A QAJAR ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT OF ZAD AL-MA'AD
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE EUROPEAN COLLECTOR
Iran, dated Shawwal 1253AH (1837)

Arabic and Persian manuscript on paper, 253ff. and three fly-leaves, each folio with 26ll., in Arabic black ink naskh and Persian red nasta’liq interlinear translations, the opening folio with gold and polychrome illuminations, the chapter headings illuminated, catchwords, in blue, gold, and red rulings and black outer rules, in a typically Qajar lacquered binding, each side of the exterior with a polychrome floral bloom against a black ground, within triple floral and geometric borders on red and black grounds, the interiors with narcissi and stylised flowers against a red ground, in brown calf spine, inscribed son of Mirza Mohammad Hassan, Mirza Mohammad Al-Mousavi Hosseini Alavi, dated Shawwal 1253AH, the text panel 18.5cm x 9.7cm, the folio 24.3cm x 14.7cm.

The Zad Al Ma’ad, a classic Shi'a prayer and reference book relating to specific acts and prayers appropriate to each month of the year, was originally written in 1695 by Mirza Mohammad Baqir Majlessi (1627-1698).