Manuscripts in Thuluth Script 84 items

Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 440

Origin: Dates in dated pieces range from 1006 [1597 or 8] to 1252 [1843 or 4]. Some pieces possibly earlier. Binding late 19th or early 20th century, likely produced in Yıldız Palace workshop and certainly not earlier than 1882 when the arma was finalized by Sultan Abdülhamit II.

Former shelfmark: "208" inscribed in pencil on opening panel.

Binding: Heavy boards covered in red leather ; Western style binding ; interior of boards (and facing panels) lined with white, textured paper (satin-like pattern) ; upper and lower covers carry central panel gold-stamped with the Ottoman arms (upper cover) or crescent and star (lower cover) at center, outlined in gold-tooled stars and bordered in gold-stamped (with olive green leather onlays) decorative panels in vegetal designs with crescents gold-stamped on olive green leather onlays at the four corners ; board edges heavily beveled and gold-tooled ; edges of panels gold-painted ; sewn in heavy pink cord ; overall in fairly good condition with minor abrasion, lifting and losses of onlays, etc.

Support: Calligraphic pieces on assorted laid papers, well-burnished ; some decorative papers, tinted, marbled or silhouette ; each mounted in heavy pasteboards (panels) covered in dark green coated and textured paper (resembling reptile hide) with edges gold-painted.

Decoration: Varies by piece ; use of gold and colored pigments in frames, decorative borders, textual dividers and accents (mainly rosettes).

Script: Naskh (nesih), thuluth (sülüs), tawqīʻ (tevki'), and nastaʻlīq (talik), varying by piece ; superb Ottoman and Persian calligraphic hands.

Layout: Varies greatly by piece.

Collation: Twenty-one heavy panels (pasteboards) attached via red cloth stubs (supported by further board).

Title from upper cover.

Ms. codex.

42. fol.21b : [blank].

41. fol.21a : piece in divani signed by the calligrapher Mehmet Recai (كتبه الحاج محمد رجائى رئيس الكتاب سابقا) and dated 1186 [1772 or 3].

40. fol.20b : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

39. fol.20a : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated (with area left unfilled, perhaps for colophon or icazet text).

38. fol.19b : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

37. fol.19a : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

36. fol.18b : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

35. fol.18a : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

34. fol.17b : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Ḥusayn ʻAlī (العبد حسين على كاتب) and undated (set in a border of silhouette paper with floral motifs).

33. fol.17a : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Ḥusayn ʻAlī (العبد حسين على كاتب) and undated (set in a border of silhouette paper with animal motifs).

32. fol.16b : unsigned piece in nastaʻlīq, undated (set in border of silhouette paper with bird motifs).

31. fol.16a : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Aḥmad al-Ḥusaynī (كتبه المذنب احمد الحسينى) and undated (set in border of silhouette paper with bird motifs).

30. fol.15b : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

29. fol.15a : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) signed by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) (الفقير محمد اسعد اليسارى) and undated.

28. fol.14b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Hafız Ahmet (مشقه المذنب الخاظئ السيد حافظ احمد المعروف بتوفيقى) and dated 1196 [1781 or 2].

27. fol.14a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher “جزائري” and dated 1107 [1692 or 3].

26. fol.13b : unsigned piece in naskh, undated.

25. fol.13a : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh (opening of müfredat exercises), undated.

24. fol.12b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) signed by the calligrapher Mehmet Kasim (محمد قاسم) and undated.

23. fol.12a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Mehmet Şevki Efendi (d.1887) (كتبه العبد الضعيف السيد محمد شوقى) and undated.

22. fol.11b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher İmamzade [possibly Eğrikapılı Mehmet Râsim Efendi (d.1756) who early in his career signed İmamzade] (كتبه امام زاده) and undated.

21. fol.11a : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated (likely accompanying piece on fol.11b).

20. fol.10b : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

19. fol.10a : unsigned piece in nastaʻlīq, undated (set in border of silhouette paper with floral motifs).

18. fol.9b : unsigned piece in nastaʻlīq, undated (set in border of silhouette paper with floral motifs).

17. fol.9a : unsigned piece in nastaʻlīq, undated (set in border of silhouette paper with dragon motifs).

16. fol.8b : piece in thuluth and naskh approaching tawqīʻ signed by the calligrapher Hafız Osman Efendi (d.1698) (مشقه الفقير عثمان المشتهر بحافظ القرآن) and dated 1098 [1686 or 7].

15. fol.8a : unsigned piece in naskh, undated.

14. fol.7b : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Muhammad (محمد) and undated.

13. fol.7a : piece in thuluth and signed by the calligrapher Afif (كتبه عفيف) [possibly İbrahim Afif, d.1767] and undated.

12. fol.6b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Salıh Namık [?] (سوده صالح نامق) and undated.

11. fol.6a : piece in thuluth and naskh with icazetname signed by the calligrapher Şekerzade Mehmet Efendi (d.1753) authorizing the student who executed the piece (اجزت لصاحب هذه القطعة الشريفة وضع الكتبة فما كتبه وانا الفقير السيد محمد المعروف بشكر زاده) and dated 1155 [1742 or 3].

