Persian MS 838 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)
Persian Manuscripts
Contents
For other copies of this work in the Rylands collections, see Persian MS 54, and 309 and 310.
Physical Description
Condition
Layout
Written in 1 to 2 columns with 15 lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.
Hand(s)
Written in black nasta’līq with poetic forms, names of poets, and Arabic quotations in red.
Decoration
Headpiece: Folio 1b bears an illuminated headpiece.
Ruling: Margins ruled in gold, blue, red, and blue.
Inscriptions: Folio 1b bears several notes, including a sale in 1030 AH (1620–21 CE) for 24 rupees.
Binding
Rebound in red/brown leather on pasteboard. Stamped.
1: Seal of a Mughal nobleman of named Luṭf Allāh dated 1026 AH (1617 CE) during the reign Jahāngīr.
‘Luṭf Allāh murīd bi-jān-i Jahāngīr Pādishāh, 1026’
2: Seal of Ṭālib Jāmī dated 1061 AH (1650–51 CE).
‘Ṭālib Jāmī ʿAbd-i Shāh, 1061’
History
Provenance and Acquisition
Subsequently owned by at least three owners, including an unidentified owner who purchased the volume in 1030 AH (1620–21 CE) for 24 rupees, as well as the seal impressions of two other men who either inspected or owned the volume named Luṭf Allāh, dated 1026 AH (1617 CE) and Ṭālib Jāmī dated 1061 AH (1650–51 CE).
Subsequently acquired by Duncan Forbes (1798–1868), Professor of Oriental Languages at King's College, London.
In 1866, he published the volume in his library catalogue in which he offered it for £5, 5 shillings, but then later sold it to his publishers, W. H. Allen & Co. in exchange for an annuity.
Purchased by Alexander Lindsay, 25th Earl of Crawford (1812–1880) later that same year.
Subsequently 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, 1898.
Manuscript description by James White in 2017 with reference to the volume in hand.
Record subsequently augmented and enhanced by Jake Benson in 2022.
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
The Soudavar Memorial Foundation
Please fill out your details.