Summary:
Elegant copy of Maṭlaʻ al-anvār, a moral and religious poem opening the Khamsah of Amīr Khusraw Dihlavī (d.1325), written in imitation of the opening mas̲navī of Niẓāmī's Khamsah, Makhzan al-asrār.
Subject(s):
Persian poetry--747-1500.
Masnavis, Persian--Early works to 1800.
Manuscripts, Persian--Michigan--Ann Arbor.
Physical Details:
Collation:
i, 10 IV(80), I+1 (83), i ; almost exclusively quaternions ; catchwords present ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during digitization.
Layout:
Written mainly in 12 lines per page with written area divided to two columns ; frame-ruled.
Script:
Nastaʻlīq ; compact, elegant hand ; serifless, with effect of words descending to baseline, closed counters, and elongated horizontal strokes.
Decoration:
Sublime illuminated headpiece ( ʻunwān / sarlawḥ ) at opening on p.2 consisting of large rectangular piece with empty gold cartouche surrounded by swirling arabesque with floral accents in gold, red, white, etc. on fields of lapis lazuli and gold (evoking book cover design) with border in white and lapis lazuli bands outlining heavy gold interlace, surmounted by band of black with arabesque and floral motifs in white, red, gold, etc. and scalloped triangular piece or hasp continuing the floral vegetal design on fields of gold and lapis lazuli, all surmounted by vertical stalks (tīgh) in blue ; written area gold-flecked and surrounded by frame consisting of gold band defined by black fillets and outermost blue rule ; keywords and headings in blue.
Support:
non-European laid paper with 7 laid lines per cm. (vertical) and no chain lines clearly visible, sturdy, though fairly transluscent, well-burnished, beige in color ; written area gold-flecked.
Binding:
Pasteboards covered in brown leather ; Type II binding (with flap) ; two-piece binding (overlapping flanges visible at spine) ; pastedowns and flyleaves in bright pink textured and coated paper ; upper and lower covers carry gold-painted (in two different shades) spray of flowers and leaves at the center of a rectangular panel with cornerpieces and surrounding border in heavy gold bands and rules ; edges of text block gilt ; now sewn in white thread, two stations ; worked chevron endbands in red and blue-green, excellent condition ; overall in good condition with only minor abrasion and staining.
Former Shelfmarks:
"209 T. De M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" inscribed in pencil on verso of front flyleaf.
Ownership and History:
Inscription in pencil on verso of front flyleaf "209 T. De M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" ; traces of effaced statements and seal impressions on 'title page' (p.1) ; virtually effaced statement (possibly of former owner) at close on p.165 ; statement in a miniscule hand on verso of final leaf (p.166) appears to be dated Rabīʻ I 1236 [December 1820] ; relatively clean copy.
Contributor(s) / Included work(s):
Unidentified-Can you help supply this information? Please comment!
Posted by evyn on October 27, 2010
Tags: Abdul Hamid Collection, Fully Catalogued, Persian MSS
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