RSPA 101 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)
India Office Library
Jones Collection
Royal Society Arabic and Persian
Contents
1 copy of Fawāʼid wāfiyyah bi-ḥall mushkilāt al-Kāfiyyah by Nūr al-Dīn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān Jāmī
Language(s): Arabic
On f1r, Jones has written "Al-Cāfiyah: A grammar of the Arabick Language by Ibnu'lḤājib with a Commentary by Mullā Jāmī". This has influenced the cataloguers of the manuscript and both Wilkins and Dennison Ross and Brown have also catalogued this item under that title and author (i.e. al-Kāfiyyah by Ibn al-Ḥājib). However, the manuscript, as clear from both the incipit and the colophon is actually Fawāʾid wāfiyyah bi-ḥall mushkilāt al-Kāfiyyah. This means that the manuscript is only the commentary, written by Jāmī for his son (Ḍiyāʾ), and not actually a copy of al-Kāfiyyah.
The scribe identifies himself as Ḥajj ʿAbd Allāh al-Makkīwho was also responsible for copying MSS 82, 83, 92 and 93 in the Jones collection. He also describes Jones as Justice Sir William Jones and calls him his employer.
Jones has signed f1r "W. Jones 4th Jan 1793, Calcutta". As stated in the colophon, the manuscript was ordered by him and completed on Christmas Day (25th December) 1792 in Kolkata.
Dated in both Hijrī and Gregorian calendars.
Physical Description
European numerals in pencil.
Condition
The manuscript is in excellent condition. There are very few smudges or stains, no real visible damage and only minor discoloration in places.
Layout
Uniform presentation matching MSS RSPA 82, 83, 92 and 93 of one column per page made up of fourteen lines.
Hand(s)
Neat black naskh with rubrications. Scribe: Ḥajj ʿAbd Allāh al-Makkī.
Decoration
Catchwords are present on every page.
Binding
Standard India Office half-leather marroon-brown binding.
Accompanying Material
History
Provenance and Acquisition
RSPA 1-118 were presented to the Royal Society in January 1792 by Sir William and Lady Jones. According to Wilkins, this manuscript was presented by Lady Jones.
The Royal Society's collection of 280 Persian and Arabic, and 86 Sanskrit manuscripts were transferred to the India Office Library in 1876.
1876
India Office Library
Record Sources
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
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