Persian MS 846 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)
Persian Manuscripts
Contents
Physical Description
Collation
Condition
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
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
Funding of Cataloguing
Iran Heritage Foundation
The John Rylands Research Institute
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