Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 890Origin: Lacks dated scribal colophon ; date of composition and dedication (executed for Naṣīr al-Dawlah Fāris al-Mulk Navvāb Muḥammad ʻAlīʹkhān Bahādur Sipahdār Jang / نصير الدوله فارس الملك نواب محمد عليخان بهادر سپهدار جنگ ) appear in authorial colophon on p.300, Rabīʻ II 1226 [1811] ; date in octagonal seal impression provides only a very approximate terminus ante quem of 1864 ; paper, etc. suggest 19th century.Accompanying materials: a. Slip with note "Counted for 1968/69 Annual Report" -- b. Slip with note "Persian MSS (Heyworth-Dunne?) with Husselman and Meredith-Owen notes" -- c. Scrap with description in black ink "Muḥammad Ṣādiḳ Khān called Akhhan ? | Hadīḳat al Irshād. A treatise on the art of composition. AH. 1226 = A.D. 1811" -- d. Slip with description (in hand of E. Husselman ?) "Muẖammad Ṣādiḳ Khan, called Akhbar | Hadiḳat al-Irshād | n.f. in BMCat. Pers. bks or MSS | Not in U. of M. MSS. | 148 ff. | 295 pp." -- e. Slip with description in hand of G. Meredith-Owens "MO 20 Ḥadīqat al-irshād by Muḥammad Ṣādiq Khān called Akhbār (?). A treatise on the art of composition" -- f. Slip or tag with "#3" in red pencil -- g. Page torn from Luzac & Co. catalog, 1908, 'Books on Modern Persian Literature,' with description of this manuscript "237 MOHAMMAD SĀDIK KHAN, called AKHBAR. Hadikat al Irshād. A treatise on the Art of Composition. Persian MS. Roy. 8vo. 8s. 6d. Dated 1811"Former shelfmark: Mich. Isl. Ms. temp. no. 39Binding: Boards covered in orange-red cloth with dark brown leather over spine and board corners (half binding) ; Western style binding ; pastedowns and flyleaves in untinted wove paper ; leather blind-tooled with toothed border ; spine gold-stamped with title "HADIQAT | UL | IRSHAD" and rules defining raised bands ; edges of text block flecked with red ; sewn over five recessed cords ; stuck-on endbands in red and yellow ; overall in fair condition with some abrasion and deterioration of spine leather, etc.Support: non-European (likely Indian or Persian) laid paper with roughly 11 laid lines per cm. (mainly horizontal, somewhat indistinct, curving) and occasional chain lines, cloudy formation, inclusions and fibers visible, thin and transluscent though sturdy, dark cream in color, burnished ; some pest damage and repairs (fills) ; blocking between pp.244-245.Decoration: Keywords and headings rubricated ; textual dividers in the form of inverted commas ; overlining in red ; overlining with two-teeth stroke in red ; a table (جدول) on p.283 and a few other diagrams.Script: Nastaʻlīq ; elegant, spacious, Indian [?] hand ; serifless with dramatic effect of words descending to baseline, elongation of horizontal strokes, pointing (two and three dots) mainly in strokes rather than distinct dots, some free assimilation of letters.Layout: Written in 15 lines per page, occasionally divided to two columns ; frame-ruled.Collation: iv, 12 IV(96), III (102), 5 IV(142), III (148), i ; amost exclusively quaternions except for two ternions ; middle of the quire marks in the form of short black strokes in the upper outer corner of the right-hand leaf and lower-outer corner of the left-hand leaf ; several leaves at opening left blank ; catchwords present ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during digitization (includes flyleaves and mistakenly repeats p.242 two additional times).Colophon: "Authorial," rectangular, reads "الحمد لله و المنة که بقدر یافت و استعدادی ... در ماه ربیع الثانی سنه ۱۲۲۶ هزار و دو صد بیست و شش هجرى قدسی بموجب ارشاد کرامت ... نصیر الدوله فارس الملک نواب محمد علیخان بهادر سپهدار جنگ ... تمت تمام شد"Explicit: "ر اتمامي حاصل آید بخیر دیگر حاجت مند شود"Incipit: "بانشای سپاس بدیع نگاری رگ ابر قلم تردست ..."Title from inscription on 'title page' (p.9).Ms. codex.Fine copy of a treatise on the art of composition by Muḥammad Ṣādiq Khān, known as Akhtar (d.1858?).
Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 226Origin: As appears in colophon on p.419, copied by Aḥmad Imāmʻzādah al-Qasṭamūnī (Ahmet İmamzade el-Kastamoni) with transcription finished in Shawwāl 1197 [September 1783].Former shelfmark: "342 T. De M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" inscribed in pencil on verso of front flyleaf ; "20" inscribed in pencil on 'title page' (p.3).Binding: Pasteboards covered in tan leather ; Type II binding (with flap) ; pastedowns/flyleaves in gold-flecked yellow-green surface-dyed paper ; upper and lower covers carry gold-stamped (over red-oranged recessed onlays) mandorla (filled with vegetal composition, similar to Déroche class. NSd 7), pendants and cornerpieces with gold-tooled and gold-painted accents as well as guilloché roll border ; sewn in pink thread, two stations ; worked chevron endbands in pink and black, damaged ; overall in fair condition with some abrasion, staining, lifting of leather, etc. ; housed in box for protection.Support: European laid paper ; opening type with 9 laid lines per cm. (vertical), chain lines spaced 26 mm. apart (horizontal), and crown and grapes (raisin) watermark (see p.6, 20, etc.), heavily sized and burnished, crisp and transluscent though sturdy, light beige in color ; latter gatherings (from p.181) lighter in color and with " C C W" ["G C W" ?] watermark (see p.190, 191, 230, 231, 420, 421, etc.).Decoration: Elegant illuminated headpiece (ʻunwān) at opening on p.4 consisting of rectangular piece with empty gold cartouche and flanking floral motifs in gold, red, and green surmounted by a shallow w-shaped piece filled with swirling floral vegetal decoration in green and red on a filed of gold, surmounted by vertical stalks (tīgh) in red and blue and set in a well of decorative bands in light blue, red, white, and gold ; written area throughout surrounded by frame consisting of a series of gold bands with an outer red fillet and a separate red fillet (narrow gold band for incipit and facing page) surrounding the area of the margins ; keywords rubricated ; overlining in red.Script: Nastaʻlīq (talik) ; virtually serifless with slight effect of words descending to baseline (occasionally more exaggerated), elongation and contrasting thickness of horizontal strokes, pointing (for two and three dots) mainly in strokes rather than distinct dots, kāf mashqūqah preferred.Layout: Written in 19 lines per page ; frame-ruled.Collation: ii, 20 V(200), V+2 (212), i ; exclusively quinions (one anomalous) ; catchwords present ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during digitization (includes flyleaves and mistakenly skips two pages each between pp.101-102 and 321-322).Colophon: "Scribal," triangular, reads: "تمت الكتاب بعون الملك الوهاب وقد كملت هذه المعرب في شهر شوال سنة سبع وتسعين ومائة والف عن يد عبد الضعيف الحاج احمد امام زاده القسطموني غفر له"Explicit: "ويجوز ان يكون صفة رجل حملا على محله القريب كما في الرضي هذا اخر ما اوردناه من الاعراب على اظهار الاسرار بعون الملك الستار ... اللهم اجعله خالصا لوجهك الكريم ... وصلى الله علي سيدنا محمد الذي ارسل رحمة للعالمين وعلى اله واصحابه اجمعين وعلى جميع الانبياء والمرسلين والحمد لله رب العالمين"Incipit: "الحمد لله الذي رفع داء الجهل عنا بانزال قرآن عربي بين الهدى علينا ونصب اطباء العلماء بيننا بمحض لطفه واحسانه وكرمه لنا ... اما بعد فيقول الراجي من ربه الحسنى والزيادة حسين ابن احمد الشهير بزين زاده غفر ذنوبهما وستر عيوبهما لما كان كتاب اظهار الاسرار للشيخ محمد البركي بديع الفضل في الاعصار منطويا على حقائق المباحث المعربية ومحويا على دقائق الاسرار الادبية ... سألني بعض الاخوان ... ان اكتب عليه اعرابا لا يغادر صغيرا ولا كبيرا الا احصاه ... فاجبتهم متضرعا الى من هو عليه هين يسير ... وسميته بحل اسرار الاخيار على اعراب اظهار الاسرار ..."Title from opening on p.5.Ms. codex.Elegant copy of the commentary by Ḥusayn ibn Aḥmad Zaynīʻzade on Iẓhār al-asrār, the work of Arabic grammar by Birgivî (Birgili, Birkawī) Mehmet Efendi.
Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 264Origin: As appears in colophon on p.306, copied by Pīr Jalīl Burdahʹlīq with transcription completed 1 Jumādá II 880 [ca. 2 October 1475]. As appears in authorial colophon on p.290 (contribution to the cataloguing from Ali Safari Agh Ghaleh), composition completed 9 Shaʻbān 695 [ca. 12 June 1296].Former shelfmark: "129 T. De M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" inscribed in pencil on upper pastedown.Binding: Pasteboards covered in tan leather with dull red leather over spine and edges / turn-ins (possible repair / restoration treatment) ; Type III binding (without flap) ; pastedowns and flyleaves in green wove paper ; upper and lower covers carry central scalloped mandorla with traces of filigreé (now lost) on recessed paper onlays ; sewn in light blue thread, two stations ; worked chevron endbands in light blue and golden yellow, good condition ; overall in somewhat poor condition with losses of onlays, some abrasion, staining, lifting of leather, etc.Support: non-European (likely Persian) laid paper with 7 laid lines per cm. (vertical) and single chains irregularly visible (horizontal), sturdy and well-burnished ; many leaves now guarded ; flyleaves in European wove paper.Decoration: Exquisite illuminated headpiece (ʻunwān / sarlawḥ ) at opening on p.2 consisting of rectangular piece with cartouche ending in scalloped domes carrying inscription (" الله ولا سواك [?]" ) in foliated Kufic surrounded by swirling arabesque (all in gold) and accented by red and blue dots flanked by delicated floral vegetal composition on lapis lazuli and bordered in gold, white and turquoise bands, surmounted by a row of elegant arabesque in white, gold, red, turquoise, etc. on a lapis lazuli ground, itself surmounted by vertical stalks (tīgh) in blue ; written area throughout surrounded by narrow gold frame defined by black fillets and outermost blue rule ; some keywords chrysographed, others rubricated or in blue ink ; occasional textual dividers in the form of gold discs.Script: Nastaʻlīq ; elegant hand ; serifless, with slight effect of words descending to baseline, closed counters, and elongated horizontal strokes, pointing somewhat inconsistent and occasionally unclear ; partially vocalized.Layout: Written in 15 lines per page ; frame-ruled.Collation: i, IV-1 (7), IV (15), IV+1 (24), 5 IV(64), IV+3 (75), 4 IV(107), IV+1 (116), IV (124), 2 III (136), IV (144), IV+1 (153), i ; quaternions (many anomalous) and two ternions ; catchwords present (occasionally cut off) ; foliation in black ink, Hindu-Arabic numerals ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during digitization.Dedication: Apparently compiled for amīr Nawrūz Beg (d.1297) [?], see dedication on p.3 "از لطايف صنع و آثار فضل خود خداوند و مخدوم جهانان امير بزرگ عالم عادل خسرو افاق لشكركس و سپهدار خراسان و عراق نوشيروان عهد صاحب السيف و القلم مدبر امور العالم ناصر عباد الله حافظ بلاد الله المنظور من السماء المظفر على الاعداء المخصوص بعنايت رب العالمين خسرو زمين و زمان صاحب قرآن امير المؤمنين برهان رسول رب العالمين غياث الاسلام و المسلمين نوروز بيگ خلد الله ملكه ..."Colophon: "Scribal," triangular, reads "تم الكتاب بعون الملك الوهاب فى غره جمادى الثانى سنه ۸۸۰ تم لفقير الحقير پر جليل برده ليق"Explicit: "اين عاريت است والله اعلم بالصواب"Incipit: "الحمد لله رب العالمين و الصلوة على رسوله آدم ومحمد وما بينهما من الانبياء والمرسلين وعلى آله البرره الطيبين وصحبه السفره الطاهرين وعلى محبهم ومحب محبيهم الى يوم الدين چون ايزد سبحانه و تعالى بعد از تاريخ هجرت مصطفى صلى الله عليه و سلم بششصد و نودوبنج سال خواست كه دين محمدى را كه بهترين اديانست ... و اين كتاب را حيرة الفقها خجله الفصلا [الفضلاء] نام نهادم انشا الله العزيز ...."Title from opening matter on (p.7).Ms. codex.Elegant copy of a collection of legal decisions compiled by ʻAlā Muftī Bukhārī (Bukhārāyī). Further details on the composition, works consulted, etc. appear on pp.8-10. For other manuscript copies see Dānish'pazhūh, Nuskhahʹhā-yi khaṭṭī dar kitābkhānahʹhā-yi Ittiḥād-i Jamāhīr-i Shūravī va Urūpā va Āmrīkā: guzārish va fihrist (Nuskhahʹhā-yi khaṭṭī daftar dahum), no.173, p.105.
Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 379Origin: As appears in colophon on p.1391, copied by Muḥammad ibn Khalīl (Mehmet b. Halil) ; date of transcription not specified ; paper suggests 18th century (perhaps mid century).Accompanying materials: a. Slip of wove paper with notes in black ink (between pp.230-321) -- b. Slip of laid paper with notes in black ink (between pp.726-727).Former shelfmark: "340 T. De M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" inscribed in pencil on verso of opening leaf (p.2) ; "٣٢ع | ٤خ" on spine label.Binding: Pasteboards covered in gold-flecked red leather ; Type II binding (with flap) ; board linings in untinted laid paper ; upper and lower covers carry blind-stamped (with orange paper onlay) and gold-painted mandorla filled with vegetal composition (compare Déroche class. NA 4), surrounded by a tooled border consisting of an s-shape stamped chain in gold flanked by thin gold fillets ; sewn in pink thread, two stations ; worked endbands in pink and yellow thread in a chevron pattern ; overall in fair condition with fore edge flap lost, repairs to spine and fore edge of lower board in a darker red leather, and abrasion on upper and lower covers.Support: European laid paper of several types ; one opening type with roughly 12 laid lines per cm. (vertical), chain lines (horizontal) spaced roughly 12 mm. apart, and watermark of grapes surmounted by a crown (see p.32) ; another with roughly 13 laid lines per cm. (vertical), chain lines (horizontal) spaced roughly 25 mm. apart, and watermark of "?AHE?NE" and figure (see p.46) ; another with roughly 10 laid lines per cm. (vertical), chain lines (horizontal) spaced roughly 25 mm. apart, and watermark of grapes surmounted by a crown with a heart motif (see p.136) ; another with roughly 8 laid lines per cm. (vertical), chain lines (horizontal) spaced roughly 21 mm. apart, watermark of grapes (see p.578) ; another with roughly 9 laid lines per cm. (vertical), chain lines (horizontal) spaced roughly 24 mm. apart, and watermark of LANGUEDOC (see p.592) ; all well-burnished, thin and crisp.Decoration: Illuminated headpiece (ʻunwān / sarlawḥ) at opening on p.10 consisting of rectangular piece with emtpy gold cartouche outlined in orange and flanked by floral vegetal accents in gold, light pink, and pale blue, surmounted by a scalloped semicircular piece (dome) outlined in orange and filled with floral vegetal accents in blue, pale blue, light pink, orange, and white, itself surmounted by delicate vertical stalks (tīgh) in blue, and set in a well consisting of a thick band of light pink ; written area throughout surrounded by a thick gold frame with outer black rule ; Qurʼānic passages rubricated in a range of red shades ; overlining in red ink.Script: Nastaʻlīq (talik) ; elegant Ottoman hand in a medium to bold line ; serifless, with effect of words descending to baseline, closed counters, and elongated horizontal strokes.Layout: Written in 21 lines per page ; frame-ruled.Collation: II (4), 169 V (694), II (698) ; chiefly quinions ; final two leaves (following close of text) left blank ; foliation in Hindu-Arabic numerals ; oblique catchwords on the verso of each leaf ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during cataloguing.Colophon: "Scribal," triangular, reads "كتبه اضعف العباد محمد بن حليل م"Explicit: "ومراه يي ضلعه تشبيه بيورديلر صلى الله على سيدنا محمد واله و صحبه اجمعين و الحمد الله حمدا يوافي نعمه ويكافي مزيده كلما حمده الحامدون و ذكره الذاكرون تمت بعون الحق"Incipit: "ان احسن الاحاديث بعد الحمد لمن جعل السقف الاخضر مرفوعا ... وبعد بو كمينۀ كم بضاعه وفقير قصير الباعه ... لمؤلفه احمدم ... واقوم الوسائل في ترجمة الشمائل ديو نام زد قيلدم ... "Title from opening matter on p.14.Ms. codex.Elegant copy of the extensive Ottoman Turkish rendering (with commentary) by İshak Hocası Ahmet b. Heyreddin (d.1708) of al-Tirmidhī’s (d.892) Kitāb al-Shamāʼil, a collection of traditions comprising the Prophet’s characteristics. Descriptive contributions from Nick Krabbenhoeft.
Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 338Origin: As appears in inscription on 'title page' (p.1) and in colophons on p.201 and 331, copied by one ʻAbd al-Ghanī Bakrī [?]. As appears in colophon on p.201, transcription of qaṣāyid completed in Dhū Qaʻdah 1028 [October-November 1619]. As appears in colophon on p.331, transcription of later section completed Ṣafar 1029 [February 1620]. Transcription of other sections likely completed around the same time.Binding: Pasteboards covered in dark red leather with tan leather over spine and edges / turn-ins (possibly inverted recylcled cover with doublures now out) ; Type III binding (without flap) ; board linings in pink-tinted paper ; upper and lower covers carry central mandorla and pendants in gold-painted leather filigree appliqué over blue and green paper ; now sewn in white thread, two stations ; worked chevron endbands in pink and spring green, fairly good condition ; overall in somewhat poor condition with significant abrasion, lifting and losses of leather, staining, minor pest damage, etc.Support: non-European laid paper with 9-10 laid lines per cm. (vertical, fairly distinct) and occasional pairs of chain lines faintly visible, somewhat cloudy formation, thin though sturdy, beige in color, well-sized and burnished ; some leaves tinted dull yellow or pale peach ; many leaves split and repaired (e.g. written area with headpiece and catchword of incipit page have been trimmed and mounted onto another leaf, etc.).Decoration: Exquisite illuminated headpiece (ʻunwān / sarlawḥ) at opening of dībāchah on p.2 consisting of rectangular piece with gold cartouche carrying the title for the opening section (preface) in white ("ديباچه ديوان عرفي") flanked by elegant floral vegetal motifs in red, white, yellow, pink, lavender, and turquoise on fields of lapis lazuli and black, surmounted by a large (vertically elongated) w-shaped piece filled with superbly executed swirling floral vegetal decoration in gold, red, pink, lavender, yellow, turquoise, white, and light blue on fields of lapis lazuli and gold, entire piece set into an elaborate well of red, blue, gold, white, and turquoise bands ; another exquisite illuminated headpiece at the opening of the dīvān proper (begins with the qaṣīdahs) on p.22 similar in composition to the first but with vertically elongated scalloped semi-circular piece (dome) surmounting rectangular piece, more generous use of white and turquoise, well of heavy gold interlace with turquoise and lavender accents, and vertical stalks (tīgh) in tact ; written area of dībāchah incipit and facing page surrounded by a frame consisting of a series of red, gold, black and blue fillets, with text set off by gold cloud-bands ; written area elsewhere gold-flecked and surrounded by frame in gold with outermost blue rule ; additional illuminated headpieces appear at openings of sections on p.202, 230, 334, 368.Script: Nastaʻlīq ; compact, elegant hand ; serifless, with effect of words descending to baseline, closed counters, and elongated horizontal strokes.Layout: Written in 15 lines per page, mainly divided to two columns ; frame-ruled.Collation: IV (8), I (10), 4 IV(42), III (48), 2 IV(64), III (70), 4 IV(102), 2 III(114), IV (122), III (128), IV (136), III (142), IV (122), III (128), IV (136), III (142), 3 IV(166), III (172), IV (180), I+1 (183), 4 IV(215), III (221), IV (229), II (233), III (239), 6 IV(287), III (293), 3 IV(317), V+1 (328) ; leaves between dībāchah and opening of dīvān left blank (pp.20-21) as well as between later sections (see pp.228-229, 332-333, 366-367) ; pp.295, 209, 351 left partially blank (perhaps for illustration never realized) ;catchwords present ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during digitization.Colophon: "تمت القصايد العرفيه تحريرا بتاريخ شهر ذى قعده سنه ١٠٢٨ كتبه الداعى عبد الغنى بكرى [؟] اللهم اغفر [له] ولوالديه" ; "تمت فى تاريخ شهر صفر سنه ١٠٢٩ كتبه الداعى عبد الغنى"Incipit: [dībāchah] " حمدی که از نهایت شایستگی منزه از شایبه معین و تخصیص آمده اجمال آن ..." ; [dīvān, opening in the qaṣīdahs] "ای متاع درد در بازار جان انداخته ای متاع ..."Title from inscription on 'title page' (p.1).Ms. codex.Exquisite (though damaged) copy of the Dīvān of ʻUrfī Shīrāzī (d.1590 or 91).
Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 350Origin: As appears in colophon on pp.346-347, copied by one Riz̤ā with transcription completed 24 Dhū al-Ḥijjah 1156 [ca. 8 February 1744] apparently on the order of Navvāb (Nawāb) Shīr Jang Bahādur in Shāhjahānābād (Delhi).Former shelfmark: "365 T. De M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" in pencil on verso of front flyleaf ; "١٤١" on tail edge of text block.Binding: Pasteboards covered in dark red leather ; Type III binding (without flap) ; two-piece binding (seam of overlapping flanges visible at spine) ; doublures also in dark red leather painted in shades of blue and gold to define central mandorla, pendants and cornerpieces overlaid with elegant swirling vegetal decoration (stamped or appliqué design) ; hinges also in dark red leather, interior of spine in woven textile ; upper and lower covers carry stamped and gold-painted mandorla, pendants and cornerpieces (each filled with vegetal compositions) as well as gold-painted and tooled borders, outermost on a blue-painted feild ; sewn in white thread, four stations plus primaries, somewhat loose but sound ; worked endbands in white, blue and a dark metallic thread ; overall in fairly good condition with some abrasion, minor pest damage, some gatherings loose, etc. ; subtle repair to replace lost pigment in border on upper cover.Support: Framing written area, a non-European (likely Indian) laid paper with 8-9 laid lines per cm. (vertical, distinct, curving) and no chain lines plainly visible, dense and sturdy, well-burnished, tinted blue in color and silver-flecked ; small rectangle of written area in another likely Indian laid paper, faintly marbled in pink (reminiscent of kumlu / kılçıklı ebru) and gold-flecked ; endpapers in still another paper (likely also of Indian manufacture), well-burnished, gray in tone ; subtle repairs in blue paper.Decoration: Fine illuminated headpiece (ʻunwān / sarlawḥ) at opening of table of contents (فهرست) on p.4 and at opening of text on p.10, the latter consisting of rectangular piece with gold cartouche carrying basmalah surmounted by w-shaped piece / scalloped dome filled with swirling floral vegetal decoration in orange, blue, bright pistachio green, pink, white, and lavender on grounds of blue and gold, all set in a well of pink bands with lavender crosses and surmounted by vertical stalks (tīgh) in blue ; splendid illuminated marginal decoration (in floral and vegetal forms) completes illuminated double-page opening on pp.10-11 ; simpler headpieces (in the form of gold rectangular pieces) appear at headings of other sections throughout ; written area throughout surrounded by gold frame with outermost white rule ; margins and columns within also defined by gold bands outlined in black ; keywords rubricated.Script: Nastaʻlīq ; large, elegant Indian hand in a medium to heavy line ; characteristically serifless with gentle effect of words descending to baseline, superscripting of letters, elongation and exaggerated thickness of horizontal strokes, pointing mainly in distinct dots, occasionally set very close together or conjoined, dramatically sweeping shaqq or sarkash on many kāfs, point of final nūn set just down in wide, slightly angled bowl.Layout: Written in 7 lines per page with written area divided to two columns ; frame-ruled.Collation: ii, II (4), 15 IV(124), II (128), IV (136), IV+2 (146), 2 IV(162), IV-1 (169), III-1 (174), ii ; almost exclusively quaternions ; catchwords present ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during cataloguing.Colophon: "Scribal," reads "حرره العبد المذنب العاصی یحتاج الی رحمة الله الملک الاعلی رضا بتاریخ بیست و چهارم شهر ذی الحجه روزسه شنبه سنه ١١۵۶ هجری سمت اتمام پذیرفت این مجموعۀ جهان آرا مسمی بگنج المعانی که نواب شیر جنگ بهادر دام اقباله در سلک انتخاب کشیده و بندۀ درگاه بموجب امر اشرف در دار الخلافۀ شاهجهان آباد در عین بی سرانجافی ..."Incipit: "سر دفتر ستایش حمد خدا تویی بسم الله صحیفۀ هر مدعا تویی ..."Title from closing matter on p.347.Ms. codex.Elegant copy of a selection of Persian poetry with contents listing ("فهرست این نسخه اشعار منتخبات خاص") provided prior to opening of text (see pp.4-8). Contributions to the cataloguing from Elizabeth Kunze.
Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 566Origin: As appears in colophon on p.426, copied by Walī ibn Shaʻbān (Veli bin Şaban) with transcription completed Muḥarram 1080 [June 1669]. As appears in preceding authorial colophon (also on p.426), composition completed 1 Rajab 981 [ca. 27 October 1573].Accompanying materials: a. Acquisitions slip from Yahuda (paginated pp.1-2) -- b. 46 slips carrying glosses, etc. (paginated, e.g. pp.33-34, 35-36, 37-38, 43-44, etc.).Former shelfmark: From interior of upper cover and fore edge flap label "IL 407" (likely supplied by Yahuda see acquisitions slip).Binding: Pasteboards covered in dark red-brown leather ; Type II binding (with flap) ; board linings in dull yellow-tinted paper ; upper and lower covers carry blind-stamped mandorla (filled with vegetal composition, compare Déroche class. OSv 1) ; sewn in light brown or grey thread, two stations ; worked chevron endbands in cream and or light yellow, fair condition, some losses to tailband ; overall in fair condition with abrasion, some lifting and losses of leather, minor delamination of upper board, etc. ; numerous repairs to board edges, spine, and flap in red and tan leathers.Support: European laid paper with 6-7 laid lines per cm. (vertical), chain lines spaced 26-27 mm. apart (horizontal), crown-star-crescent watermark (see p.22,23, etc.) and "S S" under trefoil countermark (see p.340) ; sturdy and dense, quite well-burnished.Decoration: Keywords, section headings, and abbreviation symbols rubricated ; overlining in red ; textual dividers in the form of inverted commas in red.Script: Nastaʻlīq (talik) ; an elegant Turkish hand ; virtually serifless with tilt to the right, slight effect of words descending to baseline, partially vocalized ; text following preface (p.14) supplied in a different hand.Layout: Written in 21 lines per page ; frame-ruled.Collation: ii, I+1 (3), 5 V(53), VI (65), 10 V(165), i ; chiefly quinions ; catchwords present ; foliation in black ink, Hindu-Arabic numerals ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during digitization (includes inserts and flyleaves).Colophon: "Authorial" reads "في غرة شهر رجب من شهور سنة احدى وثمانين وتسعمائة حامدا لله تعالى ومصليا ومسلما على رسوله محمد ... آمين" ; "Scribal" reads "قد وقع الفراغ من تنميق هذه النسخة الشريفة على يد احوج الورى الى رحمة ربه الاعلى يوم الاحد في وقت العصر [من المحرم الحرام] ولي بن شعبان غفر الله العافي عنهما ... من شهور سنة ثمانين والف من هجرة من له العز والشرف ... تم تم تم"Explicit: "فعليكم ايها الاخ [الاخوان] بالتقوى والاستعداد للقاء الله عز وجل ونعم الاخرة الحمد لله على التمام لوصول التحرير بالاختتام ... برحمة ربنا ذي الجلال والاكرام ورزقهم الفوز هول يوم القيامة"Incipit: "الحمد لله الذي جعل قلوب العلماء مرايا جمال معاني الهداية ... اما بعد فيقول العبد الفقير الى رحمة ربه وشفاعة نبيه ابو الليث المحرم بن محمد بن العارف بن الحسن الزيلي [؟] ... لما كنت اذاكر كتاب تحفة الملوك ... سألني بعض الطلبة ان اشرحها شرحا يفتح مخفياته وينشر مطوياته ... فاستخرت الله وشرعت الدعاء فالهمني بان ليس للانسان الا ما سعى فطالعت المتون المتداولة والشروح المستعملة مستعينا به ... وسميته هدية الصعلوك في شرح تحفة الملوك ... الحمد لله وسلام على عباده الذين اسطفى ولكن لم يصف الله تعالى بجلال ذاته وكمال صفاته ..."Title from opening matter (preface) on p.12.Ms. codex.7. p.429-430 : [blank].6. p.427-p.428 : [excerpts].5. p.14-p.426 : [continuation of Hadīyat al-ṣuʻlūk fī sharḥ Tuḥfat al-mulūk] / Abū al-Layth al-Muḥarram ibn Muḥammad al-Zīlī.4. p.13 : [waqf statement].3. p.11-p.13 : [preface of Hadīyat al-ṣuʻlūk fī sharḥ Tuḥfat al-mulūk] / Abū al-Layth al-Muḥarram ibn Muḥammad al-Zīlī.2. p.9-p.10 : [contents listing].1. p.1-p.8 : [assorted excerpts].Fine copy of the commentary by Abū al-Layth al-Muḥarram ibn Muḥammad ibn al