b-- Shamsah with Arabic prayer

a-- Shamsah with Arabic prayer

d-- Surah 2, al-Baqarah

c -- Surah 1, al-Fatihah

f-- Prayer in conclusion

e-- Prayer in conclusion

Front matter of a Persian Qur'an, c.1550 (all these images are clickable hyperlinks!)

Source: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1459745855
(downloaded Aug. 2001)

"Superb 16th-Century Koran Copied In Black, Blue
     & Gold With 8 Pages Of Full Illumination And
            With Floral Decoration On Every Page

Dimensions: 330 mm by 220 mm.
Pagination: 292 leaves.
Period: Circa AD 1550.
Medium: Polished, light buff, gold-sprinkled paper.
Binding: Fine 18th century brown leather binding with gilt stamped medallions and
corners. Red leather doublures with similar central gilt medallions and corner pieces.
Script: Black Arabic naskhi, blue Arabic muhaqqaq, gold Arabic muhaqqaq outlined in
black. All calligraphic styles, especially the gold muhaqqaq, are rendered with the
assured mastery of a first class calligrapher.

                               Illumination

1. The Quran has 8 pages of full illumination as follows:
a) Two opening pages containing two shamsas (little suns).
b) The first two suras of the Quran start on two pages of very fine and intricate
illumination.
c) At the end of the Quran, two pages of fine illuminations contain the prayers recited
upon the completion of a Quran reading. These are followed by two pages of
'falahname', divination text copied within panels of fine illumination.
2. Each page of the Quran has four oblong panels of scrolling leafy vine in colors and
gold.
3. Sura headings have beautifully decorated panels.
4. Numerous marginal devices mark the number of verses.

                               Provenance

This magnificent Quran was offered by the international auction company CHRISTIE'S
as lot no 87 in its Sale of Islamic, Indian, South-East Asian manuscripts, Miniatures and
Work of Art. The Auction was held in Christie's Great Rooms in London on 11 June
1986. To underline the importance of this Quran, Christie's devoted to it two full pages
in its catalogue, one page for the description and another for a large color picture
showing the superbly illuminated double folio containing the first two suras of the
koran.

Following is an image of Christie's description of my Quran in its catalogue for the
above-mentioned Sale (Dated 11 June 1986. Lot number 87, page number 57)."