Acc. 2023/72 (Leigh Town Hall, Wigan Council Archives: Wigan & Leigh)
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Oriental Manuscripts
Six volumes of calligraphy collected by Colonel George William Hamilton (1807–1868).
Contents
Summary of Contents: These six volumes contain 107 calligraphy specimens written in Persian, Arabic, and Hindustani, collected by Colonel George William Hamilton (1807–1868) during his tenure in who served in India from 1823 to 1867. Ultimately appointed Commissioner of Delhi in 1862, he acquired nearly 1,200 oriental manuscripts, from which the British Museum purchased 352 from his widow, Charlotte Logie Hamilton (1817–1893), now mainly held in the British Library. These calligraphy specimens encompass both works by famed masters, and items presented to him as gifts by his subordinates and acquaintances. Several composition feature his name and titles, or praise him on certain occasions.
Alexander Lindsay, 25th Earl of Crawford and 8th earl of Balcarres (1812–1880), then purchased the remainder in 1868 for Bibliotheca Lindesiana at Haigh Hall, Wigan. In 1895, Alexander's son and successor James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford and 9th Earl of Balcarres (1847–1913) personally selected and arranged the specimens, then hired Fazakerley of Liverpool, then owned and operated by John Fazakerley (1843–1909), to mount, bevel mat, and bind them in six royal folios volumes. He then presented them as a gift that same year to the Wigan Free Public Library.Title: Specimens of Oriental PenmanshipTitle: Specimens of Oriental Penmanship Arranged by the Right Hon. The Earl of Crawford and Presented by His Lordship to the Wigan Free Public LibraryLanguage(s): PersianPhysical Description
Form: codexSupport: Textblock comprised of heavy-weight machine-made, calendered paper mat boards manufactured in the Britain.Extent: 6 volumes.Foliation: Some specimens numbered at top, in modern pencilled Arabic numerals, likely written by James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford (1847–1913) to arrange them, and followed for this record.Collation
UndeterminedCondition
Handle folios with caution. Fully interleaved. In fair but stable condition, with extensive acid migration stains and grime.Hand(s)
Title pages written in in a bold black and red gothic hand.
Additions:Binding
Mounted, bevel-matted, and bound in six uniform royal folio volumes by Fazakerley of Liverpool, then owned and operated by John Fazakerley (1843–1909), for James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford (1847–1913).
Predominantly alizarin 'British'-patterned marbled endleaves, overprinted gilt and black veins added to the beginnings and ends, with all folios aattached to custom-made compensation guards, then oversewn on six recessed cords, laced into pasteboards. Edges ploughed then heads edge-gilt, with single-core decorative endbands in red, blue, and white threads over split cane cores at head and tail. Half bound in claret coloured, full naturally grained, goatskin leather, hollow-backed, with six false bands, and pebble-grained marroon starch-filled bookcloth sides.
Spine panels paletted in thick blind and thin single fillets by the bands, with double fillets on the bands, and titled:
‘SPECIMENS
OF
ORIENTAL
PENMANSHIP’.
Boards tooled with single blind and gold fillets by the cloth. Signed by the firm ‘FAZAKERLEY BINDER LIVERPOOL’ in gold on the left board interiors, lower-right dentelles.History
Origin:Originally collected by Colonel George William Hamilton (1807-1868) who served in India from 1823 to 1867. Ultimately appointed Commissioner of Delhi in 1862, he acquired nearly 1,200 oriental manuscripts, from which the British Museum purchased 352 from his widow, Charlotte Logie Hamilton (1817–1893), now mostly held in the British Library.
Provenance and Acquisition
Alexander Lindsay, 25th Earl of Crawford (1812–1880), purchased the remainder in 1868 for Bibliotheca Lindesiana at Haigh Hall, Wigan.
Inherited by James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford (1847–1913) who personally selected, arranged, and hired Fazakerley of Liverpool to bind the set. He then presented them as a gift that same year to the Wigan Free Public Library in 1895.
