a small arabic manuscript in colour, gold and ink on paper, with thirteen lines in fine nasta'liq, an illuminated double opening with floral and formal scrolls on a gold ground, further illuminated headings, gold ruled margins, with a lacquered papier mache binding with battle scenes, spine detached in part, a label attached to opeing flyleaf inscribed in ink 'Rabino No.2', folio 8.9 x 5.1cm., text 6.1 x 3.4cm.

Provenance: A Private Collection of Qajar works of art, acquired prior to 1995 from a European Collection.

The colophon says that it was written for ‘a friend among friends’ on 12^th Dhu’l-Hijja without mentioning the year. A paper label attached to the flyleaf is inscribed in ink 'Rabino No.2'. This may refer to H. L. Rabino CMG (1877-1950), who acted as British Consul in Resht, Iran, and from whom a number of works were acquired by the British Museum on his return.

Mirza Muhammad Sadiq Nami (d. 1204/ 1789-99) was a poet of the court of Karim Khan Zand. Another copy of this work was sold Christie's, 11th October 2013, lot 735.