For centuries books in the form of narrow scrolls several metres in length consisting of verses from the Koran, prayers, hadiths and talismanic formulas written in diverse script hands, such as nesih, gubari, kufi, muhakkak and talik were produced. These scrolls were illuminated, and the writing included calligraphic compositions known as istif, with the letters one above the other, and calligraphic pictures (composed of words arranged to represent figurative subjects).1 These scrolls were kept in metal or leather cases. Like miniature Korans written in tiny gubari script hands, these were believed to protect people from misfortune and calamity. The texts in this prayer anthology in the Sakıp Sabancı Museum collection are written in black or white ink in the muhakkak, nesih, gubari and sülüs scripts inside square, rectangular and oval cartouches. As well as prayers, the texts consist of verses from the En’am, Âl-i İmran, Yasin, Mülk and Bakara surahs, talismanic formulas, the 99 names of God, hadith, and vefk (matrices of letters and numbers, each written inside a small square) in oval, pyriform or circular shapes and seal of Solomon motifs. The top of the scroll appears to be missing, since the work begins with verse 18 of the Âl-i İmran surah. It ends with prayers to recite when entering the presence of sultans and at the sword-girding ceremony held when sultans acceded to the throne, for revoking spells, and curing those who have been struck dumb. Some of texts are written on a blue ground decorated with gilded scrolling branches and rumi motifs, and rumi motifs in various tones of gold on a gold or light chestnut coloured ground. There is similar decoration in the spaces between the fields of writing. The elongated oval field containing the 99 names of God is the most colourful, with the names written in white sülüs inside 99 medallions with grounds of blue, buff, light chestnut and green. The area between the medallions is gilded. Around the sülüs letters are Seljuk style rumi motifs painted a light buff colour. The style of illumination suggests that the scroll was produced in the second half of the 14th century either in Anatolia or in the Memluk lands.
