Sothebys: Arts of the Islamic World & India, L26220, London

Auction Details

Auction Report
Auction Date
April 29, 2026 - April 29, 2026
Page Size: 49 items in 2 pages
Auction Lot Books
Lot Number Author Name Book Title Place Printed Year Published Estimate Actual Price
103

Masabih al-sunna (a compendium of Hadith), copied by Elias ibn Ahmad ibn Elias al-Nawjari, Mecca, dated 2 Dhu al-Qa'da 729 AH/4 September 1329 AD and Sha'ban 734 AH/ April-May 1334 ADAD

Mecca 12th century GBP 40,000.00 - 60,000.00 GBP 51,200.00
104

Abu Nasr Isma'il ibn Hammad al-Jawhari (d.1008 AD), Kitab al-sihah fi'l-lugha ('The Book of Correct Language'), probably Iraq, 12th century

probably Iraq, N/A GBP 30,000.00 - 50,000.00 Not Sold
105

Abu al-Khattab Mahfuz ibn Ahmad al-Kalwadhani (d.1116 AD), Kitab al-hidaya 'ala madhhab al-Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbali (on Hanbali jurisprudence), probably Baghdad, Iraq, Abbasid, dated 517 AH/1123-24 AD

probably Baghdad, Iraq, Abbasid, dated 517 AH/1123-24 AD GBP 60,000.00 - 80,000.00 Not Sold
106

Two illuminated Qur'an leaves in Kufic script on vellum, North Africa or Near East, 9th century

North Africa or Near East, 9th century GBP 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 GBP 15,360.00
107

An illuminated Qur'an leaf in 'eastern' Kufic on vellum, Persia, 11th century

Persia, 11th century GBP 7,000.00 - 10,000.00 GBP 9,600.00
109

A large Qur'an leaf in gold Kufic script on blue vellum, Near East, North Africa or Southern Spain, 9th-10th century

, Near East, North Africa or Southern Spain, 9th-10th century GBP 400,000.00 - 600,000.00 GBP 614,400.00
113

A Qur'an, Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria or Chad, late 19th/early 20th century

Nigeria or Chad, late 19th/early 20th century GBP 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 GBP 12,800.00
114

An illuminated Qur'an bifolium in Maghribi script on vellum, North Africa or Spain, 12th/13th century

North Africa or Spain, 12th/13th century GBP 5,000.00 - 7,000.00 GBP 7,040.00
115

An illuminated Qur'an leaf in Maghribi script on pink paper, North Africa or Andalusia, late 12th/early 13th century

North Africa or Andalusia 12th/13th century GBP 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 GBP 10,240.00
116

Yahya ibn Muhammad ibn Ayyub al-Ta'i al-Andalusi ibn Muda, a poem on the characteristics of human beings, horses and camels, Andalusia or North Africa, dated Muharram 677 AH/June 1278 AD

Andalusia or North Africa, dated Muharram 677 AH/June 1278 AD GBP 40,000.00 - 60,000.00 Not Sold
121

Abu 'Abdullah al-Quda'i (d.1062 AD), Kitab shihab al-akhbar (on Prophetic traditions), copied by 'Ali ibn Sharwan ibn 'Ali al-Qazwini, probably Iraq, late Ilkhanid or early Jalayirid, dated 10 Shawal 741 AH/5 April 1341 AD

probably Iraq, late Ilkhanid or early Jalayirid , dated 10 Shawal 741 AH/5 April 1341 AD GBP 70,000.00 - 90,000.00 Not Sold
122

An impressive illuminated Qur'an volume, attributable to Ya'qut al-Musta'simi, probably Baghdad, Iraq, late 13th century

probably Baghdad, Iraq, late 13th century GBP 100,000.00 - 150,000.00 GBP 217,600.00
123

An illuminated Qur'an section in muhaqqaq script on paper, Central Asia or Anatolia, circa 1300-35

Central Asia or Anatolia, circa 1300-35 GBP 60,000.00 - 80,000.00 Not Sold
124

A rare illuminated Qur'an juz' (XXV), copied by 'Asadullah Kirmani, Persia or Turkey, Timurid or Ottoman, circa 1475

Persia or Turkey, Timurid or Ottoman, circa 1475 GBP 50,000.00 - 80,000.00 Not Sold
128

‘Ala’-al-Din Abu’l-Hasan ‘Ali Ibn Abi al-Hazm al-Qarshi, known as Ibn al-Nafis (d.1288-89), Sharh tashrih Qanun Ibn Sina (A commentary on the anatomy in Al-Qanun of Ibn Sina), probably Iraq, Ilkhanid, dated 20 Sha'ban 734 AH/3 May 1334 AD

probably Iraq, Ilkhanid, dated 20 Sha'ban 734 AH/3 May 1334 AD GBP 200,000.00 - 300,000.00 GBP 256,000.00
129

Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariyya al-Razi (known as Rhazes or Rasis, d.925), Kitab al-iklil fi'l-tibb, a treatise on medicine and health, probably Iraq, Abbasid, dated 616 AH/1219 AD

probably Iraq, Abbasid , dated 616 AH/1219 AD GBP 200,000.00 - 300,000.00 GBP 256,000.00
132

A rare illuminated miniature Qur’an juz' (XV), Egypt or Syria, Mamluk, 14th/15th century

Egypt or Syria, Mamluk, 14th/15th century GBP 15,000.00 - 25,000.00 GBP 20,480.00
139

An illuminated miniature Qur'an section (juz' I to juz' V), Persia, possibly Herat, late Timurid, late 15th century

Persia, possibly Herat, late Timurid, late 15th century GBP 15,000.00 - 25,000.00 GBP 24,320.00
147

A large illuminated Qur'an, Persia, Safavid, early 16th century

Persia, Safavid, early 16th century GBP 50,000.00 - 70,000.00 Not Sold
148

An old shepherd leaning on his staff in a landscape, signed by Mu'in Musavvir, Persia, Isfahan, Safavid, dated 19 Rabi' al-Awwal 1087 AH/1676 AD

Persia, Isfahan, Safavid, dated 19 Rabi' al-Awwal 1087 AH/1676 AD GBP 80,000.00 - 120,000.00 Not Sold
149

A bearded shaykh on a hillside, ascribed to Reza-i 'Abbasi, Persia, Safavid, dated 1035 AH/1626 AD

Persia, Safavid, dated 1035 AH/1626 AD GBP 60,000.00 - 80,000.00 GBP 76,800.00
150

Nizami (d.1209), Khamsa, signed by ibn Husain Murad 'Ali Damavandi, Persia, Safavid, dated the beginning of Rabi' I 1061 AH/ 23 February 1651 AD

Persia, Safavid, dated the beginning of Rabi' I 1061 AH/ 23 February 1651 AD GBP 50,000.00 - 70,000.00 GBP 64,000.00
151

An early copy of Arifi's (d. 1449) Guy o chaugan ('Ball and Mallett'), copied by Muhammad 'Ali ibn al-Mahmud al-Munajjim, Persia, Safavid, dated 942 AH/1535-36 AD

Persia, Safavid, dated 942 AH/1535-36 AD GBP 6,000.00 - 8,000.00 GBP 7,680.00
152

Nur al-Din 'Abd al-Rahman Jami (d.1492 ), Kulliyat, copied by Mir ibn Muhib Rashidi, Persia, Safavid, late 16th century

Persia, Safavid, late 16th century GBP 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 Not Sold
157

