Summary:
Fine copy of the Dīvān of the masterful poet Ḥāfiẓ (Khvājah Shams al-Dīn Muḥammad Shīrāzī, d.1390?).
Physical Details:
Collation:
ii, 3 (3), 18 IV(147), III (153), IV (161), III (167), 3 IV(191), III (197), ii ; chiefly quaternions ; several leaves preceding and following the text flecked but left blank ; catchwords present.
Layout:
Written in 13 lines per page, with written area mainly divided to two columns ; frame-ruled.
Script:
Nastaʻlīq ; elegant Indian [?] hand in a medium line ; serifless with effect of words descending to baseline, superscripting of final words and letters (end of each line), pointing in distinct or conjoined dots, some elongation of horizontal strokes.
Decoration:
Written area of opening leaves of text surrounded by gold frame defined by black fillets with outermost red rule, divisions within defined by red rules ; 'written area' into margins silver-flecked, margins flecked in blue ; gilt edges.
Support:
non-European laid paper with roughly 8 laid lines per cm. (vertical, somewhat indistinct, some curving) and occasional chain lines faintly visible, cloudy formation, sturdy, cream in color, well-burnished ; 'written area' into margins silver-flecked, margins flecked in blue with small rectangle left for catchwords ; flyleaves and added leaves in European wove paper ; some staining and tide lines ; gilt edges.
Binding:
Boards covered in brown leather ; Western style binding ; pastedowns and flyleaves in dark red-brown paper ; upper and lower covers carry blind-stamped central rectangular panel with triangles of vegetal composition accenting an inner diamond design and elaborate border in a scrolling vegetal pattern with gold-tooled accents ; spine gold-stamped with title "DIVAN | E | HAFIZ | - | MS" (likely has been rebacked) ; edges of text block gilt ; sewn in white thread over five recessed cords ; stuck-on endbands in green, white, and red stripes ; overall in fair condition with some abrasion, staining, etc.
Accompanying Materials:
a. Slip with description (in hand of E. Husselman ?) "Muḥammad Ḥāfiz̤, Shīrāzī | Dīvān. | U. of M. has 6 MSS. of the Dīvān of Hafiz" -- b. Recycled card with notes in hand of Emilie Savage-Smith [according to R. Dougherty] "speckled paper | fine binding | some borders near front complete, others not – shows something about how books made" -- c. Slip with note "counted for 1968/69 Annual Report" -- d. Slip with note "Persian MSS (Heyworth-Dunne?) Husselman notes" -- e. Slip with description in pencil "Ḥāfeẓ (MS) | Divān | Date : | Place: Lucknow"
Origin:
Lacks dated colophon ; depending on what it represents of involvement with the production of the manuscript, seal impression at close provides only a very rough terminus ante quem of 1837 (as seal could have been made years before use here). Paper, etc. consistent with early to mid 19th century dating.
Ownership and History:
At close of text, large rectangular seal impression apparently dated 1252 [1836 or 7] in name of Mumtāz al-Dawlah Amīr al-Mulk Sayyid Mīr Khān Bahādur al-Ḥusaynī Ṣamṣām Jang ( ممتاز الدوله امیر الملک سید میر خان بهادر الحسینی صمصام جنک ) and statement opening "در لکنو ..." mentioning the house of Āghā Muḥammad Ṣāḥib (آغا محمد صاحب ) ; fairly clean copy.
Contributor(s) / Included work(s):
Unidentified-Can you help supply this information? Please comment!
Former Owner(s):
07 Mumtāz al-Dawlah Amīr al-Mulk Sayyid Mīr Khān Bahādur al-Ḥusaynī Ṣamṣām Jang, fl. 1836, former owner. Nuttall, Frank E., 1875-1943, former owner. 07 ممتاز الدوله امير الملك سيد مير خان بهادر الحسينى صمصام جنگ, مالك سابق.
Posted by evyn on February 2, 2011
Tags: F. E. Nuttall Collection, Fully Catalogued, Persian MSS
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