Dīvān-i Ḥāfiẓ [manuscript].

Persian poetry written by Mohammed Ḥāfiẓ Shīrāzī.

Title transliterated from Farsi.

Some pages watermarked 'Stace 1799.'

Binding: original lacquer binding; covers decorated with coloured flowers and leaves and a centrally-placed bird; inside covers also lacquered and decorated in gold with a bird perched on a flowering plant; rebacked in plain green leather. The binding was likely painted by the Persian flower painter Muhammad Hadi. Identification by Kamran Arjomand (former Middle East librarian, State and University Library of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, 2019).

Decoration: gold and blue ruled borders, with four leaves illuminated in gold and colours.

Provenance: Autograph inscription of Claudius James Rich (1787-1821) on verso of opening page commencing 'This copy of Hafiz was placed on his Tomb and destined for a remembrance to Mary Rich by her ever affectionate Claudius. Then follows 2 six-line stanzas 'written at the Tomb of Hafiz this 9th September 1821' and signed. Bookplate of E.C. Simpson; purchased by the Alexander Turnbull Library at Dunbar Sloane auction 22 April 2009, lot 160. Earlier auction catalogue entries of binding and bibliographic details tipped into front and back flyleaves. Some waterstaining especially at fore-edge and last few pages. Acc. 394601.

Digital image. Wellington, N.Z. : National Library of New Zealand.

Alexander Turnbull Library Rare Book copy (accession number 394601) exhibited: "Fresh" 6 Aug.-29 Sept. 2012. Copy open at incipit pages $5 Nz

Digital image available: Binding, Alexander Turnbull Library Rare Book copy. Details available on request from Curator, Rare Books and Fine Printing.

Digital image available: Illuminated opening pages, Alexander Turnbull Library Rare Book copy. Details available on request from Curator, Rare Books and Fine Printing.