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381 leaves. Written in Naskh style with interlinear Persian translation in Shekasteh style. The text is hand-lettered in black ink each line enclosed with gilded borders and decorations. Persian translation written in red. The title and facing page, the two last pages, and two pages in the middle of the book are illuminated. The illuminated pages have geometric designs in bright orange, gold, light blue, and other colors. 9½x5½, period painted boards, the illustration (likely from Late Safavid or early Qajar Dynasties periods) includes roses in full bloom, and other smaller flowers set on a black background speckled with gold; both inside covers have a rose bush with numerous branches and flowers set within two gold speckled borders and a simple floral motif border.

An exceptional illuminated Koran from the 18th (or possibly very early 19th) century, in striking hand-painted floral binding. The calligraphy within is of superb quality, delicate yet sure in its execution, and the six illuminated pages are of marvelous intricacy. There are occasional incidents of tiny x's inked in the margins, perhaps indicating favorite passages, and a few cases of marginalia in Arabic script. Provenance: Florence S. Walter