English: Amir Mu'izzi (d. circa 1127), Divan, poetry

Persia, 19th Century

Persian manuscript on paper, 88 leaves, 16 lines to the page written in nasta'liq script in black ink in two columns, inner margins ruled in gold, blue, red, green and black, one illuminated headpiece in colours and gold, seal impressions and library labels of previous owners, brown leather gilt with central floral medallions and cornerpieces 208 x 145 mm.

A note on the front flyleaf dated AH 1335/AD 1916-17 gives the name Ziya' Lashkar Taqi Danesh, the head of the Cabinet of the Province of Fars. There is also an oval seal impression of Mustashar A'zam dated AH 1339[?]/AD 1920-21. There is an ex libris printed label on the front doublure for the library of Ziya' Lashgar Taqi Danesh in Shiraz. Finally there is the same seal impression of Muhammad Taqi.

Mirza Taqi Khan Mustashar A'zam (d. 1948), titled Ziya' Lashkar, was a poet with the pen name Danesh, and also Hakim Suri for his witty poetry. He was a calligrapher and collector of manuscripts, photographs and pen boxes. He worked as a secretary to Qajar high officials, was appointed Deputy Governor of Yazd and later that of Rasht. At the end of Qajar rule and under Reza Shah Pahlavi, he was the head of Justice Department and Mayor of Shiraz. The note dated AH 1335/AD 1916-17 must have been written when he was in Shiraz. (For more information on him see: http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/danes-taqi-b).