Illuminated Qur’an Egyptian manuscript on paper, reportedly written in Baġdād under Persian Safavid rule, 1515

Illuminated Arabic Egyptian manuscript on paper, reportedly written in Baġdād under Persian Safavid rule (which lasted from AD 1508 until 1534) and dated at the 12^th day of the month Rabīᶜ’l-Awwal AH 921 (= Monday, April 26^th, AD 1515). The most probable provenance of this manuscript is nevertheless Egyptian.

Leaf average dimensions: mm. 165 x 110; text panel measurements: mm. 115 x 75 ca. Text written in a black-inked nasḫ calligraphy on a 15-line single column; made up of 277 leaves, complete.

The decoration set consists of an illuminated double frontispiece in gold and colors (ᶜunwān). The text panel is framed by a triple inner fillet drawn in gold, black and blue, plus an outer one in azure. Surahs headings are drawn in red ink. Two leaves were added in a later moment, namely the 197 and 277, and embellished with architectonic drawings of Mecca and Medina, while a third one (202) shows a vignette and the name of Allah written in golden letters. The Arabic colophon has been erased. However, it is still possible to read on the margin a further rubricated Persian version.

Restored leather binding with dry tooled impressions. Some marginal restorations notwithstanding, this manuscript lies in very good conditions.