Large Persian manuscript on paper. 723 leaves plus 2 fly-leaves, 22 lines to the page text arranged in 4 columns, written in nasta’liq script in black ink, titles in white script against a gold ground. One frontispiece on folio 1. Folio 101a, trimmed, mentions the end of the book of Sohrab. Another frontispiece has been added on the upper part of folio 101b, mentioning an introduction to the Shahnama whereas the text below is that of the Barzounama. The manuscript includes 20 paintings, mainly in the Shiraz style with some stylistic elements in the Qazwin style. The manuscript originally had 30 paintings. The colophon with the apocryphal date AH 900/AD 1494-95 (possibly 990H./1582-83?).

Stamp of the Qajar owner « Vali ». Stamp of the Iranian Customs dated in Solar Hijra 1306/AD 1928.

Gilt-stamped Safavid binding with fine polychrome and red leather inside flap. In a later leather box.

Dimension page: 37.5 x 25 cm; Thickness manuscript: 9.5 cm; Text panel: 23 x 13.5 cm; Box: 39 x 27 x 10 cm; Weight: 5.200 kg

Provenance: E. Sassoon, 22 rue Drouot, Paris, circa 1930

This illuminated manuscript contains 20 illustrations as follows:

Fol. 14a: Fariydun takes Zahhak prisoner; Fol. 47b: Rostam fights the white elephant; Fol. 63b: Rostam fights Afrasiyab; Fol. 73b: Rostam fights the white Div in front of Awlad prisoner; Fol. 98b: Rostam and Sohrab; Fol. 155a: Siyavash decapitating the enemy in battle; Fol. 189b: Forud fights Giv; Fol. 239a: The combat of Rostam and Puladvand; Fol. 242a: The Div Akvan throws Rostam into the sea; Fol. 260b: Rostam fights the black div; Fol. 291b: Gudarz fights Piran; Fol. 308b: Kay Khusraw slays Shideh; Fol. 334a: The death of Afrasiyab; Fol. 386b: Esfandiyar slaying two wolves; Fol. 429b: Rostam and Esfandiyar; Fol. 439a: Rostam and Rakhsh fall into the pit laid by Shaghad; Fol. 597a: The army of Khosraw Anushirvan storms a Byzantine fortress; Fol. 656b: Hormozd sends a distaff to the disgraced Bahram Chubineh; Fol. 708b: Khosrow killed by Mehr Hormozd on the order of his son; Fol. 716a: The Sassanid general Rostam fights Sa’d.

Sold for 150,000 € at auction in Cherbourg on Sunday 1^st August 2021 (Boscher Enchères auctioneer, Laure Soustiel expert)