10. fol.5b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Hafız Ahmet (حرره السيد حافظ احمد) and dated 1197 [1782 or 3].

9. fol.5a : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

8. fol.4b : unsigned frontispiece with excerpt (اول از بالای کرسی بر زمین آمد سخن او دگر ...) in thuluth at center of shamsah, undated.

7. fol.4a : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

6. fol.3b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) signed by the calligrapher Ahmet Çelebi (احمد چلبی) dated 1006 [1597 or 8].

5. fol.3a : unsigned composite piece in nastaʻlīq of different sizes, undated.

4. fol.2b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Mahmut Celalettin (Mahmud Celaleddin Efendi d.1829, نمقه الفقير محمود المعروف بجلال الدين) and undated.

3. fol.2a : piece in naskh and thuluth signed by the calligrapher Mehmet Şefik Bey (d.1879) (كتبه محمد شفيق عن خلفا الحاج مصطفى عزت) and signed 1259 [1843 or 4], executed in imitation of a piece by Kazasker (Kadıasker) Mustafa İzzet Efendi.

2. fol.1b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) signed by the calligrapher Mehmet Zeynelâbidin Haşimi (حرره المذنب محمد زين العابدين الهاشمى) and undated.

1. fol.1a : [blank].

Exquisite album of assorted calligraphic specimens (40 kıt'alar / pieces), likely assembled and bound for Sultan Abdülhamit II (r.1876-1909). Contents briefly addressed by Muhittin Serin in "Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’ndeki Bazı Kütüphanelerde Bulunan İslam El Yazma Eserleri ve Michigan Üniversitesi II. Abdülhamid Koleksiyonu." Contributions to the cataloguing from Marion Frenger, Mamoun Sakkal, and Irvin Schick.

Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 439

Origin: Dates in dated pieces range from 1009 [1600 or 1] to 1211 [1796 or 7]. Some pieces possibly earlier. Binding late 19th or early 20th century, likely produced in Yıldız Palace workshop and certainly not earlier than 1882 when the arma was finalized by Sultan Abdülhamit II.

Former shelfmark: "211" inscribed in pencil on opening panel.

Binding: Heavy boards covered in red leather ; Western style binding ; interior of boards (and facing panels) lined with white, textured paper (satin-like pattern) ; upper and lower covers carry central panel with the Ottoman arms (upper cover) or crescent and star (lower cover) gold-stamped on bright green satin, outlined in gold-tooled stars and bordered in gold-stamped (with dark green leather onlays) cartouches with crescent and star accents ; board edges heavily beveled and gold-tooled ; edges of panels gold-painted ; sewn in heavy pink cord ; overall in fairly good condition with minor abrasion, lifting and losses of onlays, etc.

Support: Calligraphic pieces on assorted laid papers, well-burnished ; some decorative papers, tinted or marbled ; each mounted in heavy pasteboards (panels) covered in dark green coated and textured paper with edges gold-painted.

Decoration: Varies by piece ; use of gold and colored pigments in frames, decorative borders, textual dividers and accents (mainly rosettes).

Script: Naskh (nesih), thuluth (sülüs) and nastaʻlīq (talik), varying by piece ; superb Ottoman and Persian calligraphic hands.

Layout: Varies greatly by piece.

Collation: 19 heavy panels (pasteboards) attached via red cloth stubs (supported by further board).

Title from upper cover.

Ms. codex.

38. fol.19b : [blank].

37. fol.19a : unsigned piece in nastaliq, undated.

36. fol.18b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher İsmail Zühtü (İsmail Zühdi d.1806, نمقه الفقير اسمعيل الزهدى) and undated.

35. fol.18a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher İbrahim Afif (d.1767) (سوده ابراهيم عفيف) and undated.

34. fol.17b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) signed by the calligrapher Şeyhülislam Veliüddin Efendi (d.1768) (العبد الداعى ولى الدين المفتش باوقاف الحرمين) and dated 1142 [1729 or 30].

33. fol.17a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Usturacızade Mehmet Şehri (d.1740) (سوده الفقير محمد المعروف بشهرى) and undated.

32. fol.16b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher İsmail Zühtü (İsmail Zühdi d.1806, كتبه العبد الضعيف اسمعيل الزهدى) and undated.

31. fol.16a : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

30. fol.15b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) signed by the calligrapher Şeyhizade Mehmet Şihabuddin (الفقير حرقه شريفه شيخى زاده السيد محمد شهاب الدين) dated 1211 [1796 or 7].

29. fol.15a : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

28. fol.14b : piece in nastaʻlīq signed “بنده درگاه صفی” and dated 1182 [1768 or 9].

27. fol.14a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Hüseyin Hamid (d. after 1787) (كتبه العبد الضعيف السيد حسين الحامد) and dated 1181 [1767 or 8].

