Union Catalogue of Manuscripts from the Islamicate World

Delhi Persian 1368A (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)

India Office Library

Miscellaneous poetic and historical fragments, 7 items (a-g)

Contents

Summary of Contents: Collection of miscellaneous fragmentary poetic and historical works, comprised of heterogeneous items from multiple sources. Volume not dated. Scribal nastaʿlīq, shikastah āmīz, and calligraphic shikastah, by multiple hands. Limited annotations in margins. Intermittent pencil foliation. Lacking original binding. Paper dust wrapper (EIC legal publication on Regulation XIV for 9 September 1817, 26 Bhadon 1224 Banglah era, 14 Bhadon 1224 faṣlī era, 17 Bhadon 1224 Vilāyatī era, 13 Bhadon 1874 samvat era, 26 Shavvāl 1232 hijrī era); partial watermarks (VEIC, 1814); torn and stained. Folios mostly bound with some loose leaves; cropped, wormholes, later repairs. Condition fragile.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic

1. ff. 1v-43v
Language(s): Persian and Arabic

Delhi Persian 1368Aa.

Untitled collection of lyrics or ghazalīyāt in alphabetic order by the poet, Khvājah Ḥusayn Jūshqānī Kāshānī takhalluṣ Vaḥshatī (d. 1013/1604), who famously satirised his contemporary Ṭahmāsp Qulī Bayg Yazdī takhalluṣ ʿArshī.

The text on folio 2r is oddly repeated on folio 1r.

The work is a composite of two sections, folios 32-43 consist of the ‘older’ calligraphic portion, preceded by folios 1-31 that are ‘later’ replacements.

Not dated at end. The ‘older’ portion is dateable to the early eighteenth century.

Rough shikastah āmīz in watery ink for the newer portion, and finer calligraphic shikastah in the older.

Brown tinted paper throughout.

2. ff. 44r-48r
Author: Jāmī جامى

Delhi Persian 1368Ab.

Selections by an unnamed compiler from the mas̲navī Tuḥfat al-aḥrārby Jāmī.

Not dated at end.

The text is arranged into four columns of loosely-transcribed rough shikastah āmīz written obliquely, on larger sheets of paper that have been folded along the left outer edge.

Crude drawings of a bust in profile at the end.

Distinct water stains.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
3. f. 48v

Delhi Persian 1368Ac.

Selections by an unnamed compiler from the mas̲navī Shīrīn va Khusrawby Niẓāmī.

Not dated at end.

The opening lines of a composition by ʿUrfī Shīrāzī written in response to the Makhzan al-asrārby Niẓāmī are quoted after the main work.

The text is arranged into four columns of loosely-transcribed rough shikastah āmīz written obliquely, on larger sheets of paper that have been folded along the left outer edge.

Distinct water stains.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
4. ff. 50r-51r

Delhi Persian 1368Ad.

Selections by an unnamed compiler from the mas̲navī Tuḥfat al-ʿIrāqaynby Khāqānī.

Not dated at end.

The text is arranged into four columns of loosely-transcribed rough shikastah āmīz written obliquely, on larger sheets of paper that have been folded along the left outer edge.

Distinct water stains.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
5. ff. 53r-56v

Delhi Persian 1368Ae.

Untitled eulogy or manqabat in ghazal form addressing the caliph and Imam ʿAlī, by Mīr Shams al-Dīn ʿAbbāsī Dihlavī takhalluṣ Faqīr and Maftūn (d. 1183/1769).

Not dated at end.

The text is arranged into four columns of loosely-transcribed rough shikastah āmīz written obliquely, on larger sheets of paper that have been folded along the left outer edge.

Distinct water stains.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
6. ff. 57r-61v
Author:

Delhi Persian 1368Af.

Excerpt from an untitled historical account of the attack on the temples at Somnath in Gujarat by the Ghaznavid ruler, Sulṭān Maḥmūd (d. 1030).

The treatise compares various references from versified accounts, such as that by Niẓāmī.

The treatise breaks off abruptly without conclusion.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
7. ff. 65r-112v

Delhi Persian 1368Ag.

Untitled collection of lyrics or ghazalīyāt in alphabetic order followed by the quatrains or rubāʿīyāt of the Sufi and poet, Mīrzā Faṣīḥī Anṣārī Hiravī (d. 1037/1628), a descendent of the saint and poet, Khvājah Abū Ismāʿīl ʿAbd Allāh Anṣārī (d. 481/1088). Faṣīḥī was the teacher of several poet-companions of Shāh ʿAbbās I and his governors to Khurasan and Herat, including the poets Shifāʾī Iṣfahānī, Nāẓim Hiravī, Asīr Shahristānī, and Darvīsh Vālih.

Defective at beginning and end.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic

Physical Description

Form: codex
Extent: 112 ff.
Dimensions (leaf): 224 × 137 mm.

Hand(s)

History

Origin: 1700 - 1750 CE ; India

Provenance and Acquisition

Purchased by the Government of India at sale organised by Delhi Prize Agents, 1859; administrative deposit India Office Library, 1876

1876

Government of India

Availability

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card for admissions procedures contact British Library, Registering for a Reader Pass. Contact apac-enquiries@bl.uk for further information on the availability of this manuscript. For information on catalogues and ordering manuscripts see Finding and ordering Persian manuscripts in the British Library.

Funding of Cataloguing

BL


Comments

Comment on this record

Please fill out your details.

How are we using your feedback? See our privacy policy.

See the Availability section of this record for information on viewing the item in a reading room.

TO TOP