An illuminated Qur'an, Persia, Qajar, 19th century

Persia, Qajar, 19th century GBP 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 GBP 20,480.00
  • Sotheby’s
    Shelf Life: Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper from the Library of Stanley J. Seeger and Christopher Cone
    25 June – July 7
    Sotheby’s, July 7: Ludwig van Beethoven. Autograph sketches for the overture "Die Weihe des Hauses", op.124, [1822], UNPUBLISHED. £150,000 to £200,000.
    Sotheby’s, July 7: Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice, 1813, first edition, 3 volumes, contemporary half calf. £50,000 to £70,000.
    Sotheby’s, July 7: Walt Whitman. Leaves of Grass, Brooklyn, 1855, first edition, first issue, original green cloth, the Doheny copy. £50,000 to £70,000.
    Sotheby’s, July 7: Binding—Sangorski & Sutcliffe—Omar Khayyam. Rubaiyat, London, 1872, third edition, in a magnificent jewelled Peacock binding. £15,000 to £20,000.
    Sotheby’s, July 7: George Eliot. Middlemarch, Edinburgh and London, 1871, first edition in the original parts. £20,000 to £30,000.
  • Forum Auctions
    The Private Library:
    Fine Printing & Private Press books, the collection of the late David Chambers
    July 9, 2026
    Forum, July 9: Hassall (Joan) A large collection of over 300 original woodblocks of engravings for various books, v.d., with Hassall's engraver's glass water-globe (Qty) - Est. £10,000-15,000
    Forum, July 9: Eragny Press.- [Bradley (Katherine Harris) & Edith Emma Cooper], "Michael Field." Whym Chow, Flame of Love, one of only 27 copies, inscribed by Bradley, the rarest book from the press, 1914. - Est. £3,000-4,000
    Forum, July 9: [Moore (Thomas Sturge)] [Wood Engravings], 71 wood-engravings printed by David Chambers from the original blocks, the only set on Japanese Hosho paper, from an edition of 5 sets, [1970]. - Est. £3,000-4,000
    Forum Auctions
    The Private Library:
    Fine Printing & Private Press books, the collection of the late David Chambers
    July 9, 2026
    Forum, July 9: La Fontaine (Jean de) Contes et Nouvelles en vers, 2 vol., engraved plates after Eisen, fine early 19th century blue morocco, gilt, by Bradel l'ainé, Amsterdam [Paris], 1762. - Est. £2,000-3,000
    Forum, July 9: Erotica.- Prostitution.- Pretty Women of Paris (The); Their Names and Addresses, Qualities and Faults..., [Paris], privately printed at the Press of the Prefecture de Police, 1883. - Est. £3,000-4,000
    Forum, July 9: Vale Press.- Ricketts (Charles) & Lucien Pissarro. De la Typographie et de l'Harmonie de la Page Imprimée…, [one of 216 copies], bound in dark blue morocco tooled in gilt, by Sarah T.Prideaux, 1898. - Est. £1,000-1,500
    Forum Auctions
    The Private Library:
    Fine Printing & Private Press books, the collection of the late David Chambers
    July 9, 2026
    Forum, July 9: Martin (John) Illustrations of the Bible, complete set of 20 mezzotints, good impressions, rarely found in early states, [c.1831-1835]. - Est. £1,000-1,500
    Forum, July 9: Golden Cockerel Press.- Four Gospels of the Lord Jesus Christ (The), one of 500 copies, Mary Gill's copy, Waltham St. Lawrence, 1931 with a signed proof of engraving on japon numbered 10/10 (2) - Est. £5,000-7,000
    Forum, July 9: Boccaccio (Giovanni) The Decameron, 3 vol., vol.1 extra-illustrated by John Buckland Wright with c.150 erotic original drawings in pen & ink and pencil, 1886 [extra-illustrated c.1940]. - Est. £10,000-15,000
    Forum Auctions
    The Private Library:
    Fine Printing & Private Press books, the collection of the late David Chambers
    July 9, 2026
    Forum, July 9: Cox (Morris) Collection of Gogmagog Press Books, 35 vol., rare complete collection of printed books issued by the press, limited editions, most signed by Cox, 1957-83. - Est. £10,000-15,000
    Forum, July 9: Wynkyn de Worde.- [Terentius Afer (Publius)] [Comedie...], [Paris, Josse Badius: sold in London by Wynkyn de Worde, & others], [15 July 1504]. - Est. £4,000-6,000
    Forum, July 9: Mosley (James) Ornamented Types. Twenty-Three Alphabets from the Foundry of Louis John Pouchée, 2 vol., one of 10 copies for presentation, from an edition of 210, 1992-93. - Est. £1,000-2,000
  • Forum Auctions
    The 10th Anniversary Sale
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    July 16, 2026
    Forum, July 16: Inundation papyrus. P.Michael 4, the ‘Inundation papyrus’, a geographical account of the Nile near Canopus, in Greek, remains of two columns from a manuscript scroll on papyrus, Egypt, second century CE. £12,000-18,000
    Forum, July 16: Book of Hours, use of Sarum, manuscript on vellum, 6 full-page miniatures, with famous Middle English inscriptions, Southern Netherlands for the English market, [c.1430]. £30,000-50,000
    Forum, July 16: Qu'ran, Arabic manuscript on burnished, stencilled, and gold-flecked paper, 447ff., Sultanate Gujarat, Ahmadabad, [after 1411 but no later than 1442]. £15,000-20,000
    Forum Auctions
    The 10th Anniversary Sale
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    July 16, 2026
    Forum, July 16: Turner (William). A New boke of the natures and properties of all wines that are commonly vsed here in England, rare first edition of the first English book on wine, By William Seres, 1568. £20,000-£30,000
    Forum, July 16: Spenser (Edmund). The Faerie Queene. first edition, Printed [by John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, 1590. £30,000-40,000
    Forum, July 16: Shakespeare (William). The Comedie of Errors, extracted from the first folio, Isaac Jaggard and Edward Blount, 1623. £15,000-20,000
    Forum Auctions
    The 10th Anniversary Sale
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    July 16, 2026
    Forum, July 16: Fleming (Ian). Casino Royale, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author, 1953. £40,000-60,000
    Forum, July 16: d'Agoty (Jacques-Fabien Gautier). Anatomie de la Tête, first edition, Paris, chez le Sieur Gautier, 1748. £10,000-15,000
    Forum, July 16: Martial Arts.- Lee (Bruce). 'Praying Mantis style' Kung Fu book, containing numerous annotations, diagrams and graphs in Bruce Lee's hand, c. 1960. £50,000-70,000
    Forum Auctions
    The 10th Anniversary Sale
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    July 16, 2026
    Forum, July 16: Warre (Capt. Henry James). Sketches in North America and the Oregon Territory, first edition, rare hand-coloured issue, 1848. £30,000-40,000
    Forum, July 16: Norie (John William). The Marine Atlas, or Seaman's Complete Pilot for all the principal places in the known world..., 1826. £30,000-50,000
    Forum, July 16: Mao Tse-tung.- Kim Il-sung.-[Note book for visitors from China to Korea], signed by Mao and Kim, [Beijing, 1954]. £10,000-15,000