Persian MS 173 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)
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Persian Manuscripts
Contents
Summary of Contents: The first volume of an incomplete set of the Rawz̤at al-Ṣafā (Garden of Purity), a general history from the creation of the world to the time of the author, together with Persian MS 174, 175, 176, 177, and 178. However, the set lacks the fourth volume and a geographical appendix often added as the eighth, hence only six total. While nearly uniformly bound, the different formats and colophons within the set indicate completion in different locations and times.Title: Rawz̤at al-ṢafāIncipit: (basmallah) برگ ۱پ (folio 1b): زیب فهرست نسخه مفاخر انبیا عالیمکان و زینت دیباچه مجموعه ماثر سلاطین.Explicit: برگ ۳۸۸پ (folio 388b): علی مالیاء قدیر و بالرجبات حدیر و السلام علی خمسه ابیع اللهی (؟).Colophon: برگ ۳۸۸پ (folio 388b): تمام شد جلد اول روضة الصفا بتاریخ بیست و چهارم شوال سنة ۱۲۱۸ هجری نبویColophon: Completed on 24 Shavvāl 1218 AH (6 Feb. 1804 CE).Language(s): PersianPhysical Description
Form: codexSupport: Texblock comprised of sized and polished, heavily flocked, straw-coloured paper probably handmade in India. Numerous folios assembled from variant sheets joined togetherExtent: 388 folios (ff. viii + 388 + iv)Dimensions (leaf): 297 × 173 mm.Dimensions (written): 235 × 124 mm.Foliation:Foliation marked at top-right corners of the a sides in Hindu-Arabic numerals in black ink.
Collation
Undetermined, but primarily quaternions throughout. Catchwords written written on the lower-left corners on the b sides throughout.Condition
In fair condition, with extensive insect damage thoughout. Folio 191 detached.Layout
Written in 1 column, with 19 lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.
Hand(s)
Written primarily in a hasty nasta‘līq script shikastah ligatures in black, with subheaders in red.
Binding
Probably bound in India
Boards uniformly decorated together with the other volumes as a set, with silvered paper onlays for the central scalloped mandorlas and detached pendants, with the boards ruled in white. Paper label on the spine bears the title of the volume in Persian.
300 × 179 × 77 mm.
Handle with caution. In poor condition, with loose sewing, text block split between folios 128 to 129, binding joints breaking. Boxed.
Accompanying Material
Small, gilt calling card of Leeds solicitor T. W. Tottie ‘London Coffee House Ludgate Hill-’.
History
Origin: Probably India; 24 Shavvāl 1218 AH (6 Feb. 1804 CE).Provenance and Acquisition
Likely either completed for, or obtained by Jonathan Duncan, who governed the Bombay Presidency for sixteen years.
After Duncan's death, his family sold his library through the London firm of Samuel Leigh Sotheby (1805–1861) where Sir Graves Champney Haughton (1788–1849), an early student at Fort William College who excelled in the study of several oriental languages, purchased it as per his inscription on folio 1b dated Feb. 1818.
Later owned by Persian scholar Nathaniel Bland (1803–1865), after whose death London antiquarian dealer Bernard Quaritch (1819–1899) sold his oriental manuscripts to Alexander Lindsay, 25th Earl of Crawford (1812–1880) in 1866.
Purchased by Enriqueta Rylands (1843–1908) in 1901 from James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford (1847–1913).
Bequeathed by Enriqueta Rylands (1843–1908) in 1908 to the John Rylands Library.
Record Sources
Bibliographical description based on an index created by Reza Navabpour circa 1993, derived from a manuscript catalogue by Michael Kerney, circa 1890s and his Bibliotheca Lindesiana, Hand-list of Oriental Manuscripts: Arabic, Persian, Turkish, 1898.
Manuscript description by Jake Benson in 2021 with reference to the volume.
Availability
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Funding of Cataloguing
Iran Heritage Foundation
The John Rylands Research Institute
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