Two fully polychrome gilt ornaments decorated in lapis lazuli, text in two columns in a fine nasta'liq script in black ink, within gilt rule borders, some pagess dusted with gold, a few leaves on tinted paper. 131 leaves. Complete. 1 vols. 8vo. Recent conservation binding to period style, Islamic wallet binding in full chestnut leather gilt, fore edge guard and boards with mandorlas in gilt and black, maroon gilt pastedowns and mandorlas semé in gilt, antique paper flyleaves with vase of flowers in découpage within gilt borders. Some traces of damp at outer edges, three leaves with paper repair in gutter; text clean and fresh. Fine copy.

Item #370564

A fine dated manuscript of the Diwan (or Collected Works) of Ottoman court poet Baki (Mahmud Abdulbaki, 1526-1600 C.E.), known as "Sultânü'ş-şuarâ" (Sultan of poets) in a “Golden Age” of Ottoman literature, Baki’s influence as a poet echoed down through the centuries. 
He was also a regular guest at the salons and private entertainments of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent (reigned 1520-1566) and a noted scholar and jurist who rose to become the Chief Magistrate of the European Provinces, the second highest canon law position in the Empire. 
The blank recto of the opening page bears 5 ownership inscriptions and 4 seals, one of which is in a wonderfully artistic nasta'liq script in red ink. One of these inscriptions and the seal indicate that it is a GIFT OF THE SULTAN.