26. fol.13b : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Sulṭān Ḥusayn (نمقه سلطان حسين) and undated.

25. fol.13a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Hafız Yusuf Efendi (d.1787) (كتبها عبد مذنب لا طاعة له يوسف المعروف بحافظ القرآن) and undated.

24. fol.12b : unsigned piece in nastaʻlīq (talik), undated.

23. fol.12a : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

22. fol.11b : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

21. fol.11a : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Mīr ʻImād al-Ḥasanī (d.1615) (الفقير الحقير المذنب عماد الحسنى) and dated 1009 [1600 or 1].

20. fol.10b : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Muḥammad ʻAlī (الفقير محمد على) and undated.

19. fol.10a: piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) signed by the calligrapher Mehmet Refi Efendi (d.1769) (الفقير المذنب محمد رفيع) and undated.

18. fol.9b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Ebubekir Raşit (d.1782) (سوده اضعف المذنبين ابو بكر راشد) and undated.

17. fol.9a : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Shāh Maḥmūd al-Nishāpūrī (fl.1517-1572) (كتبه المذنب شاه محمود النشابورى) and undated, on textile.

16. fol.8b : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

15. fol.8a : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

14. fol.7b : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

13. fol.7a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher İsmail Zühtü (İsmail Zühdi d.1806, كتبه اسماعيل الزهدى) and undated.

12. fol.6b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) signed by the calligrapher Durmuşzade Ahmet (d.1717) (الفقير المذنب احمد المدعو بطورمش زاده) and dated 1107 [1695 or 6].

11. fol.6a : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) signed by the calligrapher Durmuşzade Ahmet (d.1717) (الفقير المذنب احمد المدعو بطورمش زاده) and dated 1107 [1695 or 6].

10. fol.5b : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Aḥmad al-Ḥusaynī (كتبه العبد احمد الحسينى) and undated.

9. fol.5a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Eğrikapılı Mehmet Râsim Efendi (d.1756) (حرره الفقير الى رحمة ربه القدير محمد راسم) and undated.

8. fol.4b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Eğrikapılı Mehmet Râsim Efendi (d.1756) (نمقه الفقير محمد راسم) and undated.

7. fol.4a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Eğrikapılı Mehmet Râsim Efendi (d.1756) (حرره الفقير محمد راسم) and undated.

6. fol.3b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Eğrikapılı Mehmet Râsim Efendi (d.1756) (نمقه محمد راسم) and undated.

5. fol.3a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Eğrikapılı Mehmet Râsim Efendi (d.1756) (حرره محمد راسم) and undated.

4. fol.2b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Eğrikapılı Mehmet Râsim Efendi (d.1756) (نمقه محمد راسم) and undated.

3. fol.2a : unsigned piece in nastaliq, undated.

2. fol.1b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Mehmet Nuri Musa Efendizade (العبد المذنب محمد نورى بحافظ القرآن موسى افندى زاده) dated 1193 [1779 or 80].

1. fol.1a : [blank].

Exquisite album of assorted calligraphic specimens (36 kıt'alar / pieces), likely assembled and bound for Sultan Abdülhamit II (r.1876-1909). Contents briefly addressed by Muhittin Serin in "Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’ndeki Bazı Kütüphanelerde Bulunan İslam El Yazma Eserleri ve Michigan Üniversitesi II. Abdülhamid Koleksiyonu." Contributions to the cataloguing from Mamoun Sakkal.

Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 229

Origin: As appears in colophon on final panel, executed by Mahmud Celâleddin in 1206 [1791 or 2] and copied from a model executed by Hafız Osman Efendi in 1108 [1696 or 7].

Former shelfmark: "99" in pencil on recto of opening panel ; numeral and "T. D. M" [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis] on verso of final panel.

Binding: Boards covered (faced) in blue and white marbled paper (kumlu ebru) with red leather over spine and board edges / turn-ins (leather edged framed binding) ; Type III binding (without flap) ; board linings in same marbled paper ; panels hinged together in same red leather ; overall in fairly good condition.

Support: Written area on well-burnished paper, pieced, set into frames of marbled paper (ebru) mainly in shades of blue, pink, yellow and black, and mounted on thin boards.

Decoration: Illuminated rectangular pieces filled with vegetal decoration in shades of gold, pink, orange, and lavender on fields of blue, gold, etc. flank mid and lower sections of written area on each panel ; written area and divisions within surrounded by frames of gold defined by black fillets ; illuminated textual dividers in the form of gold rosettes with red, orange and blue accents.

Script: Exquisite specimen of Ottoman calligraphy ; large lines of each panel (typically opening and closing lines) in thuluth (sülüs), with central lines in naskh (nesih).

Layout: Written in 6 to 13 lines per page, including two lines of thuluth with four centered lines of naskh, two lines of thuluth with eight diagonal lines of naskh, one line of thuluth with seven lines of naskh, one line of thuluth with nine diagonal and then three horizontal lines of naskh, etc. ; thuluth and naskh carry separate streams of text.