Transferred to the Archives: Wigan & Leigh in 2023.
Acc. 2023/72 Vol. I
Volume I contains eighteen calligraphy specimens, Nos. 1-18.
Physical Description
Form: codexExtent: 19 folios 6 flyleaves (ff. iii + 19 + iii) .Dimensions (leaf): 525 × 358 mm.Binding
539 × 405 × 72 mm.
Handle binding with caution. In good, stable condition, with slight abrasion to the exteriors and board edges and corners bumped.
1
Contents
Summary of Contents: This unsigned fragment of ornate Persian prose written in shikastah-ta‘līq (broken-suspended) script, contains ten lines praising upright knowledge and actions.Folio 2aAuthor: AnonymousTitle: Ornate Persian prose fragmentLanguage(s): PersianIncipit: للفخر الله بالعلمColophon: بتاریخ بیست و یکم ۲۱ شهر شوال سنه ۱۱۲۷ هجریLanguage(s): PersianPhysical Description
Support: Written on dark tan-coloured, externally lightly sized and polished tinted paper.Dimensions (leaf): 120 × 151 mm.Condition
In poor condition with extensive breaks and losses.Layout
Landscape format, written in 1 column in 10 lines. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.
Hand(s)
Written in shikastah ta‘līq script.
History
Origin: Probably completed in the Mughal Empire 21 Shawwāl 1127 AH (20 October 1715 CE).2
Contents
Summary of Contents: This ornate Persian prose composition quotes a passage of the Ḥabīb al-Siyar (Beloved of the Times) by Khvānd Mīr (ca. 1475–1535) concerning early Islamic philosopher Fārābī (ca. 870–950) known as 'Alpharabius' in Latin, followed by another paraphrased excerpt from the Ā'īn-i Akbar (Administrations of Akbar) by Abū al-Faz̤l (1551–1602), written in South Asian style shikastah-ta‘līq (broken-suspended) script by Ḥusayn for Rājah Mahānrā bin Sīrlām in Shāhjahānābād (Dehli) on 16 Ẕi al-Qa‘dah, year 26 of the reign of Shāh ‘Ālam II (1199 AH/20 September 1785 CE).Folio 3aAuthor: Khvānd Mīr, Ghiyās̲ al-Dīn ibn Humām al-Dīn, ca. 1475–1535;
غیاث الدین ابن همام الدین میر خواندScribe: al-Marrī ḤusaynAddressee: Rājah Mahānrā bin SīrlāmTitle: حبیب السیرLanguage(s): PersianIncipit: (beginning) الله اکبر. رد حبیب سیر مخبر است که فارابی از مشاهر حکما اسلام است نام پرور نصر محمد ترخان یافت معلم هی فاراب بزعم بعضی از ارباب الباب نام شهریست بلاساغون و افول(؟) بعضی ولایتست در دیار ترکستان و مهارت در فنون حکمت و کمالات اولیه(؟) بود که عقل عقلین کامل کیاست مافوق آن درجه تصور نمیتوان گردد. در بعضی از تواریخ حبیب گشته در اواخر لام حیات بولایات شام رفت و در مجلس سیف الدوله لحظه برای بالاستاد در مباحثه دانشمندان نخل کرد سیف الدوله فرمود که بنشین گفت «کجا نشستم؟» سبف الدوله فرمود که «هر کجا فایل جلوس توان» ابو نصر در پهلوی سیف الدوله بر مسند سلطنت نشست و عرق و غیرت و نخوت پادشاهانه در حرکت آمده برای که متخصص آنها بود غلامان خود که این ترک ادب کرد چون از مجلس بیرون رود بسیاست رساند ابو نصر گفت «ايها الامیر اصبر فان الامور بعواقبها» سیف الدوله متعجب نمود و گفت «تو چه دانستی که من چه گفتم؟» گفت که «ما بجمیع من ز آنها و افقم(؟) بعد