27 - Orient - Al-An'am al-Sharif (The Noble Cattle). Arabic-Turkish manuscript on smoothed paper. Features a double header at the beginning, 42 prayer medallions in foliage frames, and 28 miniatures, all executed in colored pen and brushwork with gold; the script borders and verse separators are also in gold. Ottoman Empire, dated 1244 H. (1866 CE). 114 leaves, mostly 11 lines each, in black Nashki script with red highlights. 16.5 x 11.5 cm. Contemporary brown-red leather binding with a flap closure; cover with gold-embossed corner and center pieces (warped and scuffed, capital letters frayed, lower hinges of the front cover and flap broken, endpapers slightly water-stained and with silverfish damage).

Orient - Al-An'am al-Sharif (The Noble Cattle). Arabic-Turkish manuscript on smoothed paper. Features a double header at the beginning, 42 prayer medallions in foliage frames, and 28 miniatures, all executed in colored pen and brushwork with gold; the script borders and verse separators are also in gold. Ottoman Empire, dated 1244 H. (1866 CE). 114 leaves, mostly 11 lines each, in black Nashki script with red highlights. 16.5 x 11.5 cm. Contemporary brown-red leather binding with a flap closure; cover with gold-embossed corner and center pieces (warped and scuffed, capital letters frayed, lower hinges of the front cover and flap broken, endpapers slightly water-stained and with silverfish damage). A collection of Quranic surahs (first 53 leaves), prayer sequences, invocations, praises, and the names, characteristics, and attributes of the Prophet, etc., which has been popular in the Ottoman Empire since the late 18th century. As far as we can tell, the manuscript is unsigned. The double-page opening text (Sura 1, “al-Fatiha”) is adorned with two headpieces and an inner border in floral painting, enclosed by an additional frame line and foliage in gold. The medallions, written in a large script style, are also surrounded by foliage in blue or magenta. The miniatures depict, among other things, Mecca and Medina, flags, the Prophet’s garments and everyday objects, his rose, the Tuba tree, a seal, a set of scales, a battle axe, a lance, and talismans. - Wide margins; one leaf each at the beginning and end is almost loose; the first and last leaves have marginal defects; slightly worn and stained throughout; the gold leaf is partially oxidized to a greenish hue; some color abrasion in places; a few clumsy retouchings.