TWO QAJAR ALMANACS AND CALENDARS
Iran, second half 19th century

TWO QAJAR ALMANACS AND CALENDARS
Iran, second half 19th century

Arabic and Persian manuscripts on thin blue and cream paper, 15ff. and 13ff. respectively, each with a multitude of charts and numbers related to time-keeping and Persian calendars, the days of the week, the month, position of the moon, the sunrise and moonrise, and a note on auspicious activities of each day, the blue paper manuscript dated 1289 - 1290 AH (1872 - 1873 AD), covering 13 lunar months from Muharram 1289AH to the end of Muharram 1290AH, corresponding with the 148 Indian Mohammad Shahi calendar, the 794 Malekshahi calendar, and the year 2183 in the Alexandrine calendar, the text a combination of naskh script in the charts in red, blue and black ink and shekasteh nasta'liq in black ink at the top and sides against gold clouds ground, 17ll. to the page, within gold and black rules, the charts as before, the almanac spanning the entirety of a solar year, beginning with the Nourooz, corresponding with Jalali, Malekshahi, with specific reference to the Indian zij, Rumi Alexandrine, and 1864 French Christian year, based on the horizon of the capital city, Tehran, each month’s summary opening with joyous news of the King’s good health and fortune, denoting a possible court connection to this manuscript, the opening folio missing, the folio 21cm x 13cm; and the cream paper manuscript dated 1280 AH (1863 AD), similar to the previous almanac, the text in red, black and blue ink in free-flowing nasta'liq script, the folio 25cm x 16.5cm.

Dimensions: the largest 25cm x 16.5cm