Collation: Five 'panels' edged and hinged together with red leather ; numbered in pencil with Hindu-Arabic numerals in the upper outer corner of the written area for each piece ; opens vertically.

Colophon: "كتبه من لا قدر له ولا قدر ولا نخل بواديه ولا سدره اضعف العباد الكتاب عثمان المشتهر بحافظ كلام الوهاب شاكرا لله الملك الوهاب ومصليا على نبيه محمد واله وصحبه اجمعين وسلم تسليما كثيرا كثيرا سنة ثمان ومائة والف من هجرة من له العز والشرف ونقلها محمود المعروف بجلال الدين مع الكتبة والتنقيح بعينها غفر الله ذنوبهما ١٢٠٦"

Explicit: "نور المسلم من شاب شيبة في الاسلام كتب الله بها حسنة وكفر عنه بها خطيئة ورفعه بها درجة اللهم صل وسلم على اشرف الخلق واكمل الخلق محمد واله الطاهرين اجمعين

Incipit: [thuluth] "بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم وبه نستعين وعليه التكلان من الخذلان ..." ; [naskh] "والدباران ياتيها بعد ان تفوته ..."

Title supplied by cataloguer.

Ms. codex.

Exquisite album of calligraphy (muraqqaʻ / murakkaa) employing ḥadīth of the Prophet executed by the celebrated Ottoman calligrapher Mahmud Celâleddin Efendi (d.1829) in imitation of a model executed by the master calligrapher Hafız Osman Efendi (d.1698).

Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 438

Origin: Dated pieces range from 914 [1508 or 9] to 1317 [1899 or 1900]. Binding late 19th or early 20th century, likely produced in Yıldız Palace workshop and certainly not earlier than 1882 when the arma was finalized by Sultan Abdülhamit II.

Former shelfmark: "210" inscribed in pencil on opening panel.

Binding: Heavy boards covered in red leather ; Western style binding ; interior of boards (and facing panels) lined with white, textured paper (satin-like pattern) ; upper and lower covers carry central panel with the Ottoman arms (upper cover) or crescent and star (lower cover) gold-stamped on bright green satin, outlined in gold-tooled stars and bordered in gold-stamped (with light green-gold onlays) decorative panels in vegetal designs with crescents gold-stamped on mint-green silk onlays at the four corners ; board edges heavily beveled and gold-tooled ; edges of panels gold-painted ; sewn in heavy pink cord ; overall in fairly good condition with minor abrasion, lifting and losses of silk onlays, etc.

Support: Calligraphic pieces on assorted laid papers, well-burnished ; some decorative papers, tinted or marbled ; each mounted in heavy pasteboards (panels) covered in dark green coated and textured paper with edges gold-painted.

Decoration: Varies by piece ; use of gold and colored pigments in frames, decorative borders, textual dividers and accents (mainly rosettes) ; two miniatures, one in Indian style, the other Persian, each featuring a pair of lovers.

Script: Naskh (nesih), thuluth (sülüs) and nastaʻlīq (talik), varying by piece ; superb Ottoman and Persian calligraphic hands.

Layout: Varies greatly by piece.

Collation: Twenty-two heavy panels (pasteboards) attached via red cloth stubs (supported by further board).

Title from upper cover.

Ms. codex.

44. fol.22b : [blank].

43. fol.22a : unsigned piece in nastaʻlīq executed in filigree / cut-work, undated (compare Calligraphie islamique: Textes sacrés et profanes, no.140).

42. fol.21b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) signed by the calligrapher Dedezade (مشقه الفقير الحقير دده زاده) and undated.

41. fol.21a : piece in naskh with icazetname for a student of es-Seyyid Mustafa Efendi (من تلاميذ السيد مصطفى افندى) authorizing the student to sign his name to his work and to teach others, undated.

40. fol.20b : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Asad Allāh Shīrāzī (العبد المذنب اسد الله شيرازى) and dated 1254 [1838 or 9].

39. fol.20a : piece in celi sülüs signed by the calligrapher Mahmut Celalettin (Mahmud Celaleddin Efendi, d.1829, حرره محمود جلال الدين) and undated.

38. fol.19b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Mustafa b. Osman Keskin (fl.1758) (الفقير مصطفى بن عثمان المعروف بكسكين) and dated 1172 [1758 or 9].

37. fol.19a : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Mīr ʻImād al-Ḥasanī (d.1615) (مشقه عماد الحسنى) and undated (compare Calligraphy and the decorative arts of Islam, no.7).

36. fol.18b : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Faqīr ʻAlī (فقير على) and undated (compare Calligraphy and the decorative arts of Islam, no.8).

35. fol.18a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Ahmet b. Ali Kütâhî (سوده احمد بن على المعروف بالكوتاهى) dated 1100 [1688 or 9].

34. fol.17b : piece in naskh signed by the calligrapher Hocazade Ahmet (كتبه الفقير الى رحمة القدير السيد احمد المعروف بخواجه زاده) and dated 1161 [1748].

