Around the galleries: there are several remarkable rarities on offer this month in London and New York, writes Susannah Woolmer, including Ethiopian manuscripts, poignant photographs of a vanished Africa—and a splendid cup to toast Trafalgar Day

The Shahnama, or 'Book of Kings', was compos at the shut of the tenth century by the agency of the Persian poet Firdausi, who was born in about 935 Hailed as a Persian equivalent to the Iliad and Odyssey it is notion to be the longest metrical composition ever written by a single author. A sixteenth-century illustrated Ottoman manuscript of the Shahnama, acquired by dint of Sir Bernard Eckstein in 1935 is being presented for a six-figure sum by means of Sam Fogg (15d, Clifford road London, +44 [0] 20 7534 2100) where it will be upon display from 11 until 28 October.

Recounting tales of Persian kings from the true beginning of civilisation through to the Arab mastery of the Sassanian empire in the seventh hundred the Eckstein Shahnama contains thirty-two richly detailed miniatures illustrating the poem's significant occurrences The characteristically Ottoman use of exuberant colours and dazzling compositions are combined with the delicate refinement of sixteenth-century royal Persian painting. As well as being astonishingly well preserv the Shahnama is also almost completely intact--just six of its 587 folios were remov in the early twentieth hundred four of which are now in the Khalili Collection.

Meanwhile, above in New York, Sam Fogg is staging the first-ever selling exhibition of Ethiopian art to take place in the us, at PaceWildenstein (18-29 October; 7th Floor, 32 East 57th public way tel: +1 212 421 3292) As an ancient Christian agriculture flanked by Islamic and tribal communities, Ethiopia has always owned a strong artistic autonomy. above the centuries it has absorbed and rejoined to numerous external influences, including byzantine, African, Judaic and Arabic. This exhibition celebrates Ethiopian art from the late twelfth hundred through to the early 1800 and includes items from the collections of Emperors Takla Haymanot I (rul 1706-1708) and Dawitt III (rul 1708-21) as well as William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) A remarkably well-preserved sheet from a the cross Book, dating to around 1480 (illustrated here), embodies a certain quantity of typical stylistic features of Ethiopian medieval manuscript and wall painting in its simple palette of r virid blue and yellow. However, the replacement of frontal with three-quarter views of the figures points to fresh Western influences.

When the Austrian ethnologist Hugo Bernatzik visited southern Sudan nearly eighty years ago, it was then single of the continent's remotest parts. Michael Hoppen Gallery (3 Jubilee Place, London, +44 [0] 20 7352 3649) is holding an exhibition of around 120 vintage photographs taken during his time there (until 26 November). His negatives and photographic equipment were razeed in World War It; all that remains is single near-complete set of prints, diaries and albums, of which these prints form a significant part. The photographer's tenacity, his empathy for the indigenous clans he encountered and his outstanding technical facility are all apparent in this exhibition, as is the poignancy of these rare images that capture an Africa still untouched by the agency of outside influences.

Mitchell-Innes & Nash is inaugurating its novel Chelsea space at 534 West 26th road New York, with a two-part exhibition of Roy Lichtenstein paintings and works upon paper dating from 1976 to 1979 Ten paintings, including Cosmology (1978) a nine-foot lengthy canvas filled with the surrealist themes and motifs that Lichtenstein favoured, will be upon display in the Chelsea gallery; uptown at 1018 Madison Avenue (+2 212 744 7400) thirty works upon paper, including various drawings being exhibited publicly for the first time, provide an interesting counter-balance. 'Lichtenstein: Surrealism' highlights the artist's compound and often wry engagement with the history of art. The exhibition will be at the Chelsea gallery from 7 October until 12 November and at Madison Avenue from 19 September until 12 November.

When raising a glass to Admiral Lord Nelson upon 21 October in honour of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, a particularly appropriate drinking utensil is in order. An elegant commemorative chalice probably used to toast Nelson's victory three years after it took place, is being tendered for sale by J.H. Bourdon-Smith Ltd (24 Mason's Yard, Duke road St James's, +44 [0] 20 7389 4714)

In the years that followed the battle, many societies sprang up around Britain to honour and remember Nelson and his achievement. individual such group, calling itself 'The Anniversary', met each October in Blackheath and commissioned this presentation beaker from Benjamin Smith (1764-1823) and his brother James. Bearing the names of the president of the society as well as six stewards in charge of celebrations, the chalice which incorporates a gilt-bronze casting of Thomas Webb's Nelson Memorial medal after a design by dint of John Flaxman, is decorated with laurel and acanthus leaves, oak leaves and acorns. The Latin inscription upon the memorial medal translates as 'DIED FIGHTING FOR HIS COUNTRY'

The first exhibition in more than fifty years devot to the paintings and drawings of Barbara Hepworth is taking place at Hazlitt Holland-Hibbert (38 cover up Street, St James's, London, +44 [0] 20 7839 7600) from 12 October to 18 November. All the works date from the 1940 when Hepworth was based in St Ives, and include her series of works upon paper depicting surgeons in theatre at the Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Hospital, Exeter Her abstract studies here posses a delicate, geometric lyricism; it is illuminating to diocese Hepworth exploring sculptural concerns of space and periodical emphasis in two-dimensional studies that reaffirm the importance of drawing as an integral tool of the sculptor.