Delhi Persian 578A (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)
India Office Library
Bahjat al-mabāhij by Ḥasan ibn Ḥusayn Shīʻī Sabzavārī
Contents
The work is preceded by three folios (ff. iii-v) which deal with events preceding the Prophet's birth
The original manuscript (ff. iii-v, 21-347), in a good, clear nastaʻliq, within a red text frame, probably dates from the 17th century. Folios i-ii, 1-20 and 348-54 have been added later.
Physical Description
Collation
Catchwords.
Condition
Worm-eaten and slightly damp-stained. Some folios have been remargined. Stitching broken and binding is detached.
Layout
19 (ff. iii-v, 21-347) and 20 (ff. 1-20, 348-354) lines per page; ruled margins (ff. iii-v, 21-347).
Hand(s)
Nastaʻliq in two hands; black ink with red headings, overlining and text frame.
Folios i-ii contain miscellaneous inscriptions.
Label recording loan to Bodleian Library 12.12.36-2.2.37 stuck to rear paste-down.
Binding
Detached leather binding with central medallion, two pendants and ruled borders.
Rectangular partially damaged seal impression on endpaper:...Ḥammūd Allāh.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
Purchased by the Government of India at sale organised by Delhi Prize Agents, 1859; administrative deposit India Office Library, 1876.
Acquired by the Government of India in 1876
.Record Sources
Based on C.A. Storey's unpublished description in Catalogue of Persian Manuscripts in the India Office Library, vol. III: MSS Eur E207/8, ff.15-8.
Availability
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Funding of Cataloguing
BL
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