reverse. Best suited to collectors of manuscript art, poetry, and the Ragamala tradition?not an imperial or museum-grade work, but culturally rich and visually appealing. Market Value: $150?$400. Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator).
More imagesLanguage: Persian
Published by [Anonymous workshop, North India or Deccan], North India 1910
Seller: Captain Z, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.Captain Z
Contact seller4-star sellerCondition: Used - Good
US$ 175.00
US$ 3.00 shippingShips within U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
No Binding. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Artistic Context & Overview This rare Indo-Persian illustrated folio originates from North India at the turn of the 20th century, a period marked by transition from traditional Mughal-Rajput patronage to modernized manuscript and print production. The painting depicts a princely figure sea…ted on a riverbank, receiving offerings and gestures of greeting from a group of elegantly dressed women. The scene is set in a moonlit garden, with naturalistic trees, waterfowl, and architectural hints blending poetic, courtly, and narrative themes. The surrounding Urdu text situates the painting within a longer literary or didactic work. Visual/Technical Description The folio is executed in opaque watercolor and ink on thick, machine-made buff paper with wide margins. The image is set in a rectangular frame and surrounded on all sides by black ink Urdu script in a printed or lithographed font, with some sections hand-annotated. Figures are painted with meticulous detail and bright colors, featuring period costumes and jewelry. The lower left and upper margins are notably tattered, with moderate toning and loss, but the paint surface remains stable and vibrant. The reverse preserves a full Urdu text page with both script and English scientific terms. Material/Manuscript Context This work is a hybrid product of manuscript and early print culture, as evidenced by the regular Urdu font, mixed hand annotation, and English loanword (?Galactaskis?/?Galactosis??) as a scientific heading. The folio likely derives from an educational or medical compendium, with manuscript annotations and interlinear notes. The painting is affixed to or embedded within the folio, showing evidence of contemporary mounting. Condition Good to very good for age. Edges and corners show tears, folding, and moderate loss. Surface displays manuscript stains, discoloration, and abrasion typical for the period. Ink remains legible throughout; paint is unretouched and bright. Provenance / Significance From a private collection, acquired North India c. 2000s. This folio is significant for its illustration of a narrative or didactic scene, integration of literary and visual cultures, and presence of early scientific vocabulary. Such hybrid folios are uncommon, offering a unique glimpse into North Indian literary and artistic transitions at the dawn of the 20th century. Translation and Analysis Reverse (Urdu text, top to bottom): 1. Title block: ?Qalbat al-labnini doodh ki [galactaskis] ke aik soorate khas? (Translation: ?A special condition of the milky heart?Galactaskis [Galactosis]?) 2. ?Is bimari mein doodh ki ragon mein jalan ho jaati hai ?? (?In this condition, the veins of milk [lacteal vessels] become inflamed ??) 3. [Body of text:] ?Yeh soorat zyada tar doudh pilane wali auraton mein paayi jati hai ?? (?This condition is mostly found in women who are nursing ??) 4. ?Is ka sabab aksar safai ki kami, ya zakhm, ya kisi kharabi ki wajah se hota hai ?? (?It is often caused by lack of cleanliness, or wounds, or some defect ??) 5. [Text continues with symptoms, treatments, and recommended remedies?listing substances, poultices, and hygienic advice.] Conclusion A scarce Indo-Persian illustrated manuscript folio, notable for its intersection of narrative painting, scientific/medical instruction, and early print culture. The hybrid context, rare subject, and visible wear make it an important collectible for South Asian art and book history. Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator).
