RSPA 57 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)
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India Office Library
Jones Collection
Royal Society Arabic and Persian
Contents
1 copy of Sharḥ-i Dīvān-i Ḥāfiẓ
Language(s): Persian
Title: Sharḥ-i Dīvān-i ḤāfiẓTitle: شرح دیوان حافظIncipit: بسم الله الرحمن ال رحیم. الا من حرف تنبیه یا حرف ندا ایها وصلهExplicit: این چند ابیات را خواجه در مدح عماد الدین محمود کفته اند وتمامت این نسخۀ اخیار الاسرار در زمانۀ او شده است لهذا خاتمه الکتاب بنام او بقلم مشکین رقم نکارش فرموده اندOn ff337v-8r, there is an extremely long colophon that states that the commentary was begun on the 15th Ramaḍān 1120 and finished on 19th Dhū 'l-Qaʿdah 1120AH. The handwriting in this part of the manuscript is so poor it is very difficult to read.
Between ff339r-343r, there is an index of poems.
On f0v, a European hand has written out a select index reference of 10 poems.
There is a large blue and gold headpiece on f1v with a floral design, inside which Jones has signed his name.
Physical Description
Form: codexSupport: Strong cream woven paper with red-coloured textbox margins.Extent: ff.iii+343+viDimensions (leaf): 246 × 180 mm.Dimensions (written): 185 × 195 mm.Foliation:European numerals in pencil.
Condition
Good condition.
Layout
Hand(s)
Ḥāfiẓ's poetry is written in a big black-ink nastaʿlīq. The commentary is written in a small, rough shikastah, that becomes increasingly difficult to read as the text progresses.
Decoration
Additions:Annotations on almost every side. Some Jones, some in another European hand.
Binding
Standard India Office half leather binding with wine coloured marbled endpapers.
Accompanying Material
History
Origin: 19_Dhu 'l-Qaʿdah_1120 AH; 30 January 1709 CE ; IndiaProvenance 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
Manuscript description based on E. Denison Ross and E. G. Browne, Catalogue of two collections of Persian and Arabic manuscripts preserved in the India Office Library (London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1902), p. 52-3 no. LVIIAvailability
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
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