No illustrations are available at the moment for this ms., which is in very weak condition and in urgent need of restoration. It has been viewed briefly twice, thanks to the assistance of Prof. Mansur Sefatgol of Tehran University; and also studied on b/w microfilm.
The binding is original, much decayed; red leather, stamped and gilded margins of lozenges, a central medallion and two pendants. The spine has completely disappeared. Doublure of plain red - maroon leather (as outside).
There are 308 ff. and 1 flysheet. Fol. 308v has a description (repr. in Danish-pazhuh, p. 26) of the full ms (2 vols?), of which now only the second part remains. Originally there were 159 paintings (majlis) according to this description. Also 2 seals, now defaced.
f. 2v an unvan, 66x124 mm, of three gold lozenges inside blue decorated arabesques and gold again outside. Very beautifully executed, details of flowers in white, red and black on arabesques. All panels are blank.
The Margins ruled in blue, gold, red, green, gold. Columns are ruled in black; on the opening page, they are infilled with gold, and decorated with floral pattern of pink, blue, red and white flowers.
There is worm damage to opening pages; paper quite thick and smooth but not glossy, of beige colour. The paper is from Isfahan according to Danish-pazhuh. The text block is darker, ms. has probably been remargined. f. 3r is certainly pasted onto new margins, but catchwords have been provided.
Text headings (rubrics) are in black ink, in decorated panels of gold centre and blue decorations round central lozenge, with green arabesques behind the script, creating a startling effect (f. 2v). But there are several variations, e.g. f. 45r, there are three rubrics on the page: 1. red with green margins, pale blue arabesques on gold (no lozenge); 2. green with red borders; 3. blue and red, with green arabesques.
The paintings are generally in bright colours, lots of pinks, reds, and heavy use of gold, and a rather bright emerald green, very electric!
In general, the text is a complete and standard one, close to the printed editions. Incipit: chu luhrasp nishast bar takht-i dad..; explicit: har ankas kih darad hush va ray va din pas az marg bar man kunad afarin.
The paintings too, appear to be rather close to the text. Most paintings are introduced or preceded by a page of chalipa decoration, and these pages are adorned with gold floral motifs.
Fol. 307v-308r (with colophon) is a highly ornate double page of chalipa script. The panels of chalipa are gold, with blue corners, and red and white flowers. Text columns with black and dark blue panels, with red and white floral decorations. The folios here have been remargined.
There is some water damage to the bottom of the ms. (Ch.M.).
The ms. is catalogued by Muhammad Taqi Danesh Pazhuh, Fihrist-i Kitabkhana-iy Markazi-yi Danishgah-i Tihran, Tehran, 1339sh/1960, pp. 25-6.
