Union Catalogue of Manuscripts from the Islamicate World

Persian MS 864 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)

Persian Manuscripts

Contents

Summary of Contents: The Tuḥfat al-Ḥabīb (Gift of the Friend), a alphabetically arranged anthology of ghazal lyric poems from the 13th to early 16th centuries CE. Compiled by Safavid-era poet Fakhrī Haravī (ca. 1497–1566), pen-named Amīrī, he dedicated it to his patron, then-governor of Herat, Karīm al-Dīn Khvājah Ḥabīb Allāh Savājī. (fl. early 16th c). Albeit undated, this finely copied manuscript bears a illuminated header and appears likely completed in the Mughal empire.
Incipit: (basmala) برگ ۱پ (folio 1b): ای نام تو دیباچهٔ مجموعهٔ راز * نازند بنام تو همهٔاهل نیاز
Colophon: No colophon
Language(s): Persian

For another work by this author held in the Rylands, see Persian MS 105.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Medium-weight, cross-grained, externally sized and polished, bone-coloured paper, probably handmade in the Indian subcontinent.
Dimensions (leaf): 277 × 169 mm.
Dimensions (written):

Layout

Hand(s)

Written in clear black nasta‘līq.

History

Origin: Probably completed in the Mughal Empire; undated, but possibly late 15th to early 16th centuries.

Provenance and Acquisition

Formerly part of the collection of Duncan Forbes (1798–1868), Professor of Oriental Languages at King's College.

In 1866, he published the volume in his library catalogue, then sold it to his publishers, W. H. Allen & Co. in London in exchange for an annuity.

Acquired 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. Identification of provenance based on a manuscript catalogue by Michael Kerney, circa 1890s.

Dating information from Kerney, Bibliotheca Lindesiana, Hand-list of Oriental Manuscripts: Arabic, Persian, Turkish, 1898.

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.

Bibliography

    ‘Abd al-Muqtadir, Catalogue of the Arabic and Persian Manuscripts in the Oriental Public Library at (Bankipore) Patna, Vol. XI (Calcutta: Baptist Mission Press, 1925), pp. 140–141, no. 1101.
    D. N. Marshall, Mughals in India: A Bibliographical Survey. Vol. 1. Manuscripts (Bombay: Asia Publishing House, 1962), pp. 136–37, no. 442(ii).
    S. H. Qasemi, 'Faḵrī Heravī, Solṭān-Moḥmammad', Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. IX, Fasc. 2 (1999) pp. 165–166.
    C. Rieu, Supplement to the Catalogue of the Persian manuscripts in the British Museum (London: British Museum1895), pp. 233–234, no. 375 [British Library, 0r. 3244].
    A. Sprenger, A Catalogue of Arabic, Persian and Hindustany Manuscripts in the Libraries of the King of Oudh. (Calcutta: Baptist Mission Press, 1854), pp. 12, no. 6.
    C. A. Storey, Persian Literature: A Bio-bibliographical Survey, Vol. 1 Pt. 2 (London: Luzac & Co., 1953), p. 797, no. 1099.

Funding of Cataloguing

Iran Heritage Foundation

The John Rylands Research Institute


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