Persian MS 559 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)
Persian Manuscripts
Contents
Francis Cunningham Belfour (1786–1852) published a critical edition of the work in London for the Oriental Translation Fund in 1830.
Physical Description
Collation
Condition
Handle with caution. In fair condition. Moderate insect damage and historical repairs throughout, with some folios heavily tipped in the gutter margins.
Layout
Written in 1 to 3 columns, with 16 lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.
Hand(s)
Written primarily in black shikastah by Ajūdhīyā.
- Folio 1a bears three inscriptions:
- Top-left Corner: A brief note possibly indicates a former collection ‘number 7’ in Persian, while an adjacent, partially legible note in a hasty shikastah hand denotes the title and author, together with a siyāq numerals indicating a price of 1 rupee 8 annas for the volume.
- Centre: the title of the volume in a bold black nasta‘līq hand, in Persian, likely that of Muhīn Dās attendant to former owner Colonel George William Hamilton.
Binding
Probably rebound in a hybrid British-Indian style in Multan for former owner Colonel George William Hamilton between 1850 and 1863, since it comports with others rebound for him at that time.
Abbreviated sewing at two stations, possibly on supports, with Islamic-style twined chevron endbands in green and red silk threads at head and tail. Covered in full, tight-backed polished red goatskin leather over pasteboards, with squares at the edges, and defined joints, but without a flap (type III binding per Déroche). Internal doublures of the same leather, with the excess width adhered to the first and last flyleaves, with strips of paper applied over top to disguise the overlaps.
Spine titled in handwritten yellow nasta‘līq
223 × 149 × 18 mm.
In good condition. Some whitened salts on the interior
‘سعيد الدوله شريف ایبک آق محمد خان بهادر نظام چنگ الحسيني المسوی البخاری ١٢٦١’
‘Saʿīd al-Dawlah-'i Sharīf Aybak Āq Muḥammad Khān Bahādur Niẓām Jang al-Ḥusaynī al-Mūsavī al-Bukhārī, 1261’
34 × 50 mm.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
Formerly owned by Aybak Āq Muḥammad Khān, as per his seal impression on folio 1a dated 1261 AH (1845).
Subsequently acquired by Colonel George William Hamilton (1807-1868) who served in India from 1823 to 1867, latterly as Commissioner in Delhi. He acquired over a thousand Indian and Persian manuscripts from which the British Museum selected 352 after his death, now held in the British Library.
Alexander Lindsay, 25th Earl of Crawford (1812–1880), purchased the remainder in 1868.
Purchased by Enriqueta Rylands (1843–1908) (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.
Manuscript description completed by James White in 2017.
Subsequently amended and enhanced by Jake Benson in 2021 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.
Bibliography
Funding of Cataloguing
Iran Heritage Foundation
The John Rylands Research Institute
The Soudavar Memorial Foundation
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