Quran, Signed (4 results)

Single volume, illuminated manuscript on paper, in Arabic with interlinear translation in Farsi, complete, 225 x 145 mm; single column, 15 lines elegant black naskh with interlinear translations in red nasta'liq, opening two leaves of text with elaborately decorated polychrome borders extending outwards into the margins, heightened in gilt, surah headings in red against gilt banners with polychrome decorations to the outer edges, verses marked with gilt roundels, catch-words, text blocks ruled in gilt, in contemporary lacquered boards. A very attractive Qajar manuscript formerly part of the distinguished Shakerine collection of Islamic art, signed by the callligrapher Abdullah bin Ali Naqi Ahmad in the year 1239 AH during the reign of Fath'ali Shah Qajar. Literature: N. Safwat, A Collector's Eye: Islamic calligraphy in Qur'ans and other manuscripts, London 2010, no. 8, pp. 54-55.

Single volume, illuminated manuscript on fine fibrous buff paper, in Arabic, complete, 495 leaves, 145 x 85 mm; single column, 14 lines black naskh script with characteristics of bihari, some vocalisation in red, surah headings in red thuluth against golf banners, illuminated head-pieces for the opening two surah, a further six illuminated head-pieces opening important divisions in the text, contemporary fihrist at the beginning, contemporary foliation and catch-words throughout, some leaves with small sections of text repaired, lightly browned and signs of oxidisation to outer margins of some leaves, signed typescript letter from the British Museum dated 1966 loosely inserted; near-contemporary leather boards with flap, backed in silk cloth, colour and designs faded on the outer edges of the binding but pastedowns showing a warm yellow cloth with horisontal stripes in vivid blue, extremities worn. Important Deccani Qur'an copied in a manner reminiscent of Qur'ans produced under Sultanate India. This is a charming and important example of an early Deccani Qur'an, copied in 1691, that features a script with striking similarities to the bihari script endorsed under the Sultanate Empire that dissolved over a century before the copying of this manuscirpt.

THOMAS THORILD ALS VORLÄUFER DER NEUZEITLICHEN RELIGIONSWISSENSCHAFT von Ohlmarks, Ake und Lars Akerberg. Veröffentlichungen des Religionswissenschaftlichen Instituts der Ernst Moritz Arndt-Universität Greifswald NR. 1, 77 SS. gebunden (Hardcover 4°, 25,7 x 19,3 cm), leicht gebräunt, ordentlich erhalten - signierte, nummerierte Ausgabe # 9 von nur 15 Exemplaren, Vorsatz mit eigenhändiger Widmung, Empfehlung, Unterschrift signiert "Herrn Professor Dr. L. Magon in Dankbarkeit und Hochschätzung überreicht von AKE OHLMARKS" (Widmungsempfänger = LEOPOLD MAGON (1887-1968, Prof.Dr., deutscher Germanist , Skandinavist und Theaterwissenschaftler - sein EX LIBRIS auf dem inneren, gegenüberliegendem Vorderdeckel).

8vo (165 x 105 mm). Illuminated Arabic ms. on paper. 312 ff., 15 lines, Naskh script. Black ink on polished paper. Double-page 'unwan on first two pages shows elaborate gilt ornamentation; ornamental colophon. Borders in red, black and gold. Gold discs between verses, sura headings written in gold. Blindstamped and gilt calf. Signed by a copyist named Hafez 'Ahmad ibn Ahmad al-ma'ruf, "Ahmad the Hafez" (respect title bestowed on those who have proved to know the entire Quran by heart), son of the renowned 'Ahmad', as quoted (underlined) in the colophon: Kataba hada-l mushaf as-sarif adafu ibad-'Allah al-Kabir al-Mutaal Hafez 'Ahmad, ibn 'Ahmad almaruf,ba-yawwab-e (?) halifa-zade Hamidu-llah Taala [.] (literally, 'he who wrote this noble Qur'an is a very foolish slave of God the Greatest, the Exalted, named Hafez 'Ahmad, son of the renowned Ahmad, servant (?) of Hamidu-llah Taala, offspring of the Caliph []'), etc. - Binding partially restored, in good condition.