Shajarah-i ilāhīyah, [1066, i.e. 1655 or 1656].

Superb copy of the treatise on Shīʻī theology by Rafīʻ al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Ḥaydar al-Ḥusaynī al-Ṭabāṭabāʼī al-Nāʼinī (d.1670 or 73?), in an introduction (in two parts, faṣl-i avval, faṣl-i duvvum) and eight subjects (maṭlab) each in several faṣls.Origin: As appears in scribal colophon on p.115, copied ("nammaqahu") by Āqā Muḥammad al-Marāghī with transcription completed in 1066 [1655 or 6]. As appears in authorial colophon at close on p.115, composition completed 9 Rabīʻ II 1047 [ca. 31 August 1637].Accompanying materials: a. Scrap of paper with unsigned note "treatise of Shīah theology 1665 [sic]-1656 AD" -- b. Scrap of paper with note in French "Poésies a persan par Md Alauram [?] al Kateb 954 ... £ 900" (paginated pp.107-108).Former shelfmark: "394 T. D. M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" inscribed in pencil on verso of front flyleaf.Binding: Pasteboards covered in dark red-brown leather ; Type III binding (without flap) ; two-piece binding (overlapping flanges visible at spine) ; board linings and hinges in marbled paper (in mauve, orange, light blue, blue, etc.) ; upper and lower covers carry tooled and gold-painted guilloché roll border flanked by gold fillets as well as blind diagonal rules intersecting near center of panel ; sewn in red thread, two stations, failing, most gatherings loose ; worked chevron endbands in pink and light green, headband virtually gone, tailband damaged but in fair condition ; overall in good condition with only minor abrasion, lifting of leather at spine, negative draw in lower cover, etc. ; housed in box for protection.Support: non-European (likely Persian) laid paper with 9 laid lines per cm. (mainly vertical) and chain lines visible but indistinct, cloudy formation, beige in color, crisp, transluscent, and well-burnished.Decoration: Exquisite illuminated headpiece (ʻunwān / sarlawḥ) at opening on p.4, consisting of rectangular piece with gold cartouche carrying basmalah in white and elegant swirling vegetal design in gold, yellow, red, lavender, white, etc. on a field of lapis lazuli surmounted by scalloped semi-circular piece (dome) with flanking partial dome pieces filled with similar vegetal decoration on fields of gold, lapis lazuli, etc. ; rectangular piece is surrounded by rich border with bands of red and turquoise flanking a heavy band of gold interlace and entire piece is surmounted by vertical stalks (tīgh) in blue ; written area throughout surrounded by frame consisting of gold and turquoise bands with outermost blue fillet ; use of cloud-bands (in gold) throughout ; keywords in blue ink.Script: Nastaʻlīq ; bold, elegant hand ; serifless with characteristic descent of words to baseline and superscripting of words and letters at the end of each line ; pointing in distinct dots ; extension and exaggerated thickness of many horizontal strokes.Layout: Written in 15 lines per page, written area occasional divided to two columns to set-off poetry ; frame-ruled.Collation: i, IV-2 (6), 6 IV(54), I (56), i ; catchwords present ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during digitization (includes insert).Dedication: As appears in preface (dībāchah) on p.5-6, dedicated to Shāh Ṣafī I (r.1629–1642).Colophon: "Scribal," triangular, Arabic, reads: "نمقه العبد المذنب الراجى آقا محمد المراغى سنه ١۰۶۶"Incipit: "حمد بیحد و ثنای بیعد معبودی را سزد که بافاضۀ [به افاضه] انوار وجود مكتومات ظلمات عدم را بعرصۀ ظهور در آورده ..."Title from preface (dībāchah) on p.7.Ms. codex.Cat. Pers. Mss. Brit. Mus.,Superb copy of the treatise on Shīʻī theology by Rafīʻ al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Ḥaydar al-Ḥusaynī al-Ṭabāṭabāʼī al-Nāʼinī (d.1670 or 73?), in an introduction (in two parts, faṣl-i avval, faṣl-i duvvum) and eight subjects (maṭlab) each in several faṣls.Mode of access: Internet.Acquired by purchase (funds donated by Horace Rackham).Inscription in pencil on verso of front flyleaf "331 T. D. M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" ; traces of an oval seal impression and possibly an obliterated ownership statement on 'title page' (p.3) ; clean copy