Kunuz al-anam fi ad'iyyah al-ayyam, signed by Pir Yahya Sufi, Turkey, Ottoman, mid-15th century

Arabic manuscript on paper, 17 leaves, plus 4 flyleaves, 5 lines to the page, written in neat naskh script in black ink, titles in gold thuluth script against a hatched ground, opening page with text written against a ground decorated with scrolling split-palmettes and cintamani motifs, set into later 16th-century Ottoman outer margins filled with monumental stencilled interlacing split-palmettes outlined in gold and silver on grounds of various colours, Mamluk brown leather binding with tooled geometric roundels, pressure-moulded doublures, with flap  

In reasonably good overall condition, binding worn with associated repair, final folio with significant old paper repairs to lower half of page, other repairs to leaf edges, occasional stains, ink generally bold, 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."

Pir Yahya Sufi (d.1477) is often known as Edirneli Yahya Sufi after his birthplace, and lived during the period of Mehmet the Conqueror (r.1444-46/1451-81).

The borders of this manuscript strongly recall those of a Qasida al-Burda copied by Muhiddin al-Amasi sold in these Rooms, 3 October 2012, lot 56. The monumental interlacing split-palmettes can be compared with other related flamboyant marginal decoration in Ottoman manuscripts of the sixteenth century (see Petsopoulos 1982, pp.186-204.