IO Islamic 4051 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)

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Irvine Collection

Three works on esoteric and occult science

Contents

Collection of three works on the esoteric science of jafr or divination by numbers and letters; various dimensions of each part

Language(s): Persian

Physical Description

Form: codex

Hand(s)

History

Origin: 18th-19th centuries CE ; India

a

Contents

1. ff. 412v-426r

Fragment of an untitled translation of the well-known treatise on jafr or numerology and isopsephy, the Kāfī of Abū ʿAlī Sīnā, into simple and understandable Persian prose

Translator not identified

The work is organised into 7 faṣl

Diagrams

Not dated and lacking colophon

Notes at end with numerological charts ascribed to a certain Mawlavī Ibrāhīm ṣāḥib

William Irvine number 332

Language(s): Persian

Physical Description

Form: codex
Extent: 14 ff.
Dimensions (leaf): 240 × 160 mm.

History

Origin: 1750 - 1800 CE ; India

b

Contents

2. ff. 427v-447r
Title: Mushāriqah-'i jafrīyah
Title: مشارقه جفريّه

Treatise on jafr or numerology and isopsephy written in 870/1465-66

Folios tinted pale pink

Diagrams

Colophon (f. 446r): completed Thursday, 9 Rabīʿ I 1159/1 April 1746, by Ṣaff Allāh (sic) ibn Ḥusayn ibn Muḥyī al-Dīn ʿAbd al-Qādir Jīlānī

William Irvine number 333

Language(s): Persian
Author: Ghiyās̲ al-Dīn ʿAlī ibn Amīr "Ibn al-Ḥusaynī" al-Iṣfahānī غياث الدّين على ابن امير ابن الحسينى الاصفهانى

Physical Description

Form: codex
Extent: 22 ff.
Dimensions (leaf): 240 × 160 mm.

History

Origin: Thursday, 9 Rabīʿ I 1159 AH; 1 April 1746 CE ; India

c

Contents

3. ff. 448v-463v

Illustrated astrological treatise, showing signs of the zodiac and the famous constellations

Illustrations (47 in total) mostly in poor quality, dilute pigments, and a naïve style. Details of costume locate the paintings from early- to mid-nineteenth-century India

Not dated

William Irvine number 334

Language(s): Persian

Physical Description

Form: codex
Extent: 15 ff.
Dimensions (leaf): 240 × 160 mm.

History

Origin: 1800 - 1850 CE ; India

Additional Information

Availability

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card for admissions procedures contact British Library, Registering for a Reader Pass. Contact apac-enquiries@bl.uk for further information on the availability of this manuscript. For information on catalogues and ordering manuscripts see Finding and ordering Persian manuscripts in the British Library.

Funding of Cataloguing

BL

Subjects

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