RSPA 61 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)
India Office Library
Jones Collection
Royal Society Arabic and Persian
Contents
1 copy of Anvār-i Suhaylī by Ḥusayn Vāʿiẓ Kāshifī
Language(s): Persian
The scribe signs himself as Muḥammad Saʿīd.
On f0v, Jones writes out a list of some poets and works: Firdawsī (Khākāwī), Rūmī, Saʿadī ʿUrfī, Jāmī, Khusraw, Anvarī, Ṣāʾib, Ḥāfiẓ, Niẓāmī, Anvarī Suhaylī, Ẓafar-nāmah. All of these, he says, he possesses except for the Khākāwī; originally, he had also not owned the Ẓafar-nāmah but this is crossed out (presumably after he purchasd it, see MS RSPA 7)
On f1v, Jones signs his name with a title page listing work name and author.
On f219v and f220r, there is Devanagari script (possibly Sanskrit) in Jones's hand and ink.
The manuscript, like several others in the collection, bears the seal of Aẓhar Khān Sayyid ʿAlī (dated 1201AH).
Physical Description
European numerals in pencil.
Condition
Excellent condition.
Layout
Hand(s)
Neat, thick, black ink nastaʿlīq with rubrications.
Decoration
There are annotations and marginal comments in Persian by one non scribal hand. There are also lots of marginal comments by Jones.
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. Wilkins does not note which of the two presented this particular manuscript.
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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