Persian MS 263 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)
Persian Manuscripts
Contents
One of ten copies of this work held in the Rylands, for others see Persian MS 14, 34, 50, 262, 288, 563, 842, 945, 946, and 1001–1003 (3 vols). While J. Lawrence p. 70, Appendix 3, notes that Sir William Jones formerly owned a copy of this work sold after his widow's death, which the catalogue entry describes as bound in russia leather, which he suggests may be this volume. However, given the dated watermarks and completly different binding styles, it appears to that Nathaniel Bland (1803–1865) obtained it from another source.
Physical Description
Possibly countermarked with a cursive monogram ‘GR’: 42 × 45 mm.
Collation
Condition
Layout
Written in 1 to 2 columns with 13 lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide for both the central text and surrounding margins.
Hand(s)
Written in clear black nasta‘līq with red in the initial basmala.
Decoration
Headpiece: Folio 1a bears a scalloped dome above a decorative band of red quatrefoils set against foilate scrollwork. 62 × 129 mm.
Ruling: Central text margins, veritcal column dividers, and horizontal breaks all ruled in double red lines throughout.
Marginalia: Notes and marks written in the margins, primarily in the hand of former owner Nathaniel Bland (1803–1865), sometimes referencing Hammer-Purgstall's edition, as well as occasional notes in an unidentified black nasta‘līq hand. Inscriptions:
- The right pastedown and first right flyleaf b side also bears notes in the hand of former owner Nathaniel Bland (1803–1865).
- The left pastedown bears an erased note, still partly legible that suggests an unidentified prior British owner acquired manuscript on ‘Dec. 9 1819’.
Binding
Probably bound in Britain.
Endpapers of British-made paper with ~10 laid lines per cm and 26 mm. between laid lines, watermarked with an heart-shaped VEIC (East India Company) insignia, dated 1808: 128 × 58 mm. Counter marked: ‘S. Wise & Patch.’ 17 × 170 mm.
Resewn on five recessed cord supports laced into pasteboards. Edges trimmed, with decorative front-bead endbands sewn in yellow and while silk threads at head and tail. Covered in full medium brown goat or sheepskin leather.
Boards and spine decorated with "tree-calf" style marbling on the exterior after covering. Spine panels tooled with large meanders, with double-fillet, single rope lines, dotted palette designs, and a large open rope line at the tail, together with central motifs of a crown and crossed swords, as well as a red skiver sheepskin leather label titled ‘HAFIZ’, all in gold. Board edges tooled with thick solid and thin broken diagonal lines, and headcaps with perpendicular single fiullet lines, also all in gold.
316 × 201 × 46 mm.
Binding in good condition, with wear to the original boards, and significnt surface abrasion to the repair leather.
Accompanying Material
Two sheets of paper, one folded, inserted between the right pastedown and first right flyleaf b side bears notes in the hand of former owner Nathaniel Bland.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
While the circumstances under which this volume arrive in Britain remain unclear, an unidentified prior owner apparently acquired the volume on Dec. 9 1819 as per a partly erased note on the left pastedown
Thereafter obatined 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, 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.
Manuscript description by Jake Benson in 2023 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
Funding of Cataloguing
Iran Heritage Foundation
The John Rylands Research Institute
The Persian Heritage Foundation
Please fill out your details.