Persian MS 611 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)
Persian Manuscripts
Two works, both entitled Risālah-'i Tīrandāzī (Treatise on Archery), completed in 1090 AH (1679 CE).
Contents
Note that Michael Kerney previously misidentified the author as ‘Muḥammad Sayyid Mīr of Malwa’ in the Biblioteca Lindesiana handlist.
References
References
Physical Description
Collation
Condition
In poor condition. Handle with caution. Extensive insect damage and historical repairs throughout, with most folios remargined. Folios 15b and 16a tipped together in the gutter margin when repaired.
Layout
Single column, 15 lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.
Hand(s)
Copied in nasta‘līq script in black with red for the subheadings.
Marginalia:
- Occasional marginalia written in a shikastah hand in black.
- The right cover exterior inscribed with ‘No.55’ and ‘1957’ in Persian.
- The first right flyleaf a side (f. ia) bears the titles and authors of the two works, written in clear nasta‘liq, likely in the hand of Muhīn Dās, assistant to former owner George William Hamilton
- Folio 1a:
- Top: A partially legible note names the titles and possible name of a former owner or associate Almās ‘Alī Khān Naqvī and partial date ‘24 Rajab’ written in shikastah sccript.
- Bottom-left: A second partially legible note below an obliterated, black oval seal impression names another former ownerShams al-D⟨īn(?)⟩ or ...D⟨awla(?)⟩, obscured by repair.
- Folio 1b bears an obliterated ownership note above the header.
- Left paste-down ‘Bibliotheca Lindesiana’ bookplate with shelf mark ‘1/H’ and ‘Hamilton MSS No. 528’.
Binding
Probably rebound in a hybrid British-Indian style for former owner George William Hamilton between 1858 and 1866. Resewn after repairs, edges trimmed, with European-style decorative front-bead endbands sewn in red and natural linen threads at head and tail. Bound tight-backed in full red goatskin leather, over pasteboards, without a flap (type III binidng per Déroche), and squares along the edges and defined exterior joints.
Boards decorated with paper onlays for the central mandorla, detached pendants, and corners, connected with criss-crossed single yellow rule, and bounded by yellow double ruling on the board margins. Papers labels with the Persian title ‘Risālah-'i Tīrandāzī’ applied to the spine and right cover exterior.
230 × 139 × 23 mm.
Handle with caution. In fair condition, extensive abrasion on the board edges and spine. restricted opening in the gutter margins.
Library several small obliterated seals of former owners impressed in black, along with those of the Kings of Awadh Amjad ‘Alī Shāh (b. 1801 r. 1842–1847) and Wājid ‘Alī Shāh (b. 1822, r. 1847–1856), intaglio-carved in nasta‘līq script in two stacked lines, and impressed in vermillion on folios 1a and and 67b:
- 1: Rectangular seal impression surmounted by the royal emblem of Awadh, of Amjad ‘Alī Shāh (b. 1801 r. 1842–1847) dated 1260 AH (1844–45 CE):
‘ ناسخ هر مهر شد چون شد مزین بر کتاب * خاتم امجد علی شاه زمان عالیجناب، ١٢٦٠ ’
‘Nāsukh har muhur shud chun shud muzayyin bar kitāb; khātim-i Amjad ‘Alī Shāh zamān-i ‘Ālījanāb, 1260’ (‘Every [prior] seal became cancelled since the book became embellished by the seal of Amjad ‘Alī Shāh in the era of his Sublime Majesty, 1260 AH’).
53 × 45 mm.
- 2: Rectangular seal impression surmounted by the royal emblem Awadh, of Wājid ‘Alī Shāh (b. 1822, r. 1847–1856) dated 1262 AH (1846–47 CE):
‘ خاتم واجد علی سلطان عالم بر کتاب * ثابت و پر نور بادا تا فروغ آفتاب، ١٢۶۲ ’
‘Khātim-i Wājid ‘Alī, Sulṭān-i ‘Ālam bar kitāb, s̄abit va pur nūr bādā tā farūgh-i āftāb, 1262’ (‘The seal of Wājid ‘Alī, Sulṭān of the World, upon the book shall be permanent and as bright as sunlight, 1262 AH’).
41 × 26 mm.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
Formerly held in the royal library of Awadh in Lucknow, as indicated by dated library notations on folio 1a, and seal impressions of the Kings of Awadh Amjad ‘Alī Shāh (b. 1801, r. 1842–1847) and Wājid ‘Alī Shāh (b. 1822, r. 1847–1856). Presumably looted during India's First War of Independence, when British soldiers ransacked the Kaisarbagh palace and library on 15 March 1858.
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 by Jake Benson in 2021 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.
Digital Images
Manchester Digital Collections (full digital facsimile)
Bibliography
Funding of Cataloguing
Iran Heritage Foundation
The John Rylands Research Institute
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