Iskandarnama (Book of Alexander) by Nizami (d. 1209)

Book: Iskandarnama by Nizami (d. 1209); lithography with illustrations; Persian in black nasta’liq script; 371 folios with 10 sarlawhs (fols. 1 verso, 45 recto, 45 verso, 180 verso, 228 verso, 229 recto, 292 verso, 293 recto,332 verso, 333 recto); 158 illustrations, 7 colophons (fols. 43 recto, 107 verso, 179 verso, 227 verso, 291 verso, 331 recto, 371 recto), 6 preface (fols. 44,108,180,228,292,332 rectos), inscription (folio 1 recto); standard page: 1 column, 39 lines.
Binding: The manuscript is bound in leather over paper pasteboards with doublures of marbled paper.

Maker(s)
Artist: Mirza Hasan Isfahani Sayyid Mirza Naqqash Sayfullah Khansari
Historical period(s)
Qajar period, ca.1857
Medium
Ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 36.7 x 23.7 cm (14 7/16 x 9 5/16 in)
Geography
Iran, Tehran
Credit Line
Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Accession Number
S1986.63
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Manuscript, Print
Type

Manuscript

Keywords
battle, elephant, epic, Henri Vever collection, Iran, nasta'liq script, Qajar period (1779 - 1925), rhinoceros, shah
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Book: Iskandarnama by Nizami (d. 1209); lithography with illustrations; Persian in black nasta'liq script; 371 folios with 10 sarlawhs (fols. 1 verso, 45 recto, 45 verso, 180 verso, 228 verso, 229 recto, 292 verso, 293 recto,332 verso, 333 recto); 158 illustrations, 7 colophons (fols. 43 recto, 107 verso, 179 verso, 227 verso, 291 verso, 331 recto, 371 recto), 6 preface (fols. 44,108,180,228,292,332 rectos), inscription (folio 1 recto); standard page: 1 column, 39 lines.
Binding: The manuscript is bound in leather over paper pasteboards with doublures of marbled paper.

Inscription(s)

Folio 1 recto: "First volume of the book; in the name of God the compassionate, the manuscript was finished at the time of His Highness, the sultan son of the sultan and the khaqan son of the khaqan Nasir al-Din Shah Qajar, may God perpetuate his kingdom. Iskandarnama."

Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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