1. Coran miniature ancien, probablement Afrique du Nord XV-XVIe siècle An early miniature Qur'an, Probably North Africa, 15th-16th Century Arabic manuscript on paper, 22-26 lines to the page written in small naskhi script in gold, red dots marking verse-endings, illuminated marginal devices, sura headings written in black ink on a gold ground with a device extending into the margin, five double-pages of illumination with outer margins decorated with stylised floral, geometric and knot motifs in colours and gold, brown leather binding with stamped diaper pattern, with flap 41 x 35 mm., 22 mm. deep Provenance Property from a Royal Collection. Such miniature manuscripts of the Qur'an were primarily designed for their talismanic and protective properties, to be carried on the owner's person, whether in battle (when its properties would be particularly desirable) or in everyday life (perhaps when undertaking a journey). The manuscript would generally be carried in a silver case, often inscribed with verses from the Qur'an or prayers, and hung on a cord around the neck, or as a bazuband on the upper arm. For examples of such cases in the Khalili Collection, both cylindrical for manuscripts in scroll form, and (as would have been appropriate for our manuscript) rectangular or circular, together with discussion, see F. Maddison, E. Savage-Smith, Science, Tools and Magic: Part One, London 1997, pp. 142-147.