از آن بعلما آغاز مناظره نمود فایق آمده و هرچه علماء ازو نصر شنیدند در سلک تحریر در آورده در وقت حاجت حجت باشد بعد از آ مقدمات سیف الدوله او را در سلک مخوصوصا آورده ابو نصر را نگاهداشته او را داخل ارباب و اهل سازوآواز را طلبیده فرمود سرود لسان نمود ابو نصر اعتراضات بر آن جماعت فرموده سیف الدوله پرسید که بر این علم نرسما است وقوفی هست از میان خود چند قطعه از آلات غنا بر آورده بر یکدیگر فصل نموده نواخت چندانکه اهل مجلس بخنده در آمده بعد از آن همان ز آلات بهیأت دیگر اتصال نموده نواخت که همی بجواب در افتاده سیف الدوله را واهی صحبت دلبین او خوش انده فرموودهرچه خواهی از من بطلب ولیکن ماهی در ملک من افتادید شما گفت ابو نصر بشرطی که مرا تکلیف ملازمت نکنی بر آنگاه دلبین حزب هر بر روشن است ...Incipit: این غنچه افرین که آنرا خط یافته چون عالم قدیم بی شروین است نه آورده مراتب است و نه آورده مهتاب در هر زمانی طایفه نوشتند و تهی و خاص در نمونش این حروف سر خاصه این چون خط هندی و یونانی و سریانی و قبطی و معقلی و عبری و کشمیری و کوفی و حبشی و ریحان(؟) و روحانی و غیر آن و در بعضی کتبت بالخیر برای آدم نسبت کتبت قضا بود بادریس که خط معقلی ترتیب داده به وسیله نماد که بیشتر تفاوت خط کوفی یک دانگ دور است باقی سطح است و معقلی تمام سطح و کتابهای عمارت کهنه به این خط است ...Colophon: در شاهجهانآباد تخویل راجه مهانرا بن سیرلام المری حسین مشق نمود بتاریخ بیست و یکم ۲۱ شهر شوال سنه ۲۶ شاه عالم.Colophon: Drafted in Shāhjahānābād (Dehli) for Rājah Mahānrā bin Sīrlām by al-Marrī Ḥusayn on 26 year Shāh ‘Ālam [II] (16 Ẕi al-Qa‘dah AH/20 September 1785 CE).Language(s): PersianPhysical Description
Support: Written on externally sized and polished, finely sprayed red decorated paper.Dimensions (leaf): 120 × 151 mm.Condition
In good condition.Layout
Landscape format, written in 2 columns, the top with 21 oblique lines, the bottom nine horizontal. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.
Hand(s)
Written in shikastah ta‘līq script by al-Marrī Ḥusayn.
History
Origin: Completed by al-Marrī Ḥusayn in Shāhjahānābād (Dehli); 21 Shawwāl 1127 AH (20 October 1715 CE).3
Contents
Summary of Contents: This densely written South Asian style shikastah-ta‘līq script relates an anecdote concerning Imām Mūsá al-Kāẓim ibn Jaʻfar (ca. 745–799).Folio 4aTitle: Persian prose anecdote regarding Imām Muḥammad Musà KāẓimIncipit: اوردهاند که در زمانی که حضرت امام محمد موسی کاظم از دست امت را ⟨[؟]⟩ اختیار فرمود گزارش تعرف کوهستان(؟) اقبال ملاخظه فرمود که جمیعی از قوم نصاری سحایب(؟) گهروند خضرت پرسیدند که کجا میروید گویند بر بلای کوه را همی استLanguage(s): PersianPhysical Description
Support: Written on ivory paper decorated with black and red spatters applied in tiny clusters, possibly by the calligrapher.Dimensions (leaf): 204 × 123 mm.Condition
In fair but stable condition with slight moisture damage, staining, and smearing.Layout
Portrait format, written in 1 column in 14 lines. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.
Hand(s)
Written in hasty black shikastah ta‘līq script.
