Or 16854 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)

A certificate of initiation into a Sufi order. Blank spaces have been left for the name of the disciple to be initiated and for that of the master. There are also two ruled line spaces left blank for the date and possibly for other details.

This document is undated, but close in dimensions, and possibly also in date (though probably somewhat later), to the document dated 1221/1806-7. The resemblance of the wording leaves little room for doubt that it pertains to the same unspecified Sufi order as the two other documents acquired together with this one as a group.

Intended for use in Isfahan.

Nasta‘līq, 32 lines, plus Basmala heading. Entire text, and each line, framed in black, red and gold ruled lines. 835 x 304 (top) and 309 (bottom) mm.

Purchased from Bonhams (23 November 2011, part of Lot 185).