Or 15759 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)

An untitled treatise on the basics of astronomy and geometry comprising a muqaddimah, two maqālahs, and (unannounced in the author’s preface) a khātimah.

This work is not identifiable as one in published catalogues. Its plan and incipit, however, resemble those of the treatise by ‘Alā’ al-Dīn ‘Alī ibn Muḥammad Qūshchī (d. 879/1474) generally known as Risālah-’i hay’at, from which it may in part be derived.

Contents: Maqālah 1 (f. 6v-33v): Dar bayān-i ajrām-i ‘ulvī; on the heavenly bodies. Maqālah 2 (33v-59r): Dar bayān-i hay’at-i zamīn va qismat-i ū bi-aqālīm; on the composition of the Earth, and its division into climes. Khātimah (57v-59r): Dar ma‘rifat-i ab‘ād va ajrām; on determining dimensions and mass.

Other contents: f. 1r, apparently a brief exercise in naskhī calligraphy; 1v, verses in praise of ‘Alī, in shikastah, and an Arabic prayer for healing, both introduced in Persian; 3r, verses by ʻUrfī (b. 963/1555-6) and others, including a mnemonic poem on the zodiac sign names of the months, a definition in Arabic of al-falak al-a‘ẓam, and a note dated 1237/1821; 32v, a doodle; 59r, description of the astrolabe; 59v, quotations from works on geometry, lines of verses blessing the Prophet, and others concerning Ibn Sīnā; 60r, an extract from a treatise concerning astrolabes; 60v, ruba'is attributed to the Sufi master Abū Sa‘īd ibn Abī l-Khayr (d. 440/1049), and other verses in Arabic.

The present manuscript contains copious marginal notes, most of which are in Arabic, throughout.

Ownership seals on f. 3r, 28r, 54v, 59r.

Title supplied.