RSPA 59 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)
India Office Library
Jones Collection
Royal Society Arabic and Persian
Contents
1 copy of Javāmiʿ al-Ḥikāyāt by Sadīd al-Dīn Muḥammad ʿAwfī
Language(s): Persian
Qism 1 begins on f6v; qism 2 begins on f146v; qism 3 begins on f194r and qism 4 begins on f231r.
Ff5r-6v is a table of contents of the manuscript.
This manuscript is composed of three separate hands. The first four folios of this manuscript replace the lost folios from the original. These are of an eighteenth-century style. The middle section (ff5-263) is believed to be of the fourteenth century by Denison Ross and Browne. The final two folios are also replacements, and are also later than the middle section, but likely earlier than the first section.
There is a seal on f7r which dates to 1179AH (1765-6AD) under the name al-Ḥājj Muṣṭafā. There is another, highly stylised, seal on f231r.
Physical Description
European numerals in pencil at the beginning of the manuscript. Thereafter, Perso-Arabic numerals in pencil.
Condition
Mixed condition. Some damage to the edge of the folios.
Layout
Hand(s)
The first hand is a neat black naskh. The second is a classic naskh script with rubrications and the final section is a messy black-ink nastaʿlīq-influenced naskh script.
Decoration
There are marginal comments in a range of hands on almost every page of the manuscript.
Binding
India Office black 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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