Persian manuscripts on paper, written in flowing nasta'liq script in black ink, the Mir 'Ali with polychrome flowers in blue-bordered gold triangular corner panels, the reverse with a drawing of a man carrying a bottle in ink, red and gold; the al-Shahabi with interlinear gold flowers and set in to a gold-flecked album page; the al-Hasani with 8 lines of text within cloud bands laid down on an album page ruled in colours and gold with gilt floral cartouches in the outer margins; the al-Din 'Ali with the text in gold-outlined cloud bands set against a light blue ground of scrolling flowers, album page with coloured borders ruled in gold

Generally in good overall condition, Mir 'Ali has been cropped, some stains in the outer margins of the others, slight rubbing to the gold, calligraphy strong otherwise, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

inscriptions

1) Copied in nasta'liq by Mir 'Ali.
2) Copied in nasta'liq by Mahmud [son of] Ishaq al-Shahabi

Mahmud was one of the scribes who was taken to Bukhara by 'Ubaydullah Khan after the capture of Herat.  He was a pupil of Mir 'Ali and his style is praised by many including himself in a few calligraphic pages.  His recorded works are dated between A.H. 924-93/A.D. 1518-85 (Mehdi Bayani, ahval va asar-e khosh-nevisan, vol. 3, Teheran, 1348 sh., pp. 876-880).

3) Copied in nasta'liq by 'Imad al-Hasani.

Mir 'Imad al-Hasani al-Husayni, the most famous nasta'liq calligrapher of the Safavid period, was murdered on accusation of being a Sunni.  His recorded works are dated between A.H. 972/A.D. 1564-5 and A.H. 1024/A.D. 1615-16 (Mehdi Bayani, ahval va asar-e khosh-nevisan, vol. II, Teheran, 1346 sh., pp. 518-38).

4) Copied in nasta'liq by Fakhr al-Din 'Ali from the hand of Mir 'Ali al-Katib.

Fakhr al-Din 'Ali may be the same as Fakhr al-Din 'Ali ibn 'Ali ibn Muhammad Asghar al-Jami, who is recorded by Bayani as an obscure scribe who copied Jami's Yusif and Zulaykha in Herat in A.H. 991/A.D. 1583-4 (Mehdi Bayani, ahval va asar-e khosh-nevisan, vol. II, Teheran, 1346 sh., p. 450).