33. fol.17a : piece in naskh signed by the calligrapher Derviş Ali [possibly İkinci Derviş Ali, d.1716] (الحقير درويش على) and undated.

32. fol.16b : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Muḥammad Muhtadī (الحقر المذنب محمد مهتدى) and undated.

31. fol.16a : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

30. fol.15b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher al-Sayyid ʻAbd Allāh (likely Yedikuleli Seyyid Abdullah, d.1731, "كتبه السيد عبد الله") and undated.

29. fol.15a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher İsmail (اسمعيل, possibly Ağakapılı İsmail Efendi, d.1706) and undated.

28. fol.14b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher İsmail (اسمعيل, possibly Ağakapılı İsmail Efendi, d.1706) and undated.

27. fol.14a : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Muʻizz al-Dīn Muḥammad al-Ḥusaynī (كتبه معز الدين محمد الحسينى) and dated 986 [1578 or 9].

26. fol.13b : piece in thluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Hocazade Mehmet (d.1695) (كتبت له اذنا وانا الفقير محمد خواجه زاده) and dated 1162 [1749].

25. fol.13a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Şekerzâde Mehmet Efendi (d.1753) (كتبه السيد محمد المعروف بشكر زاده) and dated 1144 [1731 or 2].

24. fol.12b : unsigned piece in nastaʻlīq, undated.

23. fol.12a : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher ʻAbd al-Bāqī (Abdülbâki / الفقير المذنب عبد الباقى) and undated.

22. fol.11b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Yedikuleli Seyyid Abdullah (d.1731) (كتبه العبد الفقير السيد عبد الله المعروف بالامام) and dated 1114 [1702 or 3].

21. fol.11a : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Aḥmad Rashīd (الفقير احمد رشيد) and dated 1194 [1780].

20. fol.10b : unsigned piece in naskh, undated.

19. fol.10a : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Muḥammad Amīn al-Ḥusaynī al-Tirmidhī (مشقه المذنب محمد امين الحسينى الترمذى) dated 1010 [1601 or 2].

18. fol.9b: piece in thluth signed by the calligrapher Hulusi (پر تقصير خلوصى) and dated 1128 [1715 or 16].

17. fol.9a : piece in thuluth signed by the calligrapher Hulusi (الفقير خلوصى) and dated 1128 [1715 or 16].

16. fol.8b : piece in naskh appearing to be the opening of the piece on fol.8a.

15. fol.8a : piece in naskh (appearing to be the continuation of the piece on fol.8b) signed by the calligrapher Yedikuleli Seyyid Abdullah (d.1731) (كتبه العبد الفقير السيد عبد الله المعروف بالامام) and dated 1120 [1708 or 9 ].

14. fol.7b : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Maḥmūd Isḥāq Shihābī (مشقه محمود اسحق شهابى) and undated.

13. fol.7a : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher ʻAbd al-Jabbār (الفقير الحقير المذنب الراجي عبد الجبار غفر له) and undated.

12. fol.6b : unsigned piece in nastaʻlīq, undated.

11. fol.6a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Kazasker (Kadıasker) Mustafa İzzet Efendi (d.1876) (حرره السيد الحاج مصطفى عزت المعروف برئيس العلماء) and dated 1288 [1871 or 2].

10. fol.5b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Hulusi (الفقير خلوصى) and undated.

9. fol.5a : piece with text in nastaʻlīq (possibly signed ʻAbd al-Raḥmān) surrounding oval with unfinished drawing.

8. fol.4b : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Mīr ʻAlī ("مشقه المذنب مير على") and undated.

7. fol.4a : painting of two lovers, likely Safavid.

6. fol.3b : painting of two lovers, in Mughal style.

5. fol.3a : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Badīʻ al-Zamān Quṭbʹshāhī (بديع الزمان قطبشاهى) and undated.

4. fol.2b : unsigned piece in nastaʻlīq.

3. fol.2a : piece in nastaʻlīq signed by the calligrapher Sulṭān Muḥammad Khandān (سلطان محمد خندان) and dated 914 [1508 or 9].

2. fol.1b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Mehmet Hilmi (محمد حلمى) and dated 1283 [1866 or 7] with illuminations signed by the illuminator Osman Yümni Efendi (d.1919) (عثمان يمنى) and dated 1317 [1899 or 1900].

1. fol.1a : [blank].

Exquisite album of assorted calligraphic specimens (42 kıt'alar / pieces), many signed, likely assembled and bound for Sultan Abdülhamit II (r.1876-1909). Contents briefly addressed by Muhittin Serin in "Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’ndeki Bazı Kütüphanelerde Bulunan İslam El Yazma Eserleri ve Michigan Üniversitesi II. Abdülhamid Koleksiyonu." Contributions to the cataloguing from Mamoun Sakkal.

Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 441

Origin: Origin: Dates in dated pieces range from 1080 [1669 or 70] to 1323 [1905 or 6]. Some pieces possibly earlier. Binding late 19th or early 20th century, likely produced in Yıldız Palace workshop and certainly not earlier than 1882 when the arma was finalized by Sultan Abdülhamit II.

