RSPA 17 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)
India Office Library
Jones Collection
Royal Society Arabic and Persian
Contents
1 copy of Zīj-i Sulṭānī by Ulugh Bīg
Language(s): Persian
This copy of Zīj-i Sulṭānī is missing some folios. The textblock ends midway through the final chapter and is missing at least two folios at the end. There is no clear colophon or explicit in this text, as the final few pages are all tables, all of which are not a kind of appendix but rather constitute a key part of the text.
There are other missing folios from throughout the text, see the printed catalogue for details.
This manuscript contains the second/revised version of the Zīj-i Sulṭānī. Its contents are a series of astronomical tables compiled by Ulugh Bīg (Ulugh Beg), the Timurid sultan (r. 1447-9).
Physical Description
European numerals in pencil.
Condition
Extensive worm damage and some rips. Some missing folios.
Layout
Hand(s)
Very neat black naskh with rubrications.
Decoration
There are many diagrams throughout the manuscript and the majority of the textblock is given over to tables.
Extensive annotations throughout the entire textblock in a range of different hands all in Persian.
Before the text begins, there are also many comments, including a page in devanagari script under the Persian title "names of Hindavi letters" on f.ix.
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. Accordng 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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