Mughal Manuscripts

Exquisite pages from an illustrated manuscript from Mughal India, showcasing gold ink text crafted for a royal figure.

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Qisas al-Anbiyâ, fol. 81v., 1580 ., Qazvin

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.). The book of the Tuti-nama from which this page comes consists of 341 folios, or 682 pages. The 52 tales told by the parrot Tuti to his mistress Khujasta and the overarching frame story about Khujasta herself are all written in Persian. Here the form of the script is called naskh and is read from right to left. The word in blue means cut,” which indicates that the prose narrative will cut to a poetic verse. The Tuti-nama was written in 1329-30 by a Persian-speaking Sufi scholar and author from Central Asia. He based it on an earlier Persian work that recast a collection of Sanskrit fables from ancient India and other Persian tales. The blending of cultures and ethnicities long pre-dated the Mughals in India.

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Tasrîh-i Mansûrî, fol. 22v, 1675, (Questionable), Persia, Manuscripts, Persian, Anatomy, Early works to 1800

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

The Battle Ibrahim, Detached Leaf from the Epic of The Twelve Uprisings The Battle Ibrahim, Detached Leaf from the Epic of The Twelve Uprisings, 19th century. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper, 9 1/2 x 5 3/4 in. Asian Art 19th century

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Double Page with Illustration from Shah-Namah Double Page with Illustration from Shah-Namah, late 17th century. Ink, gouache colors on parchment paper Arts of the Islamic World late 17th century

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Qisas al-Anbiyâ, fol. 79v, 1580, Qazvin

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

A magical hare is presented to Iskandar (Alexander the Great) by the inhabitants of Jazîrat al-Tannîn in gratitude for his killing the dragon, f. 82v. 1540 - 1545. Qazwīnī, Zakarīyā ibn Muammad, approximately 1203-1283. text. Illuminations, Manuscripts, Miniatures (Illuminations). Spencer Collection. Mountains, Birds, Animals, Manuscripts, Persian

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Three men regard a stone-relief carving of a seated man, f. 234. 1540 - 1545. Qazwīnī, Zakarīyā ibn Muammad, approximately 1203-1283. text. Illuminations, Manuscripts, Miniatures (Illuminations). Spencer Collection. Mountains, Birds, Animals, Manuscripts, Persian

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Qisas al-Anbiyâ, fol. 120v, 1580, Qazvin

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Qisas al-Anbiyâ, fol. 95, 1580, Qazvin

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Text Page, Persian Prose (recto) from Nuzhat Nama-yi Ala'i (Excellent Book of Counsel) of Shah Mardan Ibn Abi al-Khayr, 1400s. Iran, Timurid Period, 15th century. Ink and opaque watercolor on paper; overall: 24.8 x 15.8 cm (9 3/4 x 6 1/4 in.); text area: 18.7 x 11 cm (7 3/8 x 4 5/16 in.).

Spanish flies (zarîh) Misspelled , darûj, f. 315v. 1540 - 1545. Qazwīnī, Zakarīyā ibn Muammad, approximately 1203-1283. text. Illuminations, Manuscripts, Miniatures (Illuminations). Spencer Collection. Mountains, Birds, Animals, Manuscripts, Persian

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Qisas al-Anbiyâ, fol. 118v, 1580, Qazvin

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Folios from an Illustrated Manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi Folios from an Illustrated Manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi, late 17th century. Ink, opaque watercolor on paper, Text: 10 5/8 x 5 7/8 in. (27 x 15 cm). Arts of the Islamic World late 17th century

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20 x 14.4 cm (7 7/8 x 5 11/16 in.); text field: 16.3 x 10.7 cm (6 7/16 x 4 3/16 in.).

Folio B: Folio from the "Five Treasures" (Panj Ganj) of Jami (recto), 1520-1607. Mushfiq (Indian), and others (Indian). Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper, double-sided with text on verso; page: 30.2 x 18.1 cm (11 7/8 x 7 1/8 in.). This page contains two different texts, one written diagonally in the border and the other in the two central columns. The section of poetry in the border describes an episode from Josephs childhood in which his older brothers suggest to Jacob, their father, that they take Joseph into the countryside so that the boy can learn the area, although they actually plan to kill him. The poem in the central columns advises the reader to smile often, as a smile is sweeter and more pleasing than sugar.

"Benefits of the Parts of Vultures" (From the Manafi' al-Haywan of Abu Sai'd Ubayd-Allay Ibn Bakhtishu), late 1200s. Iran, Marageh, Mongol Period (Ilkhanid), late 13th Century. Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper;

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20 x 14.4 cm (7 7/8 x 5 11/16 in.); text field: 16.5 x 10.6 cm (6 1/2 x 4 3/16 in.).

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20 x 14.5 cm (7 7/8 x 5 11/16 in.); text field: 16.5 x 10.5 cm (6 1/2 x 4 1/8 in.).

Qisas al-Anbiyâ, fol. 60, 1580, Qazvin

Qisas al-Anbiyâ, fol. 23. 1577. text. Manuscripts. Spencer Collection

Folio from a Qur'an Manuscript 14th century This Quran which probably belongs to fourteenth century Iran is written in muhaqqaq script. Each folio has seven lines with interlinear Persian translation in naskhi script. The verses 86-89 from Surah al-Araf (chapter 7) have an ornamental medallion on the left- hand side of the recto marking the end of section (juz) 11.. Folio from a Qur'an Manuscript 458439

The opening of an Arabic essay on the use of the toothbrush (siwak) written by Muammad al-qkirmn in the mid-18th century. No other copy is recorded. The copy is undated, probably 18th century.

Qisas al-Anbiyâ, fol. 104v, 1580, Qazvin

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