Arabic MS 134 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)

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Persian Manuscripts

The first volume of a five-volume set containing stories from the Arabian Nights and other sources.

Title: الف ليلة وليلة

According to Mingana, the scribe was most likely Christian because he sometimes introduces a new tale as بسم الاب والاين والروح القدس والاله الواحدز

Language(s): Arabic

2b-29b

Title: Ḥikayat al-tājir wa-al-jinni

Title: حكاية التاجر والجني

Title: The Story of the Merchant and the Genie

Full title in manuscript: حكاية التاجر والجني وايضا الشواهد وحكاية بنت ملك كسره.

Incipit: نبتدي بعون الله تعالي وحسن

31a-103a

Title: 68 tales

Incipit: اما بعد فقد طلب مني بعض الاحبا المكر

Usually introduced by the rubricated word shahid (شاهد).

104b-143a

Title: Ḥikayat bint malik Ḥusrau

Title: حكاية بنت ملك حسره

Title: The Story of the Daugther of King Ḥusrau

For the other volumes of the set, see Arabic MS 135 (Vol. 2), Arabic MS 136 (Vol. 3), Arabic MS 137 (Vol. 4), Arabic MS 138 (Vol. 5).

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: paper

Extent: 143 folios (ii+143+ii)

Dimensions (leaf): 161 × 97 mm.

Dimensions (written): 116 × 65 mm.

Foliation: Modern foliation in Western Arabic numberals in pencil.

Collation

Catchword on every verso.

Condition

Water damage, usage stains, iron gall ink corrosion.

Layout

Uniform layout. Running title on top of the pages in red ink.

Hand(s)

Naskh script in black and red ink. Same hand throughout, possibly Christian scribe (cf. Mingana).

Additions:

Note in pencil on flyleaf ia: Arabian Tales Vol. 1.

Binding

European binding. Half-bound with marble paper covers.

History

Origin:

Provenance and Acquisition

It was brought from Aleppo by Dr Patrick Russell, physician and naturalist who worked in Aleppo, Syria and in the Madras Province of India. Dr P. Russell bequeathed it to Mr C. Russell's sons in 1805; see note on the front paste-down: Bequeath'd by Dr Patrick Russell to Mr C. Russell's sons 1805

Formerly part of the collection of the Persian scholar Nathaniel Bland (1803-1865). His bookplate on the back paste-down: "Bland MSS 213".

Bland’s oriental manuscripts were sold through Bernard Quaritch in 1866 to Alexander Lindsay, 25th Earl of Crawford.

Purchased by Enriqueta Rylands (1843–1908) Rylands, Enriqueta, 1843–1908 in 1901 from James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford (1847–1913) Crawford, James Ludovic Lindsay, Earl of, 1847–1913 .

Purchased by Enriqueta Rylands in 1901 from James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford, for the John Rylands Library.

Bequeathed by Enriqueta Rylands (1843–1908) in 1908 to John Rylands Library.

Record Sources

Catalogue information compiled by Abdullah al-Rashidi from Alphonse Mingana, Catalogue of the Arabic Manuscripts in the John Rylands Library, Manchester University Press, 1934. Revised and expanded by Zsófia Buda.

Availability

The item is available for consultation by any accredited reader.

For information on eligibility and admissions procedures, see Using Special Collections at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library.

For further information on the availability of the item, please contact the Special Collections Reader Services.

Digital Images

Library Digital Collections (full digital facsimile)

Bibliography

Funding of Cataloguing

The John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Subjects

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