AN ILLUMINATED OTTOMAN QURAN BY MUSTAFA HILMI HACI IBRAHIM EL-ERZINCANI, OTTOMAN TURKEY, DATED 1264 AH/1847 AD

Arabic manuscript on cream paper, each page with 15 lines of black naskh script, tajwid in red, within gold and black rules, gold and polychrome roundel verse markers outlined in black with polychrome dots, surah headings in white thuluth on gold illuminated panels, gold and polychrome marginal motifs indicating the 'Juz and the Hizb'. Two opening biofolioa heavily gilt with polychrome decoration framing 7 lines of black naskh in clouds reserved against a sprinkled gold ground. The last three pages with a prayer for completion of the recitation of the Quran (Due- al-Khatm), written by Mustafa Hilmi Haci Ibrahim El-Erzincani, student of Hafiz Abdul-Karim El-Erzincai on Jumada al-Thani in 1264 AH/1847 AD.
Surah Al-Shu'ara with 10 pages written in each page within two panels, each enclosing 9 lines, surah Yasin with 6 pages written in each page within two panels with gilt and polychrome decoration.
In brown morocco decorated with gold painted central medallion with flap.
Text panel: 6.2 by 11 cm.
Folio: 11 by 16.5 cm.

THE CALLIGRAPHER
Student of Hafiz Osman's School in the six scripts, born in Istanbul, died in 1851-1852, buried in Ayaspasa cemetery in Istanbul.
Mustafa Hilmi Efendi, a valuable calligrapher and one of the disciples of Laz Ömer Vasfi Efendi, after completing his education in his school. In 1819 he was appointed as the teacher of calligraphy at the naskh Sultan School in Fatih and taught students for years.
After receiving the compliment of Sultan Mahmud II, he was promoted to the rank of Hakkakzade Hilmi Efendi, who was the teacher of the school built in the vicinity of Çenberlitaş on behalf of Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan, as a reward for the three books that he was assigned to write. He was also assigned to calligraphy training of Meshaqs in Nûr-ı Osmaniye Mosque.