4
Contents
Summary of Contents: This striking naskh script compisition in the style after Persian master Aḥmad Nayrīzī, paraphrases a popular quote attributed to medieval poet and satirist ‘Ubayd Zakānī (d. ca. 1370), regarding five keys to happiness in life, reportedly displayed on a plaque by the pre-Islamic ruler Ānūshīrvān Khusraw (Khosrow I, King of Persia, ca. 484–579). An scribe named Muḥammad Walī Khān copied it in white lead on medium indigo blue paper in 1195 AH (1781 CE).Folio 5aScribe: Muḥammad Walī Khān;
محمد ولی خانColophon: Signed ‘Muḥammad Walī Khān 1195 AH (1781 CE)’.While several men of this name appear in historical sources, none comport with this date, hence he remains unidentified.
Language(s): PersianPhysical Description
Support: Indigo blue tinted paper.Dimensions (leaf): 293 × 173 mm.Condition
In fair but stable condition with upper damaged areas overpainted.Hand(s)
Written in bold white naskh script.
History
Origin: Completed by Muḥammad Walī Khān, in 1195 AH (1781 CE)5
Contents
Summary of Contents: Arabic ḥadīth (Prophetic tradition) concerning the spiritual rewards for good handwriting written in bold thuluth script at top, which continues in smaller naskh in the centre, also bears Persian poetry obliquely written in nasta‘līq on the right and left.Folio 6aTitle:Scribe: Ḥaydar Qulī;
حیدر قلیColophon: حرره المذنب الفقير المحتاج الى الله العلي خيدر قلى غفر له و لوالدينهColophon: Undated but signed by Ḥaydar Qulī.Language(s): Arabic and PersianProbably not the same man as Safavid scribe named Muḥammad ‘Ali bin Ḥaydar Qulī, who completed Bodleian Library MS. Elliott 63 in Shaʻbān 985 AH (October-November 1577 CE).
Physical Description
Support: Finely silver-flecked paper, now tarnished. Mounted on a narrow dark indigo blue paper.Dimensions (leaf): 158 × 238 mm.Condition
In fair but stable condition with water damage along the bottom edge, and modest smudging.6
Contents
Folio 7aTitle:Language(s): Persian7
Contents
Folio 8aTitle:Language(s): Persian8
Contents
Folio 9aTitle:Language(s): Persian9
Contents
Folio 10aTitle:Language(s): Persian10
Contents
Folio 11aTitle:Language(s): Persian11
Contents
Folio 12aTitle:Language(s): Persian12
Contents
Folio 13aTitle:Language(s): Persian13
Contents
Folio 14aTitle:Language(s): Persian14
Contents
Folio 15aTitle:Language(s): Persian15
Contents
Folio 16aTitle:Language(s): Persian16
Contents
Folio 17aTitle:Language(s): Persian17
Contents
Folio 18aTitle:Language(s): Persian18
Contents
Folio 19aTitle:Language(s): PersianAcc. 2023/72 Vol. II
Volume II contains eighteen calligraphy specimens, Nos. 19-36.
Physical Description
Form: codexExtent: 19 folios 6 flyleaves (ff. iii + 19 + iii) .Dimensions (leaf): 524 × 360 mm.Binding
539 × 408 × 73 mm.
Handle binding with condition. In fair but stable condition, with extensive staining, abrasion, and salts on the exterior, probably due to prolonged exposure to moisture.
