Fath Ali Shah, the early 19th-century ruler of Persia, wrote poetry under the pen-name Khaqan and sent lavish copies of his Divan (‘Collected Works’) as gifts to foreign sovereigns and dignitaries. In 1811, he gave this copy to Sir Gore Ouseley in Tehran for presentation to the Prince Regent, later George IV. It was delivered to the Prince in London by Sir Ouseley’s brother William on 30 November 1812.

The volume is dated 1216 AH (AD 1802) and presents the highest standard of contemporary Qajar manuscript production. Copied by calligrapher Muhammad Mehdi al-Tehrani, the nastaliq script is highlighted with a solid wash of gold paint and set into dark blue borders filled with glittering birds and animals. The text is divided by three large, illuminated headings (ff.1v, 7v, 20v), the first of which incorporates the Persian imperial motif of the lion and the sun. The second one introduces the qasidahs (long poems), and above it are depictions of the simurgh, a mythical bird, and a dragon. The third illuminated heading introduces the qhazals (shorter poems) and depicts a lion and two pelicans.

The facing portraits of Fath Ali Shah and his predecessor, Aqa Mohammad Khan, on ff.12v-13r, are dated 1217 AH (AD 1802-3). The portraits and the manuscript’s painted lacquer covers are signed by Mirza Baba, the shah’s painter laureate. Fath Ali Shah is shown in the porch of the Divan Khanah (audience chamber) of the Golestan Palace in Tehran, featuring twisted columns and marble dados, and overlooking the palace gardens. He wears his coronation regalia, including the jewel-encrusted Kiyani crown with black heron feathers. On his arm bands are two diamonds: the Koh-i-nûr (mountain of light) and Darya-i-nûr (sea of light), both taken during Nadir Shah’s conquest of Delhi in 1739. Aqa Muhammad Khan later took them from Nadir Shah’s successors.