Illustrated in the Indian style

Asir-e Esfahani (Shahristani), Mirza Jalal al-Din b. Mirza Mo'men. Diwan manuscript.

Auf Anfrage

A very pretty two-volume manuscript collection of Shahristani's poetry, meticulously illustrated after the Indian fashion, as befits the writer's literary style. Asir-e Esfahani (Shahrestani) was an innovative Persian poet in 17th-century Safavid Iran who contributed greatly to shaping the so-called 'Hindi' or 'Indian' style of early modern Persian poetry. The form developed in the Safavid era when many poets, lacking the Shah's patronage, emigrated to India, where Persian poetry had flourished from Ghaznavid times. Indeed, Asir himself enjoyed the high esteem of Shah Abbas the Great (r. 1588-1629), whose son-in-law he was, and his home served as a centre of Isfahan's lively literary scene. While Asir did not personally visit India, his works were well received there. Collections of his poetry have been printed variously, but manuscript copies are rare.

Very appealingly preserved with a few insignificant paper flaws to margins and several ink annotations as well as pen illustrations (including one of a Persian kamancheh) on the flyleaves.