As for the seals of Iranian pre-Islamic Shakhs, you can have information about the issue in question from numerous sources appertaining to the early centuries of Islam; the following written productions being inclusive: “The Book about Viziers and Scribes” by Djakhshiyori, “Gold Horses” by Masudi, “Long Stories” by Donavari, “The Histori of Tabari” by Balami, “al-Fehrist” by Ibn Nadim; certain works by Ibn Mukaffah are related to this list as well. According to the data indicated in the origins the majority of Iranian pre-Islamic Shakhs, Djamshid and Husrav Anushervon being among the latters, had per four seals, each of them was assigned for office (institution). Khusrav Parviz had nine signed-rings and all of the latters had a special seal. The seals of pre-Islamic Shakhs, especially of the governors of the Sasanid period were distinguished with structure, pattern and inscription of their own. The seals of Persian were kept by Sohibzimom (seal custodian), i.e. by the person in charge of daftar (office, secretariat); revenues and expenditures were registered in every official paper, after recditing and verification a document was rewritten for being converted into a fair copy, a seal was stamped in it in the presence of the shakh or a person empowered to act for him. Each bundle of decrees and letters coming out of shakh’s secretariat was stamped with the special seal as without the latter no paper was valid for neighboring shahs and dabirs. The author of the article comes to the conclusion that the studies of pre-Islamic shakhs’ seals is of extraordinary importance not only for exploration of decrees and devons of pre-Islamic Iran but for determination of the types of letters, traditions of epistolary genre and establishment of the status of dabirs of devons (Ministries) either
Key-words: Sasanids Shakhs’ seals, sphragistics, signet, correspondence, kinds of letters, Ministry secretaries (dabironi devon)
1. Balozuri, Abdulhasan Ahmad, ibn Yakhyo. Conquest of Countries. Translated by Mukhammad Tavvakul. – Tehran: Silver. 1337 hijra. – 660pp.
2. Balami, Abuali Mukhammad. The History of Tabary. In two volumes. V.1. Tehran: Publishing-House Company on Science and Culture. 2001. – 825pp.
3. Dehpahlavon, Mustafo; Hindjoni; Mukhammad Kanavoti. On some Off-Prints Remained on Branded Cattle after Stamps and Dead Ants and Dove under the Sasanids// Archeological Readings (Studies). Period 7, №2, autumn and winter of 1394 hijra. – pp. 47-67
4. Dehhudo, Aliakbar. Mediator Dictionary Composed by Dehhudo. In 2 volumes. Under the editorship of Dr. Said Djafari Shahidi. Preparation: Gulomrizo Situda, Eradge Mekhraku, Akram Sultoni. – Tehran: Publishing-House of Tehran University. 1385 hijra. V.1. – pp.1-1615; V.2. – pp. 1616-3224
5. Dinavari, Abihanifa Ahmad ibn Dovud. Long Stories. Borderline. 1330 hijra. – 383 pp.
6. Dinavari, Abihanifa Ahmad ibn Dovud. Long Stories. Translated by Sodik Nishot. – Tehran: Publishing-House of Iranian Cultural Centre. 1346 hijra. – 450pp.
7. Ibn Asir, Izziddin. Complete History. Transposition by Dr. Siyid Husayn Ruhoni. – Tehran: Folklore Collection. 1383 hijra. V.1. – 446pp.
8. Ibidem. 1384 hijra. V.2. – pp. 447-934
9. Ibn Nadim, Mukhammad ibn Ishok. Ul-Fihrist Book. Translation and Commentaries by Mukhammad Rizo Tajaddud. – Tehran: Folklore Collection. 1381 hijra. – Thirty four – 854pp.
10. Christersen, Arthur. Iran in the Epoch of Sasanids: The History of Sasanidian Iran before Arabian Invasion and the Plight of the State and Religion in the Time under the Sasanids. Translation by Rashid Yousami. – Tehran: Book Gallery. 1383 hijra. – 562pp.
11. Masudi Abdilhasan Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali. The first part. Sayido-Beirut. 1425/2005. – 296pp.
12. Masudi Abdilhasan Ali ibn al-Husayn. Gold Horses. Translation by Abdulkosim Poyanda. V.1. – Tehran: The Company on Publishing Scientific and Cultural Edititons. 1382 hijra. – 785pp.
13. Ibidem. V.2. – 923pp.
14. Mirrahim, Mirbobo. Navruz-Holiday and World Cognition. – Dushanbe: Cognition. 1992. – 240pp.
15. Mukhammadali, Mukhammad. The History of Culture of Iran in the Period of Transition from the Epoch of Sasanids to the Century of Islam. V. 4. Tehran: Birch. 1380 hijra. – 440pp.
16. Ibidem. V.5. – 464pp.
17. Letters and Political Agreements of Mukhammad, Documents of the Initial Period of Islam. Research of the Materials Collected by Dr. Mukhammad Hamidulloh. Translation by Said Mukhammad Husayni. – Tehran: Herald. 1377 hijra. – 800pp.
18. The Translation of Tabari’s Commentary (In two books and seven volumes). Book one. Khujand: Light of Enlightenment. 2007 – 884pp.
19. Tafazzuli, Ahmad. The History of Iranian Literature in pre-Islamic Epoch. Under the editorship of Zhola Omuzgor. – Tehran: Word. 1377 hijra. – 452pp.
20. Khayam Omar. Navruznoma. Under the editorship of Mujnabo Miravi. – Tehran: Kova’s Library. 1933. – 151pp.
21. Khatibi, Khusayn. Prose in Persian Literature. – Tehran: Pilgrim. 1375 hijra. – 637pp.
Djakhshiyori, Abuabdulloh Mukhammad ibn Abdus. The Book about Viziers and Scribes. Translation by Abulfazl Tabotaboi. Introduction by Zaynulobidin Rahnamo. – Tehran: The Resplendent. 1348 hijra. – 439pp.