Month: November 2015

March 26, 2009

Persian Poetry Manuscript, illuminated for a wealthy Qajar Patron

Persian Poetry Manuscript, decorated for a wealthy Qajar Patron, Iran (Esfahān). Dated AH 1206/1792. FOLIO., 152 x 80 mm., text panel 120 x 55 mm. Four Colophons. A magnificent manuscript, each folio with very fine black shikasteh in clouds set against a gold ground, polychrome illuminated headpiece, 6 (SIX) exquisite full page miniatures of very high quality, minor repairs, a few panels separating from respective folios, overall in VERY GOOD condition. [$28,000]

One illumination depicts the famous story of Sheikh Sanan, who abandons the ascetic path because of his suddenly overwhelming love for a Christian woman, along with the accompanying verse by Vahshi Bafqi. [Ref: for Sheikh San’an paintings of the Qajar period see the article by Afsaneh Najmabadi in L. Diba, Royal Persian Paintings, The Qajar Epoch 1785-1925, New York, 1998, pp. 83-5.] Two of the colophons give the scribe’s name as as Ali Ashgar Hamadani. His recorded works are very rare; including a copy of the Kulliyat (poems) commissioned for Aqa Muhammad Khan for his nephew Baba Khan, the future FatH ‘Ali Shah. Also, see the “interlinear Persian translation in nasta’liq is ‘Ali Ashgar al-Mutarjim (the translator), son of the deceased Hajji Muhammad al-Hamadani.” in the Qur’an, Isfahan Christies Islamic art and manuscripts 10 October 2000, lot 20: realized price £32,900

posted in: Rare Books

March 26, 2009

ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM FROM THE SCHOOL OF MINOR ILLUMINATORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE Bible of Borso d’Este


BEAUTIFUL ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM FROM THE SCHOOL OF MINOR ILLUMINATORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE Bible of Borso d’Este

BOOK OF HOURS, use of Rome, in Latin. ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM [northern Italy, Ferrara, c. 1460] . 95 x 72 mm. FIVE 3-5 LINE ILLUMINATED INITIALS with leafy ornaments and extensions and marginal decoration; ONE 7 line HISTORIATED INITIAL with border. The decoration of the historiated initial belongs to the school of minor illuminators associated with the production of the magnificent Bible of Borso d’Este (see deer with photo of the Bible of Borso d’Este below) , other ornament and extensions more likely attributable to Guglielmo Giraldi and his associates. Rubricated, numerous 1-2 line gold initials throughout. Bound in a later blindstamped French binding, textblock partly loose, lacking class, some leather loss to part of rear board., still an attractive binding. Condition: Calendar worn, some rubbing and thumbing as usual., ff. 68 with partial loss and initial cut; one initial more seriously rubbed.; otherwise condition as depicted in photos. Contents: Calendar ff.1-11; f.12 blank ruled; ff. 13-115 Office of the Virgin, use of Rome; ff. 116-145 Penitential Psalms and Litany; ff. 146- 193 Office of the Dead, use of Rome; ff. 194-199 Hours of the Cross; ff. 200-220 variants from the Office of the Virgin; f. 220-222 blank ruled.   [$37,000]

posted in: Rare Books

March 8, 2009

AN ORIGINAL FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE OF FRANKLIN’S PERSONAL FAVORITE FROM HIS PRESS

“THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THE PRINTING ART IN COLONIAL AMERICA”- a copy in a contemporary binding

[FRANKLIN, Benjamin, printer (1706 -1790)]. CICERO, Marcus Tullius (106-43 B.C.). M.T. Cicero’s Cato Major, or his Discourse of Old-Age: with explanatory notes. Translated by James Logan (1674-1751). Philadelphia: Printed and sold by Benjamin Franklin, 1744. viii, 159 p. ; 21 cm. (4to) Translated & annotated by James Logan. VERY RARE FIRST STATE of two states of gathering D noted by Miller with the word “only” on p. 27, line 5, misspelled “ony.” COMPLETE. Rare in CONTEMPORARY BLIND-STAMPED PENNSYLVANIA BINDING. Slight separation to lower front board, front blank flyleaf detached but present, leaf v/vi with some loss to upper margin not touching text, smaller lower marginal loss to 21, some corner bumping, usual stains and spotting. Overall, a Very Good unrestored and unsophisticated copy. Contemporary ownership inscription of James Alinby, 1751 with sketches of Union Jack and chicken. Early manuscript Pennsylvania promissory note to rear flyleaf for the sum of eight pounds Pennsylvania currency from James Forrest to Robt. Spencer. Other fascinating historical tidbits include an annotation to flyleaf that Benjamin Condy (c. 1735-1798), the famed nautical mathematical instrument maker of Philadelphia “drowned this man [likely, James Alinby]” Most importantly, from the standpoint of publishing historians, is the rare and important annotation of the original price paid in 1751 for the book in colonial currency “3/9” (3 shillings, nine pence). Modern Provenance: The book comes with colorful provenance- photocopies of the newspaper articles describing how it was found for 5 cents and valued at $2000 in 1949!        [$14,000]

“Only once did [Franklin] publish an original, full-sized book at his own expense, James Logan’s translation of Cicero’s Cato Major. He printed it in large type on creamy paper to flatter the Quaker grandee and to show off his own prowess as a printer” (Benjamin Franklin In Search of a Better World, p. 79)
“The Library of Congress calls this “A Masterwork of Printing…Franklin’s personal favorite from his press, is considered to be the finest example of the printing art in colonial America. Furthermore, this work by the Roman philosopher statesman Cicero is the first classic work translated and printed in North America.” [Ref: Library of Congress Exhibit]

Bibliography Ref: Miller, C. William BENJAMIN FRANKLIN’S PHILADELPHIAPRINTING, 1728-1766 A DESCRIPTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY American Philosophical Society Philadelphia 1974 4to., cloth, dust jacket. xc, 583 pages.

posted in: Rare Books

March 1, 2009

Rackham’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”

This classic image, from the Golden Age of Children’s Illustration, is taken from a limited edition (1 of 550) 1907 copy of Rackham’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Its complex, beautiful, and sinuous execution gives it a worthy place on this blog, but it is also quite apropos to post a work that is a fair metaphor of our current economy. The past decade has truly been a period Alice-in-Wonderland accounting and regulation. It is interesting to note that Rackham only seriously pursued an artistic career after working as a statistician in an insurance company – a 19th century ‘financial engineer’. Perhaps that can be a small inspiration for the newly unemployed looking for a career change. One small difference, of course, was that Rackham never racked up huge bonuses in the insurance business during his employment but had to be settle for a “meager income.”

posted in: Rare Books