RAS Persian 239. (Library, Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland)

Persian Manuscripts

1 copy of Shāhnāmah by Firdawsī

The impressions of seals of Mughal emperors from Babur to Aurangzeb appear on f3a, together with a note written by Shah Jahan; there are three more seal impressions on f536a. F536b has a variety of seal impressions and notes giving information on the history of the manuscript between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, during most of which time it was in the library of the Mughal Emperors. See in particular the study by Barbara Brend under 'references'. Written for the Timurid Prince Muhammad Juki, whose name appears on a banner on the miniatures on ff278a, 296a. Has the Baisunqur preface.

Language(s): Persian.

References

For the poem, as for Codrington/Reade No 238.

For this manuscript: J.V.S. Wilkinson, the Shah-Nameh of Firdausi (Oxford 1931).

B.W. Robinson, 'The Shahnama of Muhammad Juki', in The Royal Asiatic Society, its History and Treasures, pp. 83-102. B..W. Robinson, Persian Paintings in the Collection of the Royal Asiatic Society, (London 1998), pp. 1-8. Dr Barbara Brend, Muhammad Juki's Shahnamah of Firdausi (London 2010).

Entered in the Donations Register for 15 March 1834. No 1 in list of Persian MSS.

Physical Description

Form: codex

Extent: 536 folios

Dimensions (leaf): 13.5

Layout

25 lines to the page in four columns

Hand(s)

Nasta'liq.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

Presented by Lieutenant Colonel Doyle. Earlier: Mughal Royal Library, Salar Jang of Oudh (d. 1787).

Availability

Visitors are welcome to consult manuscripts in the library by prior appointment. Information on access is available on the library page of the Society's web site at www.royalasiaticsociety.org and appointments can be arranged by e-mailing library@royalasiaticsociety.org

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Union Catalogue of Manuscripts from the Islamicate World