Former shelfmark: "208" inscribed in pencil on opening panel.

Binding: Heavy boards covered in red leather ; Western style binding ; interior of boards (and facing panels) lined with white, textured paper (satin-like pattern) ; upper and lower covers carry central panel gold-stamped with the Ottoman arms (upper cover) or crescent and star (lower cover) at center, outlined in gold-tooled stars and bordered in gold-stamped (with olive green leather onlays) decorative panels in vegetal designs with crescents gold-stamped on olive green leather onlays at the four corners ; board edges heavily beveled and gold-tooled ; edges of panels gold-painted ; sewn in heavy pink cord ; overall in fairly good condition with minor abrasion, lifting and losses of onlays, etc.

Support: Calligraphic pieces on assorted laid papers, well-burnished ; some decorative papers, tinted, marbled or silhouette ; each mounted in heavy pasteboards (panels) covered in dark green coated and textured paper (resembling reptile hide) with edges gold-painted.

Decoration: Varies by piece ; use of gold and colored pigments in frames, decorative borders, textual dividers and accents (mainly rosettes).

Script: Muḥaqqaq (muhakkak), naskh (nesih), thuluth (sülüs) and nastaʻlīq (talik), varying by piece ; superb Ottoman and Persian calligraphic hands.

Layout: Varies greatly by piece.

Collation: Twenty-one heavy panels (pasteboards) attached via red cloth stubs (supported by further board).

Title from upper cover.

Ms. codex.

42. fol.21b : [blank].

41. fol.21a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Mehmet Hilmi (نمقه السيد محمد حلمى) and dated 1287 [1870 or 1].

40. fol.20b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding pieces (from fol.10a).

39. fol.20a : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

38. fol.19b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

37. fol.19a : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

36. fol.18b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

35. fol.18a : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

34. fol.17b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

33. fol.17a : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

32. fol.16b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

31. fol.16a : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

30. fol.15b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

29. fol.15a : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

28. fol.14b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

27. fol.14a : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

26. fol.13b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

25. fol.13a : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

24. fol.12b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

23. fol.12a : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

22. fol.11b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

21. fol.11a : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

20. fol.10b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) likely by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) and belonging to the preceding and following pieces.

19. fol.10a : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) signed by the calligrapher Yesari Mehmet Esad Efendi (d.1798) (الفقير محمد اسعد اليسارى) and undated, likely (with the following pieces fol.10b-20b) concluding piece of a meşk murakkaa.

18. fol.9b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Hocazade Mehmet (d.1695) (سوده الحقير محمد الشهر بخواجه زاده) and dated 1080 [1669 or 70].

17. fol.9a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Kazasker (Kadıasker) Mustafa İzzet Efendi (d.1876) (بندۀ ال عبا سيد عزت مصطفى) and possibly dated 1278 [1861 or 2].

16. fol.8b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Hasan Rıza Efendi (d.1920) (حرره الحاج السيد حسن رضا ) and dated 1323 [1905 or 6].

15. fol.8a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher İsmail b. Abdullah student of İbrahim Rodosi (d.1787) (مشقه العبد المذنب اسمعيل بن عبد الله من تلاميذ ابراهيم الردوسى) and undated.

14. fol.7b : piece in thluth signed by the calligrapher Usturacızade Mehmet Şehri (d.1740) (سوده محمد الشهرى) and undated.

13. fol.7a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Hasan Rıza Efendi (d.1920) (حرره الحاج السيد حسن رضا ) and dated 1323 [1905 or 6].

12. fol.6b : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

11. fol.6a : piece in naskh signed by the calligrapher Deli Osman Afif Dâmâdı (d.1805) (كتبه الفقير السيد عثمان المعروف بداماد العفيف) and dated 1205 [1790 or 1].

10. fol.5b : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher İsmail Zühtü (İsmail Zühdi d.1806, كتبه اسمعيل الزهدى) and undated.

9. fol.5a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Tevfiki [?] (كتبه توفيقى) and undated.

8. fol.4b : piece in nastaʻlīq (talik) signed by the calligrapher, most likely the Ottoman Sultan Murat IV (r.1623-1640) (كتبه مراد خان), and undated.

7. fol.4a : piece in thuluth and naskh signed by the calligrapher Hafız Yusuf Efendi (d.1787) (نمقه المذنب يوسف المعروف بحافظ القرآن) and unsigned.

6. fol.3b : unsigned piece in thuluth and naskh, undated.

5. fol.3a : piece in naskh signed by the calligrapher Eğrikapılı Mehmet Râsim Efendi (d.1756) (محمد راسم) and undated.

4. fol.2b : unsigned piece in muḥaqqaq (continuation of the previous), undated.

3. fol.2a : unsigned piece in muḥaqqaq, undated.

