A firman of Nasir Al-Din Shah honouring Mirza 'Ali Ashgar Khan Amin Al-Sultan with a title, Dated Rabi' Al-Awwal A.H. 1307/October-November A.D. 1889

6 panels of nasta'liq text in black ink in a single column, text within cloud bands on a gold ground with a foliate motif in colours, interspersed with panels of a gold scrolling foliate motif, a wide panel of a scrolling floral design in colours and gold along the right hand side, a panel bearing a seal stamp within a polygonal cartouche framed by 2 lobed medallions on a gold floral ground at the top, on paper, framed

some creasing, minor losses to the extremities, slight smudge to text in the cloud bands at the top of the piece, ink strong, overall good condition, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This firman records the bestowing of the title altesse by Nasir al-Din Shah on Mirza 'Ali Asghar Khan Amin al-Sultan, as well as the Order of the Imperial Effigy, as a tribute to Mirza 'Ali Asghar's services to the Persian state during the king's absence in Europe when he visited Britain, the Netherlands, France and Germany.

The Order of the Imperial Effigy was founded by Fath 'Ali Shah in around 1801 in response to increased western contact, although earlier versions of the same decoration are knows as turban badges.  Under the statutes of 1848 the one time turban badge became superior class of the Order of the Lion and Sun or the Order of Humayun in Farsi.  L.J. Trost in this "Die Verdinst-Ordern Ehren Zeichen und Mewdaillen aller Souveräne and Staaten" mentions that the Imperial Effigy can be worn from the neck in three classes: First Agdas, Second Guds and Third Muqaddas.  In the statutes of 1848 jewelled decorations were replaced by silver facetted stars, although the Imperial Effigy was an exception as "The Decoration of the Imperial Effigy alone is exempted from this rule, because of the respect due to the portrait of His Majesty, which demands that it should be surrounded by jewels."