Divan of ghazals,

In a fine safavid binding with doubleurs decorated in silk. A fine and attractive volume containing excerpts of poetry from revered Sufi poets including Sa'di, Rumi and Hafez, present here in an exceptional sixteenth-century Persian binding.

The present volume contains excerpts from the ghazals of the following poets: Sa'di Shirazi (d. 1292), Jalal al-Din Rumi (d. 1273), Qasim'i Anvar (d. 1433), Hafez Shirazi (d. 1390), Homayoon (unidentified, possibly reference to the Mughal Emperor that was exiled to Safavid Persia and spent time in the Safavid courts from 1544-45), Amir Muhammad Saleh (unidentified) and Halali (possibly Malana Halali Chagatai). A ghazal is a lyrical form of Persian poetry that is amorous and often illusive in nature, forming expressions on themes of love and loss which are also strong themes in Sufi poetry.

Single volume, illuminated manuscript on fine polished paper, in Farsi, 121 leaves, 250 x 165 mm; double column, 15 lines fine black nasta'liq script, headings in gold or blue throughout, illuminated polychrome headpiece opening the text, richly decorated in gold and lapis, with 7 additional illuminated banners in the text (each of these opening the ghazals of a new poet), remains of silk markers to outer edges of each section, catch-words throughout, leaves ruled in gilt, orange and blue throughout, a few small smudges, outer margin of first leaf repaired (not affecting text), overall very bright and attractive condition internally; housed in a fine contemporary hand-painted black leather binding with flap, painted in gilt with spiralling floral motif, with sunken central medallions and corner-pieces decorated with gilt filigree details, ruled in gilt, with very fine tan leather doubleurs, central medallions and corner-pieces with delicate incised leather filigree work over navy and green silk backdrops, spine and flap rebacked and edges repaired, overall fine and very attractive binding.