Watch List notes:

ISLAMIC, Islamic Seals. Circa 7th-10th century CE. Seal (Lead, 44 mm, 13.29 g), an Abbasid seal, circa 9th-10th century. 'Bism Allah khatim ibil / al-Jazira allaty aukturyat / li Hajj Amir al-Mu'minin / Hafizah Allah' ('In the name of God Seal of the camels of Al Jazira which were used (or rented) for the Commander of the Faithful's Pilgrimage (Hajj) God Save him' in Kufic). Rev. Latticework design. An important and highly interesting seal. Good very fine.


The inscription on this fascinating seal tells the story of camels from al-Jazira (the upper Mesopotamia), which were rented by the Caliph for his al-Hajj, the pilgrimage to the holiest of all places, to Mecca.