Persian MS 898 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)
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Persian Manuscripts
Contents
Summary of Contents: The last part of three complete volumes, bound in two (together with Persian MS 897), of the Siyar al-Mutaʼakhkhirīn (Review of Modern Times), a general history of India after the death of the Mughal Emperor ‘Alamgīr I in 1707 until 1195 AH (1781 CE). The author, Ghulām Husain Khān Ṭabaṭāḅāī, a son of Patna Vice-Regent Sayyid ‘Alī Khān and cousin of ‘Alīvardī Khān, Nawwab of Bengal (b. 1676 r. 1740–1756), composed this text in circa 1780–1784, and dedicated it to Governor-General of Bengal, Warren Hastings. This second volume commences with the ‘Ālamgīr's death in 1707 then continues until 1195 AH (1781 CE).Title: Siyar al-MutaʼakhkhirīnTitle: سير المتأخرينIncipit: (basmalla) برگ ۱پ (folio 1b): سپاس بیقیاس و ستایش سر اساس نثار بیار گاه عزت و عظمت و جلال دادار بیهمالیست.Explicit: برگ ۴۷۸ر (folio 478a): سنه خمس وتسعين من المائة الثانيه عشرة من الهجره المقدسة النبوية علي صاحبها السلام والتحية.Colophon: برگ ۴۷۸ر (folio 478a): در سنه یکهزار و دوصد و بیست و چهار هجری صورت انجام و پیرایه یافت.Colophon: 1224 AH (1809–10 CE)'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.
Language(s): PersianPhysical Description
Form: codexSupport: Medium-weight, straight-grained ivory-coloured English handmade paper, with >1mm between the laid lines and ~26 mm between chain lines, with a Britannia watermark countermarked ‘J. Whatman 1808’ manufactured by the Whatman Paper Mill in Maidstone, Kent then owned and operated by William Balston (1759–1849). Folios 257–258 replaced with English handmade paper watermarked with Britannia and countermarked ‘Budgen and Willmott 1811’ of Kent papermakers Thomas Budgen and Charles Willmott, with chain lines 26 mm and laid lines ~1mm apart. Folios 405–412 replaced with English handmade paper watermarked with Britannia and countermarked C. Brenchley 1812 manufactured by Charles Brenchley in Snodland, Kent, with chain lines 25 mm and laid lines >1mm apart.Extent: 478 folios (ff. i + 478 + i)Dimensions (leaf): 311 × 194 mm.Dimensions (written): 258 × 155 mm.Foliation: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:Foliation in pencilled Arabic numerals on the upper-right corners of the a sides by the cataloguer.
Collation
Possibly binions throughout. Catchwords thoughout on the lower left corners of the b sides.Condition
In good condition, with however the binding is somewhat tight and doesn't open to the gutters.Layout
Written in a single column with 22 lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.
Hand(s)
Copied in clear black nasta‘līq, with subheaders and marks in red.
Folios 257a–258b and 405a–412b replaced, written in a different black nasta‘līq hand, possibly the same one that wrote several marginal notes.
Additions:
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, full British tan coloured calfskin leather, tight-backed, 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
Origin: 1224 AH (1809–10 CE).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
A. F. L. Beeston, Catalogue of the Persian, Turkish, Hindûstânî, and Pushtû Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, Part III (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1954), p. 7 no. 2471 [Bodl.. Ms. Ind. Inst. Pers. 25-26].E. G. Browne, A Catalogue of Persian Manuscripts in the Library of the University of Cambridge, (Cambridge: Cambridge University press, 1896), p. 176, no. 101 [Camb. Add. 408].H. M. Elliot and John Dowson, The History of India, As Told by Its Own Historians: The Muhammadan Period, Vol. VIII (London: Trübner & Co., 1877), pp. 194–198, no. CXII.H. Ethé, Catalogue of Persian Manuscripts in the Library of the India Office, Vol. I (Oxford: Printed for the India Office by H. Hart, 1903) col. 157, no. 416 [BL IO Islamic 3319].Gholam Hussein-Khan, The Siyar-ul-Mutakherin: A History of the Mahomedan Power in India During the Last Century. Revised translation by John Briggs. London: Oriental translation fund, 1832.Ghulam Husain Khan, A Translation of the Sëir Mutaqherin; or View of Modern Times, Being an History of India, from the Year 1118 to Year 1194 (This Year Answers to the Christian Year 1781-82) of the Hidjrah, Containing, in General, the Reigns of the Seven Last Emperors of Hindostan, and in Particular, an Account of the English Wars in Bengal ... To Which the Author Has Added Critical Examination of the English Government and Policy in Those Countries, Down to the Year 1783. Translated by 'Nota-Manus' [pseudonym of M. Raymond, a.k.a. 'Haji Mustapha']. Calcutta: Printed by J. White, 1789.D. S. Margoliouth, Catalogue of the Oriental Manuscripts in the Library of Eton College (Oxford: Horace Hart, Printer to the University, 1904, p. 24, no. 199 (shelf/item: 16/14) [Eton Pote 436].D. N. Marshall, Mughals in India: A Bibliographical Survey. Vol. 1. Manuscripts (Bombay: Asia Publishing House, 1962), pp. 157–158, no. 517.W. H. Morley, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Historical Manuscripts in the Arabic and Persian Languages (London: John W. Parker & Son, 1854), pp. 105–108, nos. CV–CIII. [RAS Persian 110–113].C. Rieu, Catalogue of the Persian manuscripts in the British Museum, Vol. I (London: British Museum, 1879), p. 280 [British Library Add. 6577-6578].E. Sachau and H. Ethé, Catalogue of the Persian, Turkish, Hindûstani, and Pushtû manuscripts in the Bodleian Library Vol I. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1889), col. 133, no. 254 [Bodleian Ouseley 330/3].C. A. Storey, Persian Literature: A Bio-bibliographical Survey, Vol. 2 Pt. 3 (London: Luzac & Co., 1939), pp. 625–639, no. 802.Robert Travers, 'The connected worlds of Haji Mustapha (c. 1730–91): A Eurasian cosmopolitan in eighteenth-century Bengal, The Indian Economic & Social History Review Vol. 52, No. 3 (2015): pp. 297–333.Funding of Cataloguing
Iran Heritage Foundation
The John Rylands Research Institute
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