A lithograph copy of Firdausi's Shahnama, with 57 coloured illustrations, copied by two scribes,'Abd al-Karim bin Muhammad Ibrahim al-Tabataba'i al-Isfahani al-Ardestani, and Mirza Muhammad son of Aqa Mirza 'Abdullah, known as Tabib (physician), pen-named Shahid Shirazi

printed in Bombay, in the workshop of Aqa Mirza Muhammad Baqir Shirazi, commissioned by Aqa Muhammad Sadiq Shirazi, copied between Muharram 1274/September-October 1857 and Safar 1275/September-October 1858, printed in Muharram 1275/August-September 1858

Footnotes

For similar illustrated examples (though neither with coloured illustrations), see the sales in these rooms, Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 26th October 2020, lot 18, and 30th March 2021, lot 15.

Other works by the two scribes are recorded: two by 'Abd al-Karim al-Tabataba'i, dated AH 1269/AD 1852-53 and AH 1265/AD 1848-49 (see M. Bayani, vol. 3, pp. 412-13); and a lithographed copy of Rudat al-Safa, printed in Bombay in AH 1271/AD 1854-55 by Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah Shirazi (Bayani, vol. 4, p. 786).

The opening full-page lobed cartouches state that this lithographed copy of the Shahnama was commissioned by Aqa Muhammad Sadiq Shirazi. From the beginning to the end of part two were copied by 'Abd al-Karim bin Muhammad Ibrahim al-Tabataba'i al-Isfahani al-Ardestani, and it was printed in the workshop of Aqa Mirza Muhammad Baqir Shirazi in the Port of Bombai in Muharram 1275/August-September 1858.

The prose text of the preface is on the compilation, correction and edited version produced from studying 17 copies, which had been done earlier, but had it not been for Nasir al-Din Haydar, King of Oudh (Awadh), this would have not been achieved at all. The copies used were the corrected copy of Muhammad Sa'id Rampuri of the Calcutta edition of AH 1240/AD 1824-25, and later in 1829. The preface ends with the scribe's name 'Abd al-Karim al-Tabataba'i al-Isfahani al-Ardestani, and is dated AH 1275/AD 1858-59.

There is a section on the number of years each king ruled, arranged in panels. The colophon of the additions (mulhaqat) is dated the last day of Muharram 1274/20th September 1857.

There is also a section acting as dictionary for rare and difficult terms. This is followed by 14 couplets by the poet Muhsin, pen-named Ta'ib (unidentified), in praise of the patron Muhammad Sadiq, each couplet ending with the name Firdausi and ending with the completion date in abjad, AH 1275/AD 1858-59.

The final colophon says that it was commissioned by Aqa Muhammad Sadiq Shirazi with supervision by Haji Mirza Mutallib in the workshop of Aqa Mirza Muhammad Baqir and copied by Mirza Muhammad son of Aqa Mirza 'Abdullah known as Tabib (physician) and pen-named Shahid Shirazi in Safar 1275 (September-October 1858).

The full-page illustrations include Firdausi and the four court painters before Sultan Mahmud; and the Sasanian ruler Aushirvan enthroned.