RSPA 30 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)
India Office Library
Jones Collection
Royal Society Arabic and Persian
Contents
1 copy of Khamsah-'i Niẓāmī by Niẓāmī Ganjavī
Language(s): Persian
The colophon has been partially erased and is hardly legible.
The contents of the manuscript are: ff1v-25v Makhzan al-Asrār; ff26v-85v Khusraw va Shīrīn; ff86v-131v Laylī va Majnūn; 132v-185v Haft Paykar; ff186v-255v Iskandar-nāmah (i); f256r Niẓāmī's advice to his son; ff256v-293v Iskandar-nāmah (ii).
The advice to Niẓāmī's son is written in the same hand as the rest of the text but looks as if it was added later. This is dated 21th Ramaz̤ān 1000AH (1st July 1592). This date may or may not apply to the whole manuscript, but it is the only date found in it.
On f0v, Jones has written "learned and appreciable: Ramacanta Nyayalancara Crishna-Nagar September 1790". On f1r, Jones has written "The Five Poems of Niẓāmī".
Each individual work has a new blue headpiece which has the basmala written in Kufic script. The headpieces all are drawn to evoke the Kaʿbah. The recto side of each new work also includes an almond shaped gilded illumination inside of which the title and author of the work is written in thuluth script. This is adorned with blue lines and edging.
Physical Description
European numerals in pencil.
Condition
Good condition. Minor worm damage.
Layout
Hand(s)
Neat and legible nastaʿlīq.
Decoration
On f1r, there is a gilded circle, inside of which are five circles with the titles of the works in the text. In the middle is a circle (originally blue, but now faded) with the words "fihrist-i kitāb".
There are marginal notes throughout the text, usually consisting of one or two Persian words written in naskh. These are particularly focused on the Iskandar-nāmah. There are some notes on f25v after the end of the Makhzan al-Asrār.
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. This manuscript was given 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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