Persian MS 846 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)
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Persian Manuscripts
Contents
Summary of Contents: An unsigned, undated complete manuscript of the Dīvān-i Shams-i Tabrīzī, by Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī, Mawlana, 1207-1273. Possibly completed in the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century, this clearly-written volume opens with ghazals lyric poems, ends with quatrains, and appears handsomely bound with gilt paper onlays.Title: Dīvān-i Shams-i TabrīzīTitle: ديوان شمس تبريزیIncipit: (basmalla) برگ ۱پ (folio 1b): آمد بت میخانه تا خانه برد ما را * بنمود بهار نو تا تازه کند ما راExplicit: برگ ۶۲۸ر (folio 628a): یک چشم من از روز جدائی بگریست * چشم دگرم گفت چرا گریه ز چیست * چون روز وصال شد فرازش کردم * گفتم نگریستی نباید نگریستColophon: برگ ۶۲۸ر (folio 628a): تمت الدیوان مولانای روم قدس الله سرهColophon: Colophon undated and unsigned.Language(s): PersianPhysical Description
Form: codexSupport: Medium-weight, straight-grained, flocked, buff-coloured, externally sized and polished handmade paper possibly made in the Indian subcontinent, with 10 laid lines per cm, and no discernible chain lines. Folios 1 to 12 and 628 remargined with comparatively thin straight-grained, buff-coloured, sized and highly polished, likely made in the Indian subcontinent that appears to be the same stock as the endpapers.Extent: 631 folios, 5 flyleaves (ff. iii + 631 + ii).Dimensions (leaf): 278 × 155 mm.Dimensions (written): 204 × 86 mm.Foliation: Indic sīyāq numerals on the top-right corners of the a sides in red with many trimmed off when rebound.Foliation: Foliation marked at top-right corners of the a sides in pencilled Arabic numerals when catalogued, which omit folios 89Aa, 133Aa, and 271Aa, hence off by three.Collation
Undetermined.Condition
In fairly good condition, with some water damage at the head, and occasional insect damage.Layout
Written in 2 column with 22 lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.
Hand(s)
Written in in a clear nasta‘līq hand in black with subheaders in red.
Binding
Probably originally bound in India, then later repaired, trimmed, and rebacked in Europe. Original binding faced with green goatksin leather over pasteboards on the exterior, with internal red goatskin leather doublures, cut larger than the pasteboards then turned outwards to hem the exterior board perimeters. Later repaired in Europe, where a binder resewed the volume on three cords then laced them into the pasteboards, then rebacked the spine in what may be kermes-dyed alum tawed goatskin leather, with internal marbled paper hinges added to rejoin the boards.
Extensive paper onlays, central mandorla, and cartouches, all blocked in gold.
285 × 164 × 78 mm.
Binding in fair condition, with many onlays severely abraded or missing on the exterior covers.
History
Origin: Possibly completed in the Indian subcontinent; undated, but possibly late 17th to 18th centuries.Provenance and Acquisition
London bookseller Bernard Quaritch (1819–1899) likely sent this volume to Alexander Lindsay, 25th Earl of Crawford (1812–1880) on 25 Oct. 1857, which he acquired ‘...from a bookseller in the west of England’ without naming it, but the latter in reply on 4 Nov. 1857 that he ‘...will be glad to keep the Diwan of Rumi’.
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 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
Papers of the Earls of Crawford and Balcarres Library Letters (27 June and 1 July, 1885), Vol. 18, June–Dec 1867, folios 401, 411 [NLS Acc. 9769].Funding of Cataloguing
Iran Heritage Foundation
The John Rylands Research Institute
Subjects
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