P. 30 (University Library, Cambridge University)
E. G. Browne Collection
Contents
Summary of Contents: تنگسوی نامه ایلخانی Another older and more complete copy of the Tansúq- (or Tangsúq as it is
entitled in the colophon) ndma-i-khání, dated Jumáda 11, 973 (January, 1566),
comprising 142 pp. of 188 x 12'4 c. and 13 ll., written in a large, clear ta'liq with
rubrications. This MS., like the last, formerly belonged to the late Sir Albert
Houtum-Schindler, who, in a pencil-note on the fly-leaf, has described it as "very
much abridged, and sequence of chapters different from that of British Museum
MS. C. The first Maqála with four fasls and the second Maqála up to the middle
of the Pearl chapter are missing in this." The text begins abruptly in the middle of the part dealing with the Pearl: Lower down on the same page (p. 1) comes: .... و آنچه سوراخ او فراخ بودی بنیم بها بیش نخریدندی و مغولان در آن تفاوت نمی نهند الخ فصل دوم در آنچه تعلّق به بزرگی و خوردی مروارید باشد الخ The divisions adopted in the text contained in this volume appear to differ
somewhat from those described in the last article. The title Báb (Chapter) appears
to be substituted for Maqála (Discourse). The first chapter deals with 41 precious
stones (pp. 1-68); the second with ten valued animal and vegetable products, such as Oil of Balsam, Ivory, Ebony, Terra Sigillata, etc. (pp. 68-91); the third (wrongly
called "second") with eight fragrant substances, such as Musk, Ambergris, Aloes,
Camphor, Sandal-wood, Saffron and Civet (pp. 92-120); and the fourth and last
with eleven metals and fusible substances, such as Gold, Silver, Copper, Tin, Lead,
Iron, etc. (pp. 121-136). This is followed (pp. 136-137) by a section entitled: سخن در نسبت گوهرهای گداختنی با یکدیگر بوزن و مقدار در انواع ادیم و آنچه تعلق دارد بان and a final section (pp. 137-141): The late Sir A. Houtum-Schindler interested himself greatly in mineralogy and
precious stones, and especially in the Tansúq-náma. The present MS. he denoted by
the letter A, the preceding one (P. 29, III) by the letter B, and the British Museum
MS. (apparently the best and most complete) by the letter C. He wrote an article
on the subject in the Athenaeum [I have searched for this article in the files of the Athenaeum from 1880 onward, but without
success.], and the only work he left in a state approaching
completion was a type-written translation of one of these Persian Lapidaries
which I have not yet succeeded in identifying.
entitled in the colophon) ndma-i-khání, dated Jumáda 11, 973 (January, 1566),
comprising 142 pp. of 188 x 12'4 c. and 13 ll., written in a large, clear ta'liq with
rubrications. This MS., like the last, formerly belonged to the late Sir Albert
Houtum-Schindler, who, in a pencil-note on the fly-leaf, has described it as "very
much abridged, and sequence of chapters different from that of British Museum
MS. C. The first Maqála with four fasls and the second Maqála up to the middle
of the Pearl chapter are missing in this." The text begins abruptly in the middle of the part dealing with the Pearl: Lower down on the same page (p. 1) comes: .... و آنچه سوراخ او فراخ بودی بنیم بها بیش نخریدندی و مغولان در آن تفاوت نمی نهند الخ فصل دوم در آنچه تعلّق به بزرگی و خوردی مروارید باشد الخ The divisions adopted in the text contained in this volume appear to differ
somewhat from those described in the last article. The title Báb (Chapter) appears
to be substituted for Maqála (Discourse). The first chapter deals with 41 precious
stones (pp. 1-68); the second with ten valued animal and vegetable products, such as Oil of Balsam, Ivory, Ebony, Terra Sigillata, etc. (pp. 68-91); the third (wrongly
called "second") with eight fragrant substances, such as Musk, Ambergris, Aloes,
Camphor, Sandal-wood, Saffron and Civet (pp. 92-120); and the fourth and last
with eleven metals and fusible substances, such as Gold, Silver, Copper, Tin, Lead,
Iron, etc. (pp. 121-136). This is followed (pp. 136-137) by a section entitled: سخن در نسبت گوهرهای گداختنی با یکدیگر بوزن و مقدار در انواع ادیم و آنچه تعلق دارد بان and a final section (pp. 137-141): The late Sir A. Houtum-Schindler interested himself greatly in mineralogy and
precious stones, and especially in the Tansúq-náma. The present MS. he denoted by
the letter A, the preceding one (P. 29, III) by the letter B, and the British Museum
MS. (apparently the best and most complete) by the letter C. He wrote an article
on the subject in the Athenaeum [I have searched for this article in the files of the Athenaeum from 1880 onward, but without
success.], and the only work he left in a state approaching
completion was a type-written translation of one of these Persian Lapidaries
which I have not yet succeeded in identifying.
Physical Description
Form: codex
Support: Paper
Extent: Ff. 71
Dimensions: 18.8 × 12.4 cm.
Layout
13 lines
Hand(s)
Written in a large, clear ta'liq with rubrications.
History
Origin: 973 AH; 1566 CE
Provenance and Acquisition
This MS., like the last, formerly belonged to the late Sir Albert Houtum-Schindler.
Bequest of E. G. Browne.
Record Sources
Summary, physical description and provenance copied from R. A. Nicholson: A descriptive catalogue of the Oriental MSS belonging to the late E.G. Browne. Cambridge, 1932.
Availability
Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card for admissions procedures contact Cambridge University Library Admissions). Contact near_eastern@lib.cam.ac.uk for further information on the availability of this manuscript
Funding of Cataloguing
JISC
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