A prayer book from the 1600's with a wonderful bismillah

Source: http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/search/LOTDETAIL.ASP?sid=&intObjectID=4483401&SE=CMWCAT03+850386+%2D1746010437+&QR=M+1+0+Aqc0000900+825140++Aqc0000900+&entry=india&SU=1&SN=7038&RQ=True&AN=174
(downloaded Apr. 2005)

"PRAYER BOOK, SAFAVID IRAN, 17TH CENTURY
Manuscript on paper, 211ff. each with 8ll. of Arabic in clear black naskh in clouds reserved on gold ground, with red Persian interlinear translation in red ta'liq, headings in gold thuluth over blue ground with gold scrolling arabesque, first page of text with unusual calligraphic bismillah and illuminated headpiece in gold, blue and colours, two more illuminated headpieces, all different, the name of the scribe given on f.3r. as 'Ala al-din Asat Muhammad Shafi' in illuminated panel, lacquer binding with naturalistic floral sprays within red borders with floral frieze, some pages loose otherwise in good condition. Folio 10¼ x 6¾in. (28.3 x 16.2cm.)

Lot Notes:  The first two pages of the manuscript, before the main text, are mid 19th century.

On the opening page there is note saying that this prayer book belongs to Ibrahim Khan Qajar Davallu who bought it in Shiraz for forty tumans through attestation by Mirza Kuchak Visal. The attestation by Vesal is written in the illuminated panel as 'It is [one] of the best hand writings of my master 'Ala' al-Din Tabrizi and is signed as Muhammad Shafi' [Vesal].

Ibrahim Khan Qajar Davallu was a army commander under Fath'ali Shah who quell the uprising of Ja'far Quli Khan in Khoy and then was appointed the Chief of the Army for 'Abbas Mirza in Azabaijan."