Archivo: Alisher Navoi - Five Poems (Quintet) - Walters W663 - Top Exterior

Description: Walters manuscript W.663 is a Safavid illuminated and illustrated collection of the Hamse (quintet), written in Çagatay (eastern Turkic), composed by the celebrated 'Ali ?ir Neva'i (died 906 AH/AD 1501), and inspired by the Persian Khamse of Nizami and Amir Khusraw Dihlavi. This copy dates to the 10th century AH/AD 16th and has 5 double-page illustrations in the early Safavid court style. Each double-page illustration introduces the following individual poems: Kitab-i heyrat ül-ebrar (fols. 1b-2a), Kitab-i Ferhad va Sirin (fols. 45b-46a), Kitab-i Mecnun va Leyla (fols. 108b-109a), Kitab-i Hest bihist (fols. 147b-148a), and Kitab-i Iskendername (fols. 199b-200a). Each poem is also introduced by an illuminated incipit (fols. 2b, 46b, 109b, 148b, and 200b). The brown goatskin binding has a central lobed oval with pendants and cornerpieces brushed with gold. It is possibly attributable to the10th century AH/AD 16th.
Usage Terms: Public domain