Fadl Allah al-'Ubaidi, Hashiyah 'ala mukhtasar al-talkhis lil hakim al-fadil Mahmud al-Jaghmini (a commentary on al-Mulakhas fi'l hay'a, a primer of astronomy by al-Jaghmini or al-Chaghmini), and Risalah mukhtasarah fi ma'rifat al-ab'ad wa'l-ajram (an abridged treatise on the measurement of distances and celestial bodies), copied by the author, Persia, Shirvan, dated 781 AH/1379 AD

Arabic manuscript on polished cream paper, 93 leaves plus 2 flyleaves, 15 lines to the page, written in naskh script in black ink, headings and keywords picked out in red and gold, folio 1b with a finely illuminated headpiece with Bismillah in eastern Kufic script against a blue ground filled with interlacing split-palmettes, text blocks ruled in gold, 43 astronomical diagrams in ink and gold, occasional catchwords, repaired contemporary brown leather binding with tooled medallions with central stellar motif, ropework border, marbled doublures, with flap

In good overall condition, opening and closing pages with some marginal paper repairs, otherwise generally clean, diagrams clear, occasional stains and smudges, binding repaired, some cracking to the leather, 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.
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The colophon of the present manuscript states that it was copied by Fadl Allah al-Ubaidi (the author) at the beginning of Sha’ban 781 AH/1379-80 AD. According to Arberry we do not have dates of birth and death for this author but we know that he flourished in the fourteenth century. Furthermore, the colophon states after his name, "may God realise his hopes…", which indicates that he was still alive at the time of writing. We can confidently conclude therefore, that the present work is an autograph copy written by the author in his lifetime.

The manuscript is dedicated to the Yazidi Shah, Hushang Ibn Kay Kawus, whose dynasty ruled from Shirvan (now part of the eastern Caucasus), with their original centre at Yazidiyya. His name appears in gold in the preface. The fact that the manuscript is a royal copy corresponds with the presence of a finely illuminated headpiece at the opening, and the careful inclusion of the astronomical diagrams executed in gold.

Another, slightly later, copy dated 820 AH/1417 AD is in the Chester Beatty Library, and Arberry states that no other copy appears to be recorded, making the present manuscript the earliest known copy (see A. Arberry, A Handlist of the Arabic Manuscripts, Dublin, 1964, volume VII, p.23, no.5070 (I)). No copies are recorded in Brockelmann.

A contemporary copy of the work for which the present manuscript is a commentary, al-Mulakhkhas fi'l Hay'a, by Mahmud Ibn Muhammad Ibn ‘Umar al-Jaghmini (or al-Chaghmini), is included in this sale as lot 24.