AN ILLUMINATED QUR’AN, COPIED BY MEHMED BITARTARBAZARI, TURKEY, OTTOMAN, EARLY 19TH CENTURY |

Arabic manuscript on paper, 304 leaves plus 5 fly-leaves, 15 lines to the page, written in naskh script in black ink, ruled in gold, black and red, verses separated by gold and polychrome rosettes, gold and polychrome floral marginal markers, surah headings in white ink against a gold ground within polychrome cartouches, polychrome opening double page frontispiece finely decorated with interlacing scrolls in two gold tones, in fine Ottoman binding, with flap

In very good condition, the margins have been cropped and are clean, minor stains and smudges, 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."

The fine opening pages, illuminated with two tones of gold and very dense scrolls, recalls two Qur'ans dated to the beginning of the nineteenth century and published in Derman 2010, no.72 and 77. The binding, likely to be the original, is finely decorated with a gilt-stamped central almond-shaped panel decorated with chi-cloud motifs (category NA.5, see Déroche 2015, p.302).