RSPA 108 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)
India Office Library
Jones Collection
Royal Society Arabic and Persian
Contents
1 copy of Dīwān ʿAlī by ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib
Language(s): Arabic & Persian
Unlike other texts copied by Ḥājj ʿAbd Allāh al-Makkī, the red rubrications are this time interestingly in very Arabic-inflected Persian. The rubrications serve the explain the poems providing a one line gloss on the setting or the overall meaning.
Physical Description
European numerals in pencil.
Condition
Generally, the textblock is in good condition. There is extensive worm damage throughout the manuscript, however.
Layout
Very neat layout of one column per page consisting of 11 lines
Hand(s)
Black ink thuluth vocalised. Copied by Ḥājj ʿAbd Allāh al-Makkī.
Decoration
On fiv v, Jones has written "Mīr Muhammad Husain May 1790 – The war-songs and some of the short pieces were written by the Prince of the Faithful, and, together with his Homilies, constitute all his works. The rest of the collection is believed to have been composed by another Ali ibn Abi Tālib of Kairouan or Cyrene." On f1v he has written "The Poems of ^Ali’".
Binding
Red leather European-style Indian binding with gold mandorla and circular frieze stamping around the edge.
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 Sir William 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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