AN ILLUMINATED QUR’AN, COPIED BY MAHMUD IBN 'ABD AL-QUDDUS, SAMARQAND, TIMURID, DATED 885 AH/1480 AD |

Arabic manuscript on paper, 301 leaves plus 2 fly-leaves, 14 lines to the page written in naskh in black ink, ruled in red, blue and gold, verses separated by gold pointed markers, surah headings in gold thuluth, remargined in Qajar period, gold and polychrome Qajar floral marginal verse and surah markers, extensive commentaries within gold and polychrome cartouches, illuminated double opening page partly re-illuminated during Qajar period, a further later bifolium with gold and polychrome floral margins, in floral lacquer binding

In good condition, minor smudges and stains, minor restorations, the binding with some losses and crackeleure, restored, 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 otherwise unrecorded Timurid scribe of this Qur’an is noteworthy for his fine naskh and balanced thuluth of the surah headings. He must still have been highly respected by the Qajar period, as this manuscript's margins were refurbished during that time. The new, clean margins were filled with commentaries enclosed by delicate cartouches and each page bears, at the top-outer corner, a red and gold medallion enclosing the name of the surah, an unusual and quite refined detail. An inscription at the beginning of the Qur'an, dated 5 Shawwal 1300 AH/9 August 1883 AD, states that Mustafa Quli Khan Saham al-Saltanah lawfully sold this Qur’an to his son Muhammad Hasan Khan for a thousand dinars.

Mustafa Quli Saham al-Saltanah is recorded as Mustafa Quli Khan ‘Arab-e ‘Ameri Saham al-Saltanah (d.1888), one of the chiefs of Ardistan and a governor of Yazd and Kashan.  He was a wealthy land-owner with a broad influence, and in charge of the army and cavaliers around Yazd, Kashan and Ardistan. For further information see M. Bamdad, Dictionary of National Biography of Iran, 1700-1960, vol.4, Tehran, 1966, p.117.