Persian MS 343 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)
Persian Manuscripts
Contents
The author dedicates his text to ‘Sulṭān Muḥammad Iskandar al-ThānīʿUthmānī’, meaning the Ottoman ruler Sulṭān Meḥmed II (b. 1432 r. 1444–1446; 1451–1481).
Note that the conclusion of Chapter 11 and commencement of Chapter 12 appear missing between folios 34b and 35a.
Physical Description
Collation
Condition
Layout
Written in 1 column with 15 lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.
Hand(s)
Copied in black naskh with red subheaders.
Decoration
Illustrations: Depictions of the various characters throughout.
Inscriptions: Folio 1a:
- Top: at left, ‘Nº 21.’
- Middle: pencilled note: ‘Bought at Sacender’s saleroom.’
‘نزهة الاسفار by محمد سمرقندی for سلطان محمد عثمانی’
Binding
Probably restored and rebound for former owner Alexander Lindsay before 1880. The volume retains earlier unsupported sewing at two stations, with the edges trimmed and chevron endbands twined in possibly faded golden yellow and white silk threads at head and tail. Later wove endpapers, likely made in Europe, added when restored. Recovered in medium-brown goatskin leather on the spine and hemmed along the edges of the boards, with the original sides remounted on the exteriors.
The original sides bear blind central scalloped mandorlas featuring floral scrollwork designs, with thick-and-thin blind fillet lines along the outer margins with added triangles at the corners. Subsequently blind-tooled after restoration with mitred single fillets on the added leather.
243 × 177 × 40 mm.
Handle binding with caution. Boards yawning with the remounted exterior panels worn and cracked.
1: Folios 1b, 3a, 76b, and 77b bear oval seal impressions in three oblique naskh lines, unruled, with of the name of a former owner or associate named Muḥammad, which possibly reads:
‘صاحبه کرت(؟) الدین محمد’ 10 × 19 mm.
2: Folio 77b bears a circular seal impression in three stacked nasta‘līq lines, double-ruled, of the name of a former owner or associate named ‘Us̱mān which possibly reads:
‘حسبی الله وحده وکفی عثمان’ 14 mm. diam.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
Subsequently acquired by scholar Nathaniel Bland (1803–1865) for his library at Randalls Park, Leatherhead. After his death, London bookseller Bernard Quaritch (1819–1899) sold his oriental manuscripts to Alexander Lindsay, 25th Earl of Crawford (1812–1880) in 1866, and 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 James White with reference to the volume in 2018.
Record subsequently corrected, augmented, and enhanced by Jake Benson in 2022 with reference to the manuscript.
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 Soudavar Memorial Foundation
John Rylands Research Institute
Please fill out your details.