Summary:
Carefully executed physics (physical sciences or natural sciences, i.e. hikmet-i tabiiye) notebook containing numerous sample problems (with problem statement, solution and any diagrams), tables and notes.
Subject(s):
School notebooks--Turkey--19th century.
Physics--Study and teaching--Turkey--19th century.
Manuscripts, Turkish--Michigan--Ann Arbor.
Turkey--History--Ottoman Empire, 1288-1918--Sources.
Physical Details:
Collation:
XVIII (36) ; single gathering of 18 bifolia ; some leaves ruled but left blank ; catchwords present ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during digitization.
Layout:
Highly variable, as written area often contains diagrams, tables or lines of arithmetic along with problem statement.
Script:
Ruqʻah ; fairly clear Turkish hand ; serifless with slight effect of inclination to the left and of words descending to baseline, highly ligatured, pointing in strokes rather than distinct dots, closed counters ; notes in several other hands.
Decoration:
Headings, keywords, numerals and other symbols rubricated ; written area of many pages surrounded by rule-border ; many diagrams and tables, as well as two colored illustrations showing ships at sea (see p.9 and p.11).
Support:
European laid paper (as well as a few bifolia in wove paper) ; mainly with 13-14 laid lines per cm. (horizontal) and chain lines spaced 24 mm. apart (vertical), beige, sturdy and well-burnished ; another type with 12-13 laid lines per cm. (horizontal), chain lines spaced 23-24 mm. apart (vertical), and watermark of arms / shield with crown above (see p.6, etc.).
Binding:
Marbled paper cover (mainly in blue and brown, single sheet, limp binding without boards) ; sewn in heavy dark blue to black thread, eight stations ; overall in somewhat poor condition with some abrasion, staining, tears losses, etc.
Origin:
Lacks dated colophon, though date 1257 [1841 or 2] appears in text (pp.16, 20, and 38) ; statement signed Emin Efendi and dated 1848 provides a terminus ante quem of 1848 ; paper, etc. certainly suggest 19th century.
Ownership and History:
Inscription in pencil on 'title page' (p.1) supposedly describing contents "Turkish Astronomical Tables" ; numerous notes (often problems with solutions) and former owners' marks at opening and close of codex, many dated, including notes on p.63 dated Ramaḍān 1262 [September 1845], statement on p.68 signed "Emin Efendi" dated 1848, statements on p.69 dated 1847, 1848, 1849, 1266 [i.e. 1850], etc.
Contributor(s) / Included work(s):
Unidentified-Can you help supply this information? Please comment!
In Collection:
Tracy W. McGregor Collection of Arabic, Persian, and Turkish Mathematical and Astronomical Manuscripts.
Posted by evyn on October 27, 2010
Tags: Fully Catalogued, Tracy W. McGregor Collection, Turkish MSS
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