RSPA 39 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)
India Office Library
Jones Collection
Royal Society Arabic and Persian
Contents
Mas̱navī-i Maʿnavī, Book 5 of 6
Language(s): Persian
Jones commissioned the six volumes of the Mas̱navī which make up MSs RSPA 35-40. This is clear from a note in MS RSPA 35 in which he acknowledges the scribe: "Written by Maulavī Aâzzu'ddīn began 21 Jan 1790. Began 21 Jan. 1790 25S.R. a month, asked; 30S.R. given". The scribe's name was Mavlavī ʿIzz al-Dīn.
Before the textblock, Jones writes, "Indorum / μυδηγιον - Illo sole prostantius lumen dei meditemur mentes qui nostrum dirigat! / allias; illud sole &c / alias; illud solis prostantissimum lumen divi meditemur &c / alias; illud summi numinis optimum lumein dei meditemur et caetera sic trivedi servoru" in which he describes (supposed) sun-worship among the Indians.
Physical Description
European numerals in pencil.
Condition
The manuscript is in excellent condition.
Layout
Hand(s)
Very neat black nastaʿlīq with red ink headings.
Decoration
Infrequent annotations by Jones, highlighting sections using curly brackets and stars. He also occasionally translates words (including one into Chinese on f147r) and annotates sections indicating his response (e.g. "strange!" on f182r)
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. These manuscripts were all given 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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