Persian MS 53 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)
Persian Manuscripts
This brief, undated illustrated manuscript, probably completed in 18th-century India, contains two poetic works, one written in the centre of the folios, with a second in the margins.
Contents
The final two lines differ from the 1788 edition of Francis Gladwin (1744/5–1812) as does the final word in Arthur Wollaston's (1842–1922) 1908 version, as noted by G. M. Wickens (1918–2006) in the introduction to his translation.
References
For English translation of select passages and their relation to earlier poetical works, see Kugle's essay.
References
Physical Description
Text block comprised of lightly sized and polished, straight-grained, ivory-coloured paper handmade in India.
Modern pencilled Arabic numerals include the original first and last flyleaves, followed for this record
Collation
1I+1(4)1IV(12)1I(14). Catchwords on b side of nearly every folio.
Condition
Handle with caution. In fragile condition. Gutters and lower margins water damaged then subsequently repaired. Breaks in the marginal ruling in the gutter margins on folios 5a to 6b, 8a to 11b, and 13a–b resulting from green verdigris corrosion.
Layout
Written in 2 columns with 11 lines in the centre of the page, with the second text written in 24 lines in the surrounding margins (35 lines total). Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.
Hand(s)
Written by an unknown hand in hasty but legible nasta‘līq in black with subheaders in red.
Decoration
Hastily rendered on 2a.
Thin black cloud bands surrounding the lines, with hastily applied gold wash throughout.
Four illustrations rendered in possibly Pahari or Kashmiri style, including two depictions of a ruler loosely recall portraits of the ruler Nādir Shāh (b. 1688, r. 1736–1747), who invaded the Mughal empire and sacked its capital Delhi in 1739, which may here depict Sulṭān Maḥmud Ghaznavī and his beloved servant Ayāz:
- Folio 2b: the creature al-Buraq flies in the heavens with two angels. 82 × 78 mm.
- Folio 6b: a ruler enthroned on the right faces two courtiers and guard on the left. 77 × 80 mm.
- Folio 7b: a ruler enthroned on the left faces two courtiers and guard on the right. 83 × 80 mm.
- Folio 10a: an unconsciousness, drunken man lies down, usupported by an attendant to his left, while another on the right offers him a draught. 74 × 78 mm.
Inscription:
- Folio 1b bears a pencilled Persian hemistich written in an amateur hand, probably that of a young student:
‘ترا من خیلی دوست می دارم’
- Left pastedown: ‘Bibliotheca Lindesiana’ bookplates, the latter with the shelf mark ‘1/A’, and ‘Bland MSS No. 402’.
Binding
Resewn at four stations. Endpapers of peach-coloured French mould-made paper watermarked ‘MICHALLET’ on the final left flyleaf onto the left pastedown, sold by a Parisian firm founded by Pancrace Michallet in circa 1850. Covered in a semi-limp binding of full maroon goaskin leather.
233 × 144 × 5 mm.
Handle with caution. Binding in fair condition, with the text block partly detached from the cover.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
Formerly part of the collection of 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 concisely published as Bibliotheca Lindesiana, Hand-list of Oriental Manuscripts: Arabic, Persian, Turkish in 1898.
Manuscript description by Jake Benson in 2022 with reference to the volume in hand, and in consultation with Dr. Mahmood Alam regaring the inscription on the flyleaf and Dr. Fabienne Ruppen, Städel Museum, regarding the Michallet firm, culled from research conducted by André Louis (1960–2019).
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.
Digital Images
Manchester Digital Collections (full digital facsimile)
Bibliography
Funding of Cataloguing
Iran Heritage Foundation
The John Rylands Research Institute
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