Union Catalogue of Manuscripts from the Islamicate World

Persian MS 838 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)

Persian Manuscripts

Contents

Summary of Contents: This complete copy of the Taẕkirat al-Shuʻarā (Chronicles of Poets) by Dawlatshāh Samarqandī (d. ca. 1494) contains biographical accounts of some 150 poets, together with selections of their poems. The author, from a ruling Timurid-era elite family, dedicated this work to the cultural and political figure Mīr ‘Alī Shīr Navā'ī (d. 1501). While unsigned and undated, a purchase recorded on 1030 AH (1620–21 CE) inscribed within the volume would make this manuscrit the earliest of four copies held in the Rylands.
Incipit: برگ ۱پ (folio 1b): تحمیدی که شاهباز بلند پرواز اندیشه بساخت فضای آن پرواز نتواند نمود.
Explicit: برگ ۳۰۷پ (folio 307b): از آن بیشتر که آوری بر ضمیر ولایت ستان باش و آفاق گیر.
Colophon: No colophon.

For other copies of this work in the Rylands collections, see Persian MS 54, and 309 and 310.

Language(s): Persian

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Copied on dark, polished paper.
Extent: 307 folios, 4 flyleaves (ff. ii + 307+ ii).
Dimensions (leaf): 220 × 140 mm.
Dimensions (written): 150 × 85 mm.

Condition

Handle text with caution. In poor condition, with severe damage to the opening folios, as well as well as areas of water and insect damage.

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.

Additions:
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.

Seal(s):
Two seal impressions of former ownersor associates:

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

Origin: Probably completed in the Indian subcontinent undated, but completed before 1030 AH (1620–21 CE).

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


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