A collection of prayers dedicated to Fath 'Ali Shah Qajar (r.1797-1834), signed by Muhammad 'Ali al-Tabrizi, Persia, dated 1220 AH/1806 AD

Arabic manuscript on paper, 32 leaves plus 2 flyleaves, 7 lines to the page, written in neat naskh script in black, Persian translation in red between the lines, catchwords, margins decorated with gold scrolling flowers, double page frontispiece in colours and gold, floral lacquer binding

"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."

The scribe Muhammad 'Ali al-Tabrizi is likely to be the father of the famous naskh calligrapher Muhammad Shafi’. The only other recorded work by him is a calligraphic page in the Gulistan Palace Library dated 1230 AH/1814 AD (M. Bayani, ahval va athar-e khush-navisan, vol.4, p.179). The unusually long dedication to Fath 'Ali Shah at the end of the manuscript praises his virtues and qualities, as follows:

“… the exalted follower of the Prophet and ‘Ali may God bless their souls, may God fulfill his wishes, the weakest of God’s servants (the calligrapher Muhammad ‘Ali al-Tabrizi), presents this collection of prayers to the threshold of his highness, whose banner is sun, respected by the whole world, high as stars, who writes like Mercury, who fights like Mars, fortunate as Jupiter, fearsome as Saturn, the prosperous, the providential, magnificent as Jamshid, heroic as Faraydun, Bahram-like, the object of favors of prosperity, the object of the lights of eternal felicity, the fresh breeze of the garden of royalty, the fresh blossom in the rose garden of happiness, the king with good fortune, the sultan of heavenly rule and celestial power, the collection of human virtues, the mirror of divine manifestations, the shadow of God on Earth, the sunrise of the morning of conquest, the provider of the light of victory, the caliph of Muslims, the embellisher of justice, the sun of the skies of kingship, the protector of the Muslim community, the carrier of the divine law, the just sultan and the omniscient ruler, the sultan son of the sultan Fath ‘Ali Shah Qajar.”