RSPA 15 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)
India Office Library
Jones Collection
Royal Society Arabic and Persian
Contents
1 copy of Lawāʾiḥ al-Qamar by Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī al-Bayhaqī al-Kāshifī
Language(s): Persian
The manuscript is in two parts and is an amalgamation of the same text by two different hands. The first hand ends at f100v and the second begins on f101r. The date on the record and the manuscript only refers to this second half. The first half is likely seventeenth century.
The introduction to the work consists of ff1v-82r. Thereafter, there is a conclusion (ff82v) and the remainder of the manuscript is 20 chapters about astrology (ff82v-109r). The conclusion has been indicated with the (transliterated) marginal note "khātimah".
The final section of the manuscript consists principally of annotated tables (ff101-8). There are also tables on ff83-7 and a large illustratin on f93r.
There is an illustration on f93r
Physical Description
European numerals in pencil. Perso-Arab numerals in blue crayon.
Condition
Mixed condition. Some stains and discoloration. Some restoration work has happened.
Layout
Variable layout.
Hand(s)
The first hand is a very neat black nastaʿlīq and the second is a much smaller and more cramped black and red nastaʿlīq.
Decoration
There are very few additional notes or marginal comments on the manuscript, except for on f1r (descriptive comment on the contents of the manuscript) and f2r (marginal comment).
Binding
Standard India Office half-leather binding with wine-coloured marbled endpapers.
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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