Persian MS 20 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)
Persian Manuscripts
Contents
For other copies of this work, see Rylands Persian MS 20, 70, 79, 127, 267, 963 and 980, as well as the text within the Haft Awrang (Seven Thrones) in Persian MS 949, and the Kullīyāt (Complete Works), Persian MS 601. For manuscript production at the shrine (āsitānah) of Hụsām al-Dīn Ibrahīm in Shiraz, see Uluç.
Physical Description
Collation
Condition
Layout
Written in 2 columns with 12 lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.
Hand(s)
Written in clear black nasta‘līq with gold and bluesubheaders.
Decoration
Illustrations: Five small illustrations, marked by silk tassels at the fore-edge exemplify the commercial Shiraz style that flourished during the early sixteenth century and found widespread appeal throughout much of the Islamic world.
- Folio 48b:
Arrival of ‘Azīz of Miṣr (Potiphar of Egypt) at Zulaykhā's tent. A running footman (faced smudged) holds Potiphar's horse, while a young man pays homage before them, before a large tent, against a pale mauve hillside, and under a solid gold sky above. 104 × 63 mm. - Between folios 70b and 71a:
[Possibly Missing]. Robinson suggests that the stains seen here may indicate an illustration once appear at this location, which possibly depicted Yūsuf in the slave market. - Folio 107b:
Yūsuf restrains Zulaykhā from committing suicide. Scene within a chamber decorated with amorous frescoes. Yusūf wears a Safavid-style turban with a tall Qizilbash baton, his head outlined with an aureolin, a flaming halo, rendered in bright colours and gold. 104 × 63 mm. Published: Robinson, p. 157, no. 564. - Folio 118a:
Yūsuf enters Zulaykhā's apartment attended by her maids. The latter, overcome by Yusufs beauty, cut their fingers with their fruit-knives. Zulaykhā wears an early depiction of a golden aigrette. 104 × 32 mm. Published: Robinson, p. 158, no. 565. - Folio 148a:
Yūsuf riding with attendants encounters Zulaykhā as an elderly woman. Preceded by a running footman, another mounted attendant holds a large parasol over Yūsuf's head, since deliberately erased. 104 × 70 mm. - Folio 162b:
Zulaykhā mounrs at Yūsuf's tomb. In this highly symmetrical composition, Yūsuf's turban and folded clothes rest on stools on either side of the rear window. Zulaykha's face appears rubbed out with the features roughly retouched in black. 95 × 63 mm.
Illumination: Small illuminated headpiece on folio 1b, with subsequent section headings in blue and gold on plain background.
25 × 59 mm.
Ruling: Margins ruled in gold throughout, with thin single gold internal lines, vertical columns, and horizontal header dividers outlined with single black lines, surrounded by comaparatively thick gold lines, outlined with single internal and double external black lines, all surrounded by comparatively bold ultramarine blue lines.
Marginalia: Occasional notes in the margins in various hands.
Inscriptions:
- The right flyleaf b side (f. ib) bears the numbers ‘264’, ‘278’, and ‘Sy 284’ with a note underneath the last indicating that it pertains to de Sacy's catalogue.
- Folio 1a, lined during restoration, bears the title pencilled in Latin script, and at bottom the number ‘56’ written upside-down. An earlier Ottoman tamga signature emblem appears underneath the repair paper, adjacent to an ownership note, which await analysis.
- Folio 176b bears the number ‘Sy 284’ pertaining to de Sacy's catalogue.
- The left flyleaf b side (f. iib) bears the French word ‘nuef’ (new) written upside-down
- The Left pastedown: ‘Bland MSS No. 30’, with the name and number crossed out and ‘Persian’ and ‘20’ written aside.
- The left flyleaf b side (f. iib) bears ‘Bibliotheca Lindesiana’ with pencilled shelfmark ‘f/10’
Binding
Near-contemporary original binding from the Safavid Empire in the early 16th to early 17th centuries CE.
Sewn on two unsupported stations. Edges trimmed and endbands twined in white and green silk threads at head and tail. Interior doublures and leather hinges likely attached the binding to the textblock, since altered during restoration. Polished red goatskin leather binding, and interior doublures of the same. Flyleaves of orange-tinted paper flecked with silver, now tarnished.
Blocked with fully gilt panels from the same die on both the right and left boards, which feature an outdoor landscape scene that depict a dragon, phoenix, hares, birds and beasts, with fish and ducks swimming in a stream at the bottom, with rectangles and surrounding cartouche borders bearing floriate scrollwork designs on a punched background, with the flowers likely hand-coloured but now rubbed. Interior doublures feature recessed medallions, pendants and corner-pieces inset with black leather filigree adhered over ultramarine blue grounds, the latter now smudged exposing the paper underneath. Tail edge inscribed with the title in naskh script.
223 × 137 × 25 mm.
Binding in fair but stable condition. Some exterior wear, and damage to the interior filigree, and tears and folds in the flyleaves. Spine and fore-edge subsequently rebacked with maroon goatskin leather. Boxed.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
Evidence of a subsequent unidentified Ottoman owner's signature-emblem (tamga) appears underneath the paper lining folio 1a awaits analysis.
Subsequently acquired by French orientalist scholar Antoine-Isaac Silvestre de Sacy (1758–1838), as per his catalogue number inscribed on the flyleaves.
After de Sacy's death, presumably inherited by his son Samuel Ustazade Silvestre de Sacy (d. 1879), who sold many of his father's oriental manuscripts through Parisian booksellers Romain Merlin (1793–1871) and Grangeret de la Grange, (1790-1859) on 1843 (no. 284), where an individual named 'Moore' purchased it.
Thereafter acquired by 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.
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.
Codicological description derived from B. W. Robinson, Persian Paintings in the John Rylands Library: A Descriptive Catalogue.
Record augmented and enhanced by Jake Benson in 2023 with reference to the volume.
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.
Custodial History
Exhibited in Gilded Word and Radiant Image, sponsored by the Altajir Trust.
Bibliography
Funding of Cataloguing
Iran Heritage Foundation
The John Rylands Research Institute and Library
The Persian Heritage Foundation
Please fill out your details.