RSPA 9 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)

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India Office Library

Jones Collection

Royal Society Arabic and Persian

1 copy of Jahāngīr-nāmah by Jahāngīr

Language(s): Persian

This edition is one of the "authentic" (i.e. supposedly authored by the Emperor himself) recensions of the Jahāngīr-nāmah, which has two prominent recensions. The seals prove it is a very early edition. There are many seals on f1r and lots of ownership notes. Of the seals, one bears the date 1042 and another 1045AH only 5 and 8 years after Jahāngīr's death. On f262r, there is a seal bearing the name Rājā Govindrām Bahādur.

Incipit: از عنایت بی غایات آلهی یکساعت نجومی از روز پنجشنبه هشتم جمادی الثانی هزار وچهارده هجری گذشته

Explicit: واکر در یک صورت کار دو استاد باشد می توانم ساخت

There is an illuminated blue and gold cupola-style headpiece with a floral design. The ruled margins on every folio are gilded.

Author: Jahāngīr جهانگیر

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: Thin cream woven paper which has been somewhat repaired.

Extent: ff.iii+262+ii

Dimensions (leaf): 225 × 140 mm.

Dimensions (written): 155 × 75 mm.

Foliation:

European numerals in pencil are used occasionally. Foliation on verso side of each folio in Urdu numerals.

Condition

Good condition. Big lacuna in the text on f2r. Several folios have been substantially repaired. Extensive damage to f1, which obscures some of the seals.

Layout

Hand(s)

Very neat nastaʿlīq in black ink.

Decoration

Additions:

On f1v next to the headpiece, there are two messages written in English: "W. Jones: the gift of Mr. Morrison" and, below it, "Js. Archedekin October 1772 received this book as a present from Rājā Govindrām. Jahāngīr nāma vol. 1st". On f262r there is a note in Persian which explains the contents of the book.

Binding

India Office black half-leather binding with wine-coloured marbled endpapers.

Accompanying Material

History

Origin: 1600 - 1633 CE ; India

Provenance and Acquisition

RSPA 1-118 were presented to the Royal Society in January 1792 by Sir William and Lady Jones. According to Wilkins, 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. 6 no. IX

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

Subjects

Mogul Empire--History

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