RSPA 54 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)
India Office Library
Jones Collection
Royal Society Arabic and Persian
Dīvāns of ʿUrfī, Shāpūr and Naẓīrī
Contents
Language(s): Persian
Between ff1-14r, the text is ʿUrfī's Khusraw va Shīrīn, followed by the Majmūʿ al-Akbar until f58v, whereafter the dīvān is composed of qaṣīdahs (ff58-133), ghazals (ff133-192) and rubāʿiyyāt (ff192-201).
The seal of Aẓhar Khān Sayyid ʿAlī is present on f1r. This seal is also present on several other manuscripts in the Jones collection (MSs RSPA 5, 19, 42, 52). Above this, as on the other manuscripts, are the words "المالک القایض". There are two other seals, which have been effaced.
The scribe of all three texts is ʿAlī Naqī Ibn ʿAbd al-Qādir.
There is a small blue and gold three-cupola headpiece on f1v.
The poems are written in the margins around the Dīvān-i ʿUrfī.
This is the only one of the three texts which does not have a colophon. The hand is the same as that of the Dīvāns of ʿUrfī and Shāpūr.
The poems are written in the margins around the Dīvān-i ʿUrfī.
Physical Description
European numerals in pencil.
Condition
The manuscript is largely in good condition. Guards and supports.
Layout
Inside the columns, there are 17 lines per side with 23 half lines in the margin.
Hand(s)
Neat black ink nastaʿlīq.
Decoration
Occasional marginal notes in Persian.
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 presented 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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