Forty prophetic hadith of the Prophet concerning the Imam 'Ali, copied by Salim al-Mashhadi, and dedicated to Shah Tahmasp
Safavid Persia, dated Ah 949/AD 1542-43
Persian and Arabic manuscript on pink paper, 10 leaves, 12 lines to the page written diagonally and horizontally in elegant nasta'liq script in black ink, Arabic text picked out in white and gold, inner margins ruled in blue and gold, cornerpieces and outer margins richly decorated with intertwining floral and vegetal motifs in gold, catchwords, fine illuminated headpiece in colours and gold, corners rather worn, faded, two later flyleaves sprinkled with silver, 17th/18th Century red morocco with stamped central medallions, cornerpieces and border panels decorated with cloudbands, serrated leaves on gold ground, with flap, rebacked, edges worn
220 x 157 mm.
