AN ILLUMINATED QUR'AN JUZ' WITH ORIGINAL SIGNED BINDING, EGYPT, MAMLUK, 14TH CENTURY |

text: surah al-Mulk (LXVII), v.28 to surah al-Qalam (LXVIII), v.52; surah al-Haqqah (LXIX), vv.20-35; surah al-Ma'raji (LXX), vv.13-29; surah Nuh (LXXI), vv.1-28; surah al-Jin (LXXII), vv.1-8, vv.23-28; surah al-Muzzammil (LXXIII), vv.1-20; surah al-Muddaththir (LXXIV), vv.1-28); surah al-Qiyamah (LXXV), vv.12-31; surah al-Insan (LXXVI), vv.2-24; surah al-Mursalat (LXXVII), vv.17-33, 47-50.Arabic manuscript on paper, 21 leaves, loose in binding, 5 lines to the page written in black naskh script, verses separated by polychrome and gold rosettes, margins with gold and polychrome verse markers, 4 surah headings in gold muhaqqaq against scrolls decorated with blue and red half-palmettes, in brown Mamluk stamped and tooled binding with a central roundel with geometrical design, the upper and lower corners signed 'amal Tabrizi/Nayrizi

In reasonably good condition, the pages loose, stains and minor rubbing, 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."

Signed medieval bindings are rare. Bosch, Carswell and Petherbridge list nine bindings bearing an inscription within roundels, seven of which record the name of the maker (nos.2, 10, 31, 33, 35, 36, 41 have a round cartouche, no.30 has a square one, in Bosch 1981). The nisba Tabrizi or Nayrizi suggests that the binder was a Persian emigree working in the Mamluk empire which was not uncommon in the fourteenth century (for a very close comparable see no.33 in Bosch 1981). Another juz’, part of the same Qur’an and with a binding signed in the same fashion, was sold in these rooms, 14 October 1999, lot 11.