Persian MS 18 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)
- Display:
-
Persian Manuscripts
Contents
Summary of Contents: This illustrated manuscript of the Anvār-i Suhaylī (Lights of Canopus), a prose rescension of animal fables of Indian origin known as Kalīlah wa Dimnah, composed by Ḥusayn Vāʻiẓ Kāshifī (ca. 1436–1504) opens and closes with two double-page Safavid-era paintings and depictive colophon featuring outdoor scenes. Divided into fourteen chapters, the author composed for and dedicated it to the Timurid-era prince Niẓām al-Dīn Shaykh Aḥmad Suhaylī (d. either 907 or 918 AH/1501 or 1512 CE). Famed calligrapher Mīr ‘Alī Haravī completed the text, probably in Herat, in mid-Muḥarram 910 AH (early July 1504 CE), the year of the author's death.Scribe and Autographer: Mīr ‘Alī Haravī al-Ḥusaynī, ca. 1476–1544;
میر علی هروی الحسینیPatron and Dedicatee: Suhaylī, Niẓām al-Dīn Aḥmad, d. 1501;
نظام الدين احمد سهیلیTitle: Anvār-i SuhaylīTitle: انوار سهيلیIncipit: (basmala) برگ ۳پ (folio 3b): حمد و ستایش خدای را غر اسمه که آثار قدرت او بر چهره روز روشن تا بان است و انوار حکمت او در دل شب تار در فشان بخشاینده که تار عنکبوت را پرده عصمت دوستان کردExplicit: برگ ۲۵۲ر (folio 252a): جو نگه بدین پایه رسانم کلام * به که کنم خبم سخن و السلام.Colophon: برگ ۲۵۲ر (folio 252a): وقد تمّ الکتاب بعون الملک الوهّاب علی ید الفقیر علی کاتب تجاوز الله عن سیانه تحریراً فی اواسط شهر محرم الحرام سنه عشر و تسعمایه الهجریه النبویهColophon: Completed by ‘Alī al-Kātib , in mid-Muḥarram 910 AH (early July 1504 CE).Language(s): PersianPhysical Description
Form: codexSupport: Central text comprised of cross-grained, medium-weight externally sized and highly polished, butter-coloured paper, probably handmade in the Safavid Empire, with ~18 laid lines per 20 mm and no discernible chain lines. Margins of comparatively heavy, cross-grained, sized and highly polished, light apricot coloured paper, also probably probably handmade in the Safavid Empire, with ~20 laid lines per 20 mm and no discernible chain lines.Extent: 353 folios, no flyleaves (ff. 353).Dimensions (leaf): 342 × 216 mm.Dimensions (written): 216 × 121 mm.Foliation: Modern pencilled Arabic numerals added to the upper-left corners of the a sides.Collation
Undetermined, but probably quinternions throughout. Catchwords only appear for the Khamsah in ruled triangles on the lower-left corners of the b sides.Condition
Handle text with caution. In fair but stable condition, with significant water and mould damage on the perimetres and historical repairs in the gutters throughout. Folios 2 and 3 protrude from the fore-edge.Layout
Written in one column column with 17 lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.
Hand(s)
Copied in clear black nasta‘līq by Mīr ʻAlī al-Kātib with subheaders in blue, gold, and red.
Decoration
Five Safavid-era illustrations, two double full-page openings at the beginning and end and an illustrated colophon, all probably added around 75 year after completion.
Two illuminated arabesque medallions with pendants and corner-pieces on folios 2b to 3a, an illuminated double carpet-page on folios 3b to 4a, as well as an illuminated border on folios 351b and 352a.
Margins throughout decorated with large floral scrolls, animals, birds, trees and clouds etc. in thin gold.
Binding
Late 16th-century Safavid-era binding over pasteboards, cut flush along the edges and with a flap (Type II binding per Déroche).
Contemporary binding of black shagreen-grained leather with recessed blocked gilt scalloped medallions, detached pendants, cornerpieces and surrounding margins with alternating catrouches and quatrefoils, all featuring floriate scrollwork designs. Interior doublures of brown leather with blocked and slightly recessed floriate palmette filigree leather inlays over blue and green backgrounds. Title written on the tail edge.
Subsequently restored in London for former owner Sir Gore Ouseley. Resewn on four recessed cords, frayed out onto the board interiors, endbands omitted, spine replaced (rebacked) with black pebbled-grained morocco leather, then rehinged internally with thin beige sheepskin leather on the boards and flap.
Interior leather hinges blind-tooled with a chain roll used on other hinges completed for Ouseley.
345 × 227 × 77 mm.
Handle binding with caution. In fair condition, with extensive abrasion to the exterior, losses to the exterior decoration and interior leather filigree.
History
Origin: Completed by ‘Alī al-Kātib , in mid-Muḥarram 910 AH (early July 1504 CE), the year in which the author died.Provenance and Acquisition
Subsequently acquired by an unidentified Safavid-era owner who added the illustrations and margins.
Later obtained by an unidentified Ottoman-era owner indicated by the 18th-century floral marbled flyleaves and abraded inscription.
Part of a collection of Persian manuscripts formed by Sir Gore Ouseley (1770-1844), who probably acquired the volume during his sojourn through the Ottoman Empire as British emissary to the Qajar court in 1810 to 1814, given the interior blind-tooled leather hinges consistent with other volumes rebound for him in London after his return.
Subsequently sold by Ouseley in the late 1820s, probably to booksellers Howell and Stewart.
Probably sold by that firm to scholar Nathaniel Bland (1803-1865) for his library at Randalls Park, Leatherhead.
After Bland's death, London bookseller Bernard Quaritch (1819–1899) sold his oriental manuscripts to Alexander Lindsay, 25th Earl of Crawford (1812–1880) in June, 1866, paid in two instalments of £450 and £400, and then moved to Bibliotheca Lindesiana at Haigh Hall, Wigan.
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, Manchester.
Record Sources
Bibliographical description based on an index created by Reza Navabpour circa 1993, derived from a manuscript catalogue by Michael Kerney, circa 1890s, concisely published as Bibliotheca Lindesiana, Hand-list of Oriental Manuscripts: Arabic, Persian, Turkish, 1898.
Codicological description based upon B. W. Robinson, Persian Paintings in the John Rylands Library: A Descriptive Catalogue (London, 1980).
Physical description by Jake Benson in 2025 with reference to the volume in hand.
Availability
To book an in-person or online appointment to consult the manuscript, visit Using the Special Collections Reading Rooms. For any other enquiries please email uml.special-collections@manchester.ac.uk.
Bibliography
B. W. Robinson, Persian Paintings in the John Rylands Library: A Descriptive Catalogue (London: Sotheby Parke Bennet, 1980), pp. 243–244, 249–250, nos. 687–690 [Rylands Persian MS 18].M. Subtelny, '"Kāšfī, Kamāl-aL-Dīn Ḥosayn Wāʿeẓ".', Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. XV, Fasc. 6 (2011), pp. 658–651.Funding of Cataloguing
Iran Heritage Foundation
The John Rylands Research Institute
TO TOP
See the Availability section of this record for information on viewing the item in a reading room.