Persian MS 961 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)
Persian Manuscripts
Contents
The dates 1893 provided in the colophon does not comport with the Faṣlī date, which converts to 1833 CE, so exactly 60 years earlier, henc probably a miscalculation. For other redactions of this work, see Storey and Qasemi. For a detailed analysis of this manuscript in relation to others, see Prakash.
Physical Description
Collation
Condition
Layout
Written in one column with 14 lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.
Hand(s)
Written in clear black nasta‘līq by
Inscriptions: Page 1 notes the number of folios with the Indic sīyāq numeral 90, followed by a description of the volume: ‘ خلاصهٔ ترجمهٔ فارسی بہاگوت دسم اسکندهکدامات سدیکشنجی خالق خقیقی که در دینا کدرنر نود باب یعنی ادبیا از پوتہی ساستر نموده شد. نود باب سیاق هندی: نود] ورق در فارسی]. ’
Binding
Bound for the John Rylands Library by the Manchester firm Bramhall & Menzies, probably in the mid-20th century.
Modern medium-weight wove endpapers added to the begnning and end. Resewn, edges trimmed, but endbands omitted. Covered in full buckram bookcloth over pasteboards .
The left board exterior bears the monogram emblem of the John Rylands Library blocked in gold.
Binding in good condition, albeit with the openings to the gutter margins restricted.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
While the circumstances under which this volume arrived in Britain remain unclear, the John Rylands Library purchased it from Manchester bookseller J. E. Cornish in March, 1927.
Record Sources
Manuscript description by Jake Benson in 2023, with reference to the volume in hand, an unpublished handlist, accession registers, a description published by Tawfiq Subhani in 1993, and in consultation with Dr. Pranav Prakash, University of Oxford.
Availability
To book an in-person or online appointment to consult the manuscript, visit Using the Special Collections Reading Rooms. For any other enquiries please email uml.special-collections@manchester.ac.uk.
Bibliography
Funding of Cataloguing
The John Rylands Research Institute and Library
The Soudavar Memorial Foundation
Please fill out your details.