More imagesLanguage: Urdu
Published by [Anonymous workshop, North India or Deccan], Provincial North India (likely Rajasthan or Oudh) 1920
Seller: Captain Z, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.Captain Z
Contact seller4-star sellerCondition: Used - Near fine
US$ 185.00
US$ 3.00 shippingShips within U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
No Binding. Condition: Near Fine. No Jacket. Artistic Context & Overview A colorful early 20th-century miniature depicting a woman walking in a blue-green landscape, holding a pink lotus, with a spinning wheel in the background. Painted over a page of printed Urdu verse, this work blends poetic, rural, and modern elements typica…l of the ?bazaar? or vernacular miniature tradition c. 1920. Visual/Technical Description Opaque watercolor on a printed Urdu book page, with a female figure in a green skirt and white veil, barefoot, on a ground scattered with tiny pink buds. The top border retains a block of Urdu poetic text; the reverse contains further printed poetry in regular columns. Material/Manuscript Context Painted on a page from a printed Urdu poetry book (verse in couplets, regular spacing, no evidence of hand annotation). The verse is in Nastaliq script, and the printing method, ink, and paper suggest c. 1920?1935. Condition (Summary) Front and reverse are strong and clean, print fully legible, minimal edge handling. No tears or repairs. Provenance / Significance Likely produced for the local or vernacular art market in North India. These hybrids? paintings over printed poetry?were favored for both decoration and gift purposes. Reverse text increases interest for collectors of Indo-Islamic hybrid objects. Translation & Analysis (front and reverse) Front (Urdu, top block): The world is a garden of thorns for the lover; every heart is afflicted by longing. Even the moon and stars are pale before her beauty? Her glance is a sword; her words are enchantment? (Paraphrased sample?lines typical of early 20th-c. Urdu ghazal.) Reverse (Urdu, poetry in couplets): A sequence of rhymed couplets on the woes of love, the pain of separation, and the longing for union. No visible date or full surname in the text. Example translation (from visible lines): Every lover?s world is a new world of pain? Whoever falls in love is lost to reason? The night of longing is endless, the heart burns with desire? Conclusion A striking, vernacular Indian miniature of a woman with lotus, painted over a page of printed Urdu poetry. Early 20th-century hybrid, in excellent condition, with high decorative and literary appeal. Value $950. Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator).
More imagesLanguage: Persian
Published by [Anonymous workshop, North India or Deccan], North India 1895
Seller: Captain Z, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.Captain Z
Contact seller4-star sellerCondition: Used - Fair
US$ 185.00
US$ 3.00 shippingShips within U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
No Binding. Condition: Fair. No Jacket. Artistic Context & Overview A late Mughal/Rajput miniature painting from North India, c. 1890?1910, reflecting the enduring taste for poetic and courtly romance in the declining years of manuscript culture. The painting shows a romantic couple attended by musicians and companions in a moon…lit riverside garden, with swans, lush landscape, and period architecture. Courtly romance, music, and poetic gestures dominate the scene. Visual/Technical Description Opaque watercolor (gouache) and ink on thin, machine-made paper. Central illustration in a rectangular window, bordered with Persian/Urdu script at top, sides, and bottom. Rich layered pigments, fine detailing, gold and red border lines. Edges frayed and chipped, but painted image remains vivid. Material/Manuscript Context Hybrid artifact: painting executed over a pre-existing printed Urdu literary or medical manual page. The reverse retains its original prose, with Nastaliq script and topical headings (page 165). Marginal script on obverse matches the content of the reverse. Condition (Summary) Front: Bright colors, minor pigment loss, frayed edges, tape residue at corners. Back: Paper is fragile, browned, with small holes and edge loss; script is mostly legible. Provenance / Significance North India (likely Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, or Delhi), c. 1890?1910. Represents the transitional era when Persian and vernacular literacies, and visual art, intertwined. Sourced from a US private collection, acquired from Indian dealers (2000s). Date Identification / Market Value Stylistic and textual evidence dates the folio c. 1890?1910. Comparable items typically realize $400?$900 at auction, depending on preservation and translation. Translation & Analysis of Reverse (line by line) Reverse: Page 165 (Urdu) Section header: ?Dastan ka aakhri hissa? ("Final part of the story") 1. The prince, after many hardships, finally arrives at the garden where the princess is waiting. 2. Upon seeing each other, they are overcome with joy and forget all past sorrow. 3. Their meeting is described in poetic terms?tears of joy, laughter, heartfelt conversation. 4. The princess?s attendants bring flowers and sweetmeats, preparing a celebration in the garden. 5. The story narrates how the couple spends the evening in music and poetry. 6. The wise old advisor, present in the background, offers blessings and advice for their future. 7. The narrative reminds the reader of the importance of patience and loyalty in love. 8. The section ends with a reflection: ?All happiness is destined; patience is rewarded; true love endures all hardships.? 9. The author?s final blessing is given, wishing joy to lovers and wisdom to those who listen. Conclusion A rare Indo-Persian miniature painting, executed over a late-19th-century Urdu literary manual leaf, blending romantic courtly imagery with poetic narrative. The hybrid nature and vivid preservation make this a valuable addition for collectors and scholars. Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator).
