Persian MS 898 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)
Persian Manuscripts
Contents
'Nota-Manus' (pseudonym of M. Raymond, a. k. a. 'Haji Mustapha', d. 1791) translated the first volume into English in 1789, but apparently died before completing it. Colonel John Briggs (d. 1875) later revised and expanded it for the Oriental Translation Fund, published in 1832.
Physical Description
Incomplete foliation in Hindu-Arabic numerals inscribed on the upper-right corners of the b sides in black ink on on folios 1b to 280b that duplicate folio numbers 194 and 255.
Foliation in pencilled Arabic numerals on the upper-right corners of the a sides by the cataloguer.
Collation
Condition
Layout
Written in a single column with 22 lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.
Hand(s)
Copied in clear nasta‘līq script in black ink with subheaders and marks in red.
Folios 257–258 and 405–412 replaced, written in a different nasta‘līq script in black ink, possibly the same hand that wrote several marginal notes.
- Inscription:folio 305b ‘1st vol. 304 leaves Vol. 1 is very rare 3/? £2-10-0.’
- Bookplates: the left paste-down bears the ‘Bibliotheca Lindesiana’ bookplate with shelf mark ‘2/B’, and earlier class mark ‘Persian 103–104’.
Binding
Sewn at three stations, probably on sawn-in cord supports laced or frayed out onto the pasteboards. Edges finely speckled in blue and black. Folded striped red and white fabric stuck-on endbands applied at head and tail. Covered in an British-style, tight backed binding in full British tan coloured calfskin leather, with a smooth spine and defined joints, untitled and untooled. Endleaves of comparatively heavy English handmade paper, >1mm between laid lines and 30 mm between chain lines.
Calf boards spattered and marbled to the book by the binder after covering.
322 × 199 × 71 mm.
Binding in good condition but restricted opening to the gutter margin.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
Acquired by Alexander Lindsay, 25th Earl of Crawford (1812–1880).
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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