Persian MS 963 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)

Persian Manuscripts

Summary of Contents: An incomplete illustrated illuminated volume of the romance of Yūsuf va Zulaykhā, a mystical love story inspired by the biblical tale of Joseph and Potiphar's wife, by the late Timurid-era poet ‘Abd al-Raḥmān Jāmī (1414–1492). The author primarily drew inspiration from the twelfth chapter of the Qur'ān Sūrah Yūsuf and references by prior poets. It also constitutes the fifth of seven major works by the author within the collection entitled Haft Awrang (Seven Thrones). Possibly completed in the

Author: Jāmī, 1414–1492;
جامی;
‘Abd al-Raḥman Jāmī;
عبد الرحمن جامی

Title: Yūsuf va Zulaykhā

Title: يوسف و زليخا

Language(s): Persian

For other copies of this work held in the Rylands, see Persian MS 20, Persian MS 23, 70, 127, and 963, as well as the text within the Haft Awrang (Seven Thrones) in Persian MS 949, and the Kullīyāt (Complete Works), Persian MS 601.

Physical Description

Form: codex

Dimensions (leaf):

Dimensions (written):

Layout

Hand(s)

Written in clear black nasta‘līq with red subheaders.

Binding

Disbound, boxed.

Accompanying Material

A note accompanies the volume that records the gift of the volume to the univeristy.

History

Origin: Probably completed in the Indian subcontinent; undated, possibly 18th century AH.

Provenance and Acquisition

Subsequently acquired from an unidentified source by either Sir Gordon Fraser, OBE (1873–1834) of Manchester, who lived in Madras (Chennai) Madras (Chennai) from 1895, or his wife (married Columbo 1908) Lady Gordon Fraser [Rachel Ellis neé Leech] (1876–1953), who then presumably returned to Britain with the volume after his death.

Gifted, together with Persian MS 966, to the John Rylands Library by Lady Gordon Fraser; received October, 1938.

Record Sources

Manuscript description by Jake Benson in 2023, with reference to the volume, an unpublished handlist, accession registers, and a Persian description of the volume published by Tawfiq Subhani in 1993.

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

A. F. L. Beeston, Catalogue of the Persian, Turkish, Hindûstânî, and Pushtû Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, Part III (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1954), p.36 no. 2619 [Bodleian Ms. Whinfield 12] .

H. Ethé, Catalogue of Persian manuscripts in the library of the India Office, Vol. 1 (London: Printed for the India Office by H. Hart, 1903), col. 746, no. 1300/6 [British Library IO Islamic 800].

C. Rieu, Catalogue of the Persian manuscripts in the British Museum, Vol. II (London: British Museum, 1881), p. 645 [British Library Add. 7770/3].

B. W. Robinson, Persian Paintings in the John Rylands Library: A Descriptive Catalogue (London: Sotheby Parke Bennet, 1980), pp. 242–243, nos. 681–685.

E. Sachau and H. Ethé, Catalogue of the Persian, Turkish, Hindûstani, and Pushtû manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, Vol. I (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1889), col.618, no. 897 [Bodleian Ouseley 290/5].

Tawfīq Subḥānī, 'Kitāb'hā-yi khaṭṭī-i Fārsī fihrist nashudah dar Kitābkhānah Jān Rāylāndz, Manchistir' Majallah-'i Dānishkadah-i Adabiyāt va ‘Ulūm-i Insānī n.s., Vol. 1, Nos. 2-3 (1372 SH [1993 CE]): p. 177, no. 22.

Funding of Cataloguing

The John Rylands Research Institute and Library

The Soudavar Memorial Foundation

Subjects

Persian poetry--747-1500

Comments

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