Union Catalogue of Manuscripts from the Islamicate World

Or 15973 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)

Oriental Manuscripts

Tuhfat al-vuzara’

Contents

1 copy of Tuḥfat al-vuzarā’

A brief work on ethics comprising forty chapters (bāb), each of which consists of a maxim mentioning four things or matters. The author is not identified. In the present manuscript, the text concludes, and was clearly intended to conclude, with Bāb 37, the content of which (at least in this manuscript; see below) gives an impression of finality. This is alluded to in an inscription on the f. 8r.

Identical in structure, though slightly different in at least the wording of the first chapter, is the equally anonymous Tuhfat al-muluk = Tuhfat al-vuzarā’ described by Munzavī in FNKhF II/2, pp. 1062-3. The earliest of the 31 copies listed is dated 925/1519.

Colophon, f. 8v. Dated 1279/1862-3. Copied by ‘Alīnaqī (probably ‘Alīnaqī ibn Muḥammad Taqī) for Āqā Mīrzā ‘Alī, Mustawfī-i Dīvān-i A‘là.

Language(s): Persian
Filiation:

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support:
Extent: 8 ff.
Dimensions (leaf): 237 × 153 mm.
Dimensions (written): 140 × 66 mm.

Condition

The original catchwords having been lost when the folios were remarginated.

Layout

9 lines.

Hand(s)

Excellent calligraphic nasta‘līq. Copied by ‘Alīnaqī for Āqā Mīrzā ‘Alī, Mustawfī-i Dīvān-i A‘là.

Decoration

Catchwords have been added within the text frame, on both verso and recto, in an inferior hand. Chapter headings in gold. Gilt headpiece, f. 1v. Text frames in gold, black, blue, and gold. Text area gold-spattered; margins coloured blue, green, lilac, yellow, pink, or brown. folios.

Additions:

Binding

Original morocco binding covered with gold-coloured paper except for the spine.

History

Origin: 1279 (1862 - 1863) AH

Provenance and Acquisition

2003-10-16

Purchased at Bonhams sale 16 Oct 2003, lot 192

Record Sources

Based on unpublished description in M.I. Waley, Catalogue of Persian Manuscripts acquired 2000-2014.

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


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