Persian manuscript on polished cream-coloured paper, 55 leaves, 9 pages at the end left blank, 14 lines to the page written in neat naskhi script in black ink with significant words and sentences in Arabic picked out in red, headings picked out in blue or red, inner margins ruled in blue and gold, catchwords written in nasta'liq in wide outer margins, illuminated headpiece in colours and gold, creased, rodent damage to edges, red morocco gilt, spine worn, small areas of pitting to covers, doublures of patterned European paper
217 x 137 mm.

Footnotes

The text consists of an introduction and four sections on rearing falcons according to Western, Indian, Turkish and Persian philosophers, each with subdivisions, headed in red and blue.

According to the preface, in this manuscript (folios 6v-7r), the translator is Muhammad Zahid Tastari (written as Tassari) who was requested by his patron to translate al-Kindi's work. Some scholarly opinion holds that the work was translated by Muhammad 'Ali ibn Abi Talib Hazin Lahiji (1691-1767), itself a section from the tadhkirah al-ra'i, also known as tadhkira al-Kindi, by 'Ala' al-Din Kindi Dimashqi (640-716), the same work as that known as baz-nameh-ye tastari. Others hold that the translation of al-Kindi's work was by Muhammad Zahid Shushtari, or that it was dedicated to Shaykh Hasan Jalayer Ilkhani. The only recorded copy is in the Malik Library in Tehran, dated rajab 1269/April-May 1853.

This manuscript was copied for the cousin of Nasir al-Din Shah (as mentioned in the colophon), Sultan Uways Mirza Mu'tamid al-Dawla, Governor of Fars (d. 1892). He was a son of Farhad Mirza Mu'tamid al-Dawla. He was titled Ihtisham al-Saltana in 1873 and accompanied Nasir al-Din Shah on his trip to Europe in the same year. He was appointed Governor of Fars in 1887 and in the same year after his father's death, he was given his father's title Mu'tamid al-Dawla. He kept his post as Governor of Fars till 1891. (See Mehdi Bamdad, Dictionary of National Biography of Iran, 1700-1900, Tehran, 1966, pp. 74-5).

The scribe is recorded as a nasta'liq calligrapher of Shiraz and a private scribe to the governor of Fars Farhad Mirza Mu'tamid al-Dawla (father of Sultan Uways Mirza) for whom he copied many texts. His dated works range between AH 1270/AD 1853-54 and AH 1297/AD 1879-80, making this manuscript his latest recorded work and the only one in naskhi script. (See Mehdi Bayani, vol. 2, Tehran 1346, pp. 461-63).

Additional information

This auction is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future auctions, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this auction, please contact customer services.
Buyers' Obligations
ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.
If you have any questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest client services team.
From 28 June 2025, the import into the EU of non-EU property of a certain age (and in some categories above a certain value) is subject to additional requirements. Under the relevant EU Regulation, it is the Buyer's sole responsibility to assess whether any Lot meets the criteria for import into the EU. The refusal of any required Import Licence or Importer Statement, or any delay in obtaining such Licence or Statement shall not give rise to the rescission or cancellation of any Sale, nor allow any delay in making full payment for the Lot.
Buyers' Premium and Charges
For all Sales categories, buyer's premium excluding Cars, Motorbikes, Wine, Whisky and Coin & Medal sales, will be as follows:
Buyer's Premium Rates
28% on the first £40,000 of the hammer price;
27% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £40,000 up to and including £800,000;
21% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £800,000 up to and including £4,500,000;
and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4,500,000.
A 3rd party bidding platform fee of 4% of the Hammer Price for Buyers using the following bidding platforms will be added to the invoices of successful Buyers for auctions starting on or after 6th July 2024 – Invaluable; Live Auctioneers; The Saleroom; Lot-tissimo.
VAT at the current rate of 20% will be added to the Buyer's Premium and charges excluding Artists Resale Right.
Payment Notices
For payment information please refer to the sale catalog.
Shipping Notices
For information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licenses please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.

•	Exempt from VAT
	Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.

Muhammad bin Zahid al-Tastari (written as Tassari), Baz-nama, or Kitab al-Tadhkira fi 'ilm al-Bayzara, a treatise of falconry dedicated to Sultan Uways Mirza Mu'tamid al-Dawla, Governor of Fars, copied by Alireza al-Husaini al-Shirazi Qajar Persia, dated Rabi' al-Thani 1308/November-December 1890

Own a similar item?

Looking for a similar item?

Ask about this lot

Matthew Thomas