2. fol.1b : impression of the seal (مهر) of Muḥammad Shāh Qājār (محمد شاه قاجار, r.1834-1848) with inscription “الملک لله محمد شاه غازی صاحب تاج و نگین آمد شکوه ملک و ملت رونق آیین دین آمد” and date 1250 [1834 or 5] set in illuminated four-lobed ornament.

1. fol.1a : [blank].

Exquisite album of assorted calligraphic specimens (40 kıt'alar / pieces), likely assembled and bound for Sultan Abdülhamit II (r.1876-1909). Contents briefly addressed by Muhittin Serin in "Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’ndeki Bazı Kütüphanelerde Bulunan İslam El Yazma Eserleri ve Michigan Üniversitesi II. Abdülhamid Koleksiyonu." Contributions to the cataloguing from Mamoun Sakkal.

Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 242

Origin: As appears in colophon, executed by Hasan Rıza Efendi in imitation of a model by the renowned calligrapher Kazasker (Kadiasker) Mustafa İzzet Efendi (d.1876) with transcription completed in 1304 [1886 or 7]. Signature in the illuminated panel to the left of the close identifies the gilder (mudhahhib, müzehhip) as Hasan Rıza.

Former shelfmark: "563 T. De M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" inscribed in pencil on interior of upper cover ; "94" inscriped in pencil on recto of opening leaf/'panel'.

Binding: Pasteboards covered in dark lavender leather ; Type III binding (without flap) ; board linings in golden yellow to orange surface-dyed paper ; upper and lower covers carry exquisite gold-stamped scalloped octagonal piece (filled with vegetal decoration emanating from a central floral motif) and rosette accents (at the apices of the scallops, forming pendants, etc.), as well as elaborate tooled border in gold accented by gold-painted fillets ; overall in somewhat poor but fair condition with only minor abrasion, losses of silk, panels detaching from spine and warping in some, and lifting of spine leather.

Support: Well-burnished paper mounted on heavy board, with area framing written area surface-dyed (golden yellow to orange) and gold-flecked, edged in red silk ; sheets of red wove paper rest between many of the panels.

Decoration: Illuminated panels consisting of rectangular panels filled with various swirling vegetal patterns on fields of gold, blue, light pink, etc. and surrounded by frames in blue, green, light pink, red, etc. flanking mainly the lines of naskh ; entire written area surrounded by heavy gold and light pink frames with narrower gold rules surrounding panels within ; textual dividers in the form of illuminated rosettes with accents in green, pink, blue, white, etc.

Script: Exquisite specimen of Ottoman calligraphy ; large line of each page in a fine thuluth ; central lines of each page in a superb naskh ; fully vocalized ; each continues a distinct stream of ḥadīth text or excerpts.

Layout: Written in 5 and 6 lines per page, a large line of thuluth followed by four or five lines of naskh, with lines in thuluth and those in naskh constituting two distinct streams of text ; written area is divided into upper panel accomodating the large line of thuluth and centered lower panel carrying the more compact lines of naskh ; opens vertically with writing parallel to spine.

Collation: Six heavy leaves or 'panels' hinged together.

Colophon: "Scribal," reads: "حرره الحاج السيد حسن رضا مقلدا بمصطى عزت غفر الله ذنوبهما وستر عيوبهما امين سنه ١٣٠۴"

Title supplied by cataloguer.

Ms. codex.

Exquisite album of calligraphy (muraqqaʻ or murakkaa) employing assorted ḥadīth, executed by the renowned Ottoman calligrapher Hasan Rıza Efendi (d.1920), a master of naskh and thuluth.

Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 244

Origin: In colophon, attributed to "Ḥamd Allāh al-maʻrūf bi-Ibn al-Shaykh," Şeyh Hamdullah of Amasya, with date of transcription is not specified. Colophon is questionable though attribution for most of the kıta'lar is likely accurate would suggest completion in the late 15th or early 16th century. Pieced and mounted at a later date, even late 16th or 17th century, with some repairs and replacements supplied.

Former shelfmark: "335 T. De M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" on verso of final panel ; "100" inscriped in pencil at opening.

Binding: Pasteboards covered in dark red-brown leather ; hinged together with red-brown leather in accordion format ; doublures in dark slate blue leather with border and area of mandorla and cornerpieces (on reverse) gold-flecked and lined in gold ; upper and lower covers carry superb stamped and gold-painted mandorla (filled with vegetal decoration, compare Déroche class. NSd 7), pendants and cornerpieces, along with gold-painted accents and tooled border in a series of s-shaped stamps approaching a guilloché roll ; overall in good condition with only minor abrasion and lifting of leather at board edges.

Support: Well-burnished laid paper (repaired in many places) pieced and set into an elaborate frame of decorative papers, the outermost being richly colored marbled paper of several types and adjacent to it a border of pieced colored papers, some also gold-flecked ; other decorative papers fill the remaining areas surrounding the text ; specimens and borders mounted on leaves of well-burnished European laid paper.

Decoration: Gold-flecked or painted decorative papers often flank lower panel carrying lines of naskh ; written area (and panels within) surrounded by frames consisting of gold and red-orange rules ; textual dividers in the form of illuminated rosettes.