19
Contents
Folio 2aTitle:Language(s): Persian20
Contents
Folio 3aTitle:Language(s): Persian21
Contents
Folio 4aTitle:Language(s): Persian22
Contents
Folio 5aTitle:Language(s): Persian23
Contents
Folio 6aTitle:Language(s): Persian24
Contents
Folio 7aTitle:Language(s): Persian25
Contents
Folio 8aTitle:Language(s): Persian26
Contents
Folio 9aTitle:Language(s): Persian27
Contents
Folio 10aTitle:Language(s): Persian28
Contents
Folio 11aTitle:Language(s): Persian29
Contents
Folio 12aTitle:Language(s): Persian30
Contents
Folio 13aTitle:Language(s): Persian31
Contents
Folio 14aTitle:Language(s): Persian32
Contents
Folio 15aTitle:Language(s): Persian33
Contents
Folio 16aTitle:Language(s): Persian34
Contents
Folio 17aTitle:Language(s): Persian35
Contents
Folio 18aTitle:Language(s): Persian36
Contents
Folio 19aTitle:Language(s): PersianAcc. 2023/72 Vol. III
Volume III contains eighteen calligraphy specimens, Nos. 37-54.
Physical Description
Form: codexExtent: 19 folios 6 flyleaves (ff. iii + 19 + iii) .Binding
Handle binding with condition. In good, stable condition, with slight abrasion to the exteriors and board edges.
37
Contents
Folio 2aTitle:Language(s): Persian38
Contents
Folio 3aTitle:Language(s): Persian39
Contents
Folio 4aTitle:Language(s): Persian40
Contents
Folio 5aTitle:Language(s): Persian41
Contents
Folio 6aTitle:Language(s): Persian42
Contents
Folio 7aTitle:Language(s): Persian43
Contents
Folio 8aTitle:Language(s): Persian44
Contents
Folio 9aTitle:Language(s): Persian45
Contents
Folio 10aTitle:Language(s): Persian46
Contents
Folio 11aTitle:Language(s): Persian47
Contents
Folio 12aTitle:Language(s): Persian48
Contents
Folio 13aTitle:Language(s): Persian49
Contents
Folio 14aTitle:Language(s): Persian50
Contents
Folio 15aTitle:Language(s): Persian51
Contents
Folio 16aTitle:Language(s): Persian52
Contents
Folio 17aTitle:Language(s): Persian53
Contents
Folio 18aTitle:Language(s): Persian54
Contents
Folio 19aTitle:Language(s): PersianAcc. 2023/72 Vol. IV
Volume IV contains eighteen calligraphy specimens, Nos. 55-72.
Physical Description
Form: codexExtent: 19 folios 6 flyleaves (ff. iii + 19 + iii) .Dimensions (leaf): 525 × 360 mm.Binding
542 × 410 × 72 mm.
Handle binding with condition. In good, stable condition, with slight abrasion on the exteriors and board edges.
55
Contents
Folio 2aTitle:Language(s): Persian56
Contents
Folio 3aTitle:Language(s): Persian57
Contents
Folio 4aTitle:Language(s): Persian58
Contents
Folio 5aTitle:Language(s): Persian59
Contents
Folio 6aTitle:Language(s): Persian60
Contents
Folio 7aTitle:Language(s): Persian61
Contents
Folio 8aTitle:Language(s): Persian62
Contents
Folio 9aTitle:Language(s): Persian63
Contents
Folio 10aTitle:Language(s): Persian64
Contents
Folio 11aTitle:Language(s): Persian65
Contents
Folio 12aTitle:Language(s): Persian66
Contents
Folio 13aTitle:Language(s): Persian67
Contents
Folio 14aTitle:Language(s): Persian68
Contents
Folio 15aTitle:Language(s): Persian69
Contents
Folio 16aTitle:Language(s): Persian70
Contents
Folio 17aTitle:Language(s): Persian71
Contents
Folio 18aTitle:Language(s): Persian72
Contents
Folio 19aTitle:Language(s): PersianAcc. 2023/72 Vol. V
Volume V contains eighteen calligraphy specimens, Nos. 73-90.
Physical Description
Form: codexExtent: 19 folios 6 flyleaves (ff. iii + 19 + iii) .Dimensions (leaf): 526 × 362 mm.Binding
540 × 408 × 71 mm.
Handle binding with condition. In good, stable condition, with slight abrasion to the exteriors and board edges.
