Persian MS 903 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)

Persian Manuscripts

Summary of Contents: This second of three incomplete volumes, together with Persian MS 904 of the Tārīkh-i Alfī, contains the second and third books. It spans the years 533–770 AH (1158–1368 CE). It presents a general history of Turkic and Mongol rulers.

Author: Tattavī, Aḥmad, d. 1588 ملا احمد تتوی

Title: Tārīkh-i Alfī

Title: تاریخ الفی

Incipit: (basmalla) برگ ۱پ (folio 1b):

Explicit: برگ ۲۳۳ر (folio 233a):

Colophon: No colophon

Language(s): Persian

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: Textblock of cross-grained, externally sized and polished, ivory-coloured paper probably handmade in the Indian subcontinent with ~8 laid lines per 20 mm and no discernible chain lines.

Extent: 0 folios, 2 flyleaves (ff. i + 0 + i).

Dimensions (leaf): × mm.

Dimensions (written): × mm.

Foliation: Hindu-Arabic numerals added to the upper-left corners of the a sides throughout.

Foliation: Pencilled Arabic numerals added to the upper-left corners of the a sides when catalogued.

Collation

Undetermined. Catchwords throughout most of the lower-left corners of the b sides.

Condition

In fair condition, with moderate water and insect damage and historical repairs throughout.

Layout

Written in 1 column with 20 lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.

Hand(s)

Written in clear black nasta‘līq with red subheaders.

Binding

Probably bound in the

Sewn. Edges trimmed, and chevron endbands of yellow and silver threads twined at head and tail.

Spine tooled

× × mm.

Handle binding with caution. In

History

Origin:

Provenance and Acquisition

Purchased by Enriqueta Rylands, on behalf of the John Rylands Library, in 1901 from James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford.

Record Sources

Bibliographical description based on an index created by Reza Navabpour circa 1993. Identification of provenance based on manuscript catalogue by Michael Kerney, circa 1890s.

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.

Funding of Cataloguing

Iran Heritage Foundation

The John Rylands Research Institute

The Soudavar Memorial Foundation

Subjects

Universal history

Comments

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