Script: Exquisite specimen of Ottoman calligraphy ; large line of each page in thuluth ; lines of each page in naskh ; fully vocalized ; each continues a distinct stream of text.

Layout: Written mainly in 6 or 9 lines per page, a large line of thuluth and 5 or 8 compact lines of naskh (alternating pages carrying 5 or 8 lines) with lines in thuluth and those in naskh constituting two distinct streams of text ; written area divided into upper panel accommodating the large line and centered lower panel accommodating the more compact lines ; 8 lines of naskh mainly written on the diagonal.

Collation: Twelve 'panels' hinged together in accordion format ; panels are numbered on the verso with Hindu-Arabic numerals in black ink beginning with ٣.

Colophon: "Scribal," reads: "كتبها حمد الله المعروف بابن الشيخ حامدا الله تعالى على نعمه ومصليا على نبيه محمد واله الطيبين الطاهرين اجمعين"

Explicit: [thuluth] "الخط الحسن نزهة العين وريحانة القلوب انه ولي الهداية والتوفيق" ; [naskh] "اذا استشرت الجاهل اختار لك الباطل"

Incipit: [thuluth] "بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم سئل كسرى انوشروان ما ..." ; [naskh] "بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم وبه ثقتي وسئل كسرى ما بالكم اليوم اذ كنتم احق بتعليم الناس اشد استغلالا بالتعلم ..."

Title supplied by cataloguer.

Ms. codex.

Superb album of calligraphy (muraqqaʻ or murakkaa) employing mainly hadīth pertaining to sentiments of Kisrá Anūshirvān (Khosrow or Khusraw I, d.579), with most of the kıt'alar executed by the celebrated Ottoman calligrapher Şeyh Hamdullah of Amasya (d.1520).

Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 237

Origin: As appears in colophon, executed by İbrahim Rodosi ; date of transcription not specified, though calligrapher's activity (acquiring his icazet shortly after the death of his first teacher İsmail Zühdî in 1731) suggests mid to late 18th century.

Former shelfmark: "559 T. De M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" inscribed in pencil on interior of upper cover ; "116" inscriped in pencil at opening.

Binding: Pasteboards covered in dark red-brown leather with spine in a lighter red-brown leather ; Type III binding (without flap) ; board linings in pink-tinted laid paper ; upper and lower covers carry blind-stamped and gold-painted scalloped mandorla filled with symmetrical vegetal composition (compare binding ornament on cover of Isl. Ms. 230), as well as tooled border consisting of guilloché roll flanked by gold fillets ; panels hinged together with red-brown leather ; overall in fair condition with some staining, abrasion, lifting of leather, spine split near head, etc.

Support: Well-burnished laid paper (in some cases surface-dyed pink) pieced, set into frame consisting of other surface-dyed and gold-flecked papers in combinations of orange and green, blue and pink, orange and magenta, yellow and green, green and magenta, lavender and orange, etc. (papers of facing pages match) set off by gold bands and white fillets.

Decoration: Decorative illuminated pieces consisting mainly of scalloped semi-circular pieces (domes) overlaid with swirling vegetal pattern in gold, red, pink, white, blue, etc. flank the compact central lines ; other illuminated flanking pieces of different vegetal composition appear on some panels ; written area surrounded by frame in bands of gold varying thickness ; textual divders in the form of illuminated rosettes with accents in pink, white, blue, etc.

Script: Fine specimen of Ottoman calligraphy ; two large lines of each page in thuluth ; two central lines of each page in naskh ; fully vocalized ; each continues a distinct stream of text though both open in alphabetic exercises.

Layout: Written in four lines per page, two large lines in thuluth (sülüs) and two more compact lines in naskh (nesih) ; written area divided into upper and lower panels accommodating the large lines and a central panel divided to accomodate the two more compact lines.

Collation: Ten 'panels' (mounted leaves) edged in and hinged together with red-brown leather ; opens vertically.

Colophon: "Scribal," reads: "مشقه اضعف الكتاب ابراهيم الردوسي"

Explicit: [in thuluth / sülüs] "سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك وتبارك اسمك وتعالى جدك وجل ثناؤك ولا اله غيرك" ; [in naskh / nesih] "فان امارتي بالسوء ما اتعظت من جهلها بنذير الشيب"

Incipit: "رب يسر ولا تعسر رب تمم بالخير"

Title supplied by cataloguer.

Ms. codex.

Fine album of calligraphy (muraqqaʻ / murakkaa) executed by the Ottoman calligrapher İbrahim Rodosi (d.1787). Comprises a meșk murakkaa or album of meșkler (exercises) in two scripts (thuluth / sülüs and naskh / nesih) employing the principal alphabetic exercises (müfredat), composed word exercises (mürekkebat) with the alpha-numeric system (abjad / abced hesabı), invocations, and a portion of the text of al-Buṣīrī's Qaṣīdat al-Burdah.