73
Contents
Folio 2aTitle:Language(s): Persian74
Contents
Folio 3aTitle:Language(s): Persian75
Contents
Folio 4aTitle:Language(s): Persian76
Contents
Folio 5aTitle:Language(s): Persian77
Contents
Folio 6aTitle:Language(s): Persian78
Contents
Folio 7aTitle:Language(s): Persian79
Contents
Folio 8aTitle:Language(s): Persian80
Contents
Folio 9aTitle:Language(s): Persian81
Contents
Folio 10aTitle:Language(s): Persian82
Contents
Folio 11aTitle:Language(s): Persian83
Contents
Folio 12aTitle:Language(s): Persian84
Contents
Folio 13aTitle:Language(s): Persian85
Contents
Folio 14aTitle:Language(s): Persian86
Contents
Folio 15aTitle:Language(s): Persian87
Contents
Folio 16aTitle:Language(s): Persian88
Contents
Folio 17aTitle:Language(s): Persian89
Contents
Folio 18aTitle:Language(s): Persian90
Contents
Folio 19aTitle:Language(s): PersianAcc. 2023/72 Vol. VI
Volume VI, the final one of the set, contains seventeen calligraphy specimens, Nos. 91-107.
Physical Description
Form: codexExtent: 18 folios 6 flyleaves (ff. iii + 18 + iii) .Binding
Handle binding with condition. In good, stable condition, with slight abrasion to the exteriors and board edges.
91
Contents
Folio 2aTitle:Language(s): Persian92
Contents
Folio 3aTitle:Language(s): Persian93
Contents
Folio 4aTitle:Language(s): Persian94
Contents
Folio 5aTitle:Language(s): Persian95
Contents
Folio 6aTitle:Language(s): Persian96
Contents
Folio 7aTitle:Language(s): Persian97
Contents
Folio 8aTitle:Language(s): Persian98
Contents
Folio 9aTitle:Language(s): Persian99
Contents
Folio 10aTitle:Language(s): Persian100
Contents
Folio 11aTitle:Language(s): Persian101
Contents
Folio 12aTitle:Language(s): Persian102
Contents
Folio 13aTitle:Language(s): Persian103
Contents
Folio 14aTitle:Language(s): Persian104
Contents
Folio 15aTitle:Language(s): Persian105
Contents
Folio 16aTitle:Language(s): Persian106
Contents
Folio 17aTitle:Language(s): Persian107
Contents
Folio 18aTitle:Language(s): PersianAdditional Information
Record Sources
Bibliographical description by Jake Benson in 2025 with reference to the volumes in hand.
Availability
To book an in-person or online appointment to consult the manuscript, visit . For any other enquiries please email archives@wigan.gov.uk
Custodial History
Volumes III and VI exhibited in The Nature of Gothic: : Reflecting the Natural World in Historic and Contemporary Artistic Practice at the Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery, Cambridge in 2025.
Bibliography
Jake Benson, 'Specimens of Oriental Penmanship in the Borough of Wigan: The Calligraphy Collection of Colonel George William Hamilton (1807–1868)' Persian Manuscripts in Britain (forthcoming, 2026).Jake Benson and Christopher Bahl, 'Colonel George William Hamilton (1807–1868): Collecting Manuscripts in Nineteenth-Century South Asia.' (forthcoming, 2026).Funding of Cataloguing
The Soudavar Memorial Foundation
Subjects
- Arabic letters
- British--India--History
- Calligraphy
- Calligraphy, Arabic
- Calligraphy, Islamic
- Calligraphy, Persian
- Delhi (India)--History
- Devotional poetry
- Devotional poetry, Arabic
- Devotional poetry, Urdu
- India--History
- India--History--18th century
- India--History--19th century
- Laudatory poetry
- Laudatory poetry, Arabic
- Laudatory poetry, Persian
- Persian poetry--747-1500; Persian poetry--1500-1796
- Religious poetry, Persian
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