RSPA 23 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)
India Office Library
Jones Collection
Royal Society Arabic and Persian
Contents
1 copy of Shāh-nāmah by Abū 'l-Qāsim Firdawsī
Language(s): Persian
On f441v, Jones has written in black ink: "I finished the reading of this book a second time, 3 Nov. 1787 Calcutta".
The copyist's name is Fatḥī ibn Khwājah Shāh Maḥmūd.
The quire of very thin white paper (ff.159-184) was added later by a second hand. It contains the story of Barzū and Sūsan.
On both f1v and f2r there is a full page illuminated headpiece of blue and gold floral design. On f6v, the start of the poem proper, there is a much smaller headpiece above the beginning of the textblock. Gilded ruled margins.
Physical Description
Perso-Arab numerals in black ink (excepting the added-in quire). European numerals in pencil.
Condition
Good condition. Guards and supports.
Layout
Poem is written in four columns of thirty lines. Preface is written in blank prose (one column per side). There are some folios (e.g.f439v-440r) which are written in geometric designs. There is a large stain on f49r.
Hand(s)
Very small and neat black ink nastaʿlīq.
Decoration
There are marginal comments on almost every folio. These are predominantly in pencil by Jones and are in a mixture of English, Latin, Arabic and Persian. In some places he writes out the translation or transliteration of words or rewrites a difficult-to-read word (e.g.f6v, f166r - all notes of a linguistic nature). In other places he comments on the quality of the poetry (e.g. f378 or f12), narrates the story (e.g. f44v in which he narrates the story but gets it wrong and has to correcth himself). He also marks where he reaches in the text with the date (e.g. f377v).
There are some, very few, marginal notes in other hands, principally that of the scribe (e.g. f7r, f158v).
Binding
Standard India Office half leather binding with wine coloured marbled endpapers.
Accompanying Material
There are many seals on f1r. Only one seal remains legible, that of ʿAbd al-Maʿbūd Khān. Others are partially legible.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
RSPA 1-118 were presented to the Royal Society in January 1792 by Sir William and Lady Jones. 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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