Persian MS 794 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)
Persian Manuscripts
Compilation of three Lucknow manuscript library catalogues, compiled by I‘jāz Ḥusayn Kintūrī (1825–1870) after 1858.
Contents
In his preface, the author describes how one Rām Dayāl helped him to conduct the library inventory.
Lālā Rām Ḥasan, a barrister of then Raja of Kapurthila—presumably Randhir Singh (b. 1831, r. 1852–1870)— verified the inventory of any holdings remained after the looting of the library.
The author describes the location of this library as located behind the Masjid-i Taḥsīn (popularly called 'Tehseen ki Masjid' today), built by Taḥsīn ‘Alī Khān (d. 1818) in circa 1790 CE, and that it holds many rare Shi‘i books, hence its inclusion. However, the Nasiriyah Library likely later accessioned the holdings mentioned.
Physical Description
Foliation pencilled at top-left of the a sides, parts 1 and 3 in Arabic numerals by the cataloguer, and part 2 in Hindu-Arabic numerals.
Collation
Condition
Layout
Prefaces written in 1 column, with the inventories in 2 columns, with variant numbers of lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.
Hand(s)
Copied in black nasta‘līq script.
- Inscription: The second right flyleaf bears the title ‘Fihrist-i Kutub’ in nasta‘līq script, in the hand of the author and compiler.
- Marginalia: Occasional marginal notes, possibly in the author's hand.
- Bookplates: Left paste-down, ‘Bibliotheca Lindesiana’ with shelfmark ‘2/K’, and ‘Hamilton MSS No. 711’.
Binding
Sewn at two stations, possibly over cord supports, edges trimmed, and Islamic-style twined chevron endbands in red and green silk worked at head and tail. Bound tight-backed in a hybrid British-Indian style in full, polished dark red goatskin leather over pasteboards, without a flap (Type III binding per Déroche), with squares at the edges and a defined joint. Internal doublures of the same leather, with the excess width adhered over the supports, as a hinge connected to the first and last flyleaves, with the overlap covered by a vertical strip of paper to neaten the join.
Spine titled ‘Fihrist-i Kutub’ in nasta‘līq script in yellow.
159 × 102 × 19 mm.
Binding in good condition, with some abrasion to the surface, board edges, and headcaps.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
Subsequently acquired by Colonel George William Hamilton (1807-1868) who may have personally known the family and 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.
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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