Binding, Walters Art Museum W.672, Upper board outside

An album (muraqqaʿ) of calligraphy in the form of an accordion book put together by an anonymous collector, probably in the 12th century AH/ 18th CE. It consists of leaves bearing fragmentary passages from the Qur’an (Sūrat al-baqarah, 2:65-68 and Sūrat al-nisāʾ, 4:103-106), some sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, and two sheets of pen exercises (ḳaralama). Folio 5a bears the name of the celebrated Ottoman calligrapher Şeyh Hamdullah (Ḥamd Allāh al-Amāsī, d. 926 AH /1520 CE). This calligraphic page with verses from Sūrat al-baqarah, 2:65-68, is framed by an outer border of beautiful marbled paper. It belongs to an album of Ottoman calligraphy associated with Şeyh Hamdullah (d. 926 AH / 1520 CE) that was probably compiled in the 12th century AH/ 18th CE. Probably dates to the twelfth century AH / eighteenth CE; sheepskin-covered boards; central oval medallion; pendants and cornerpieces; gold-painted border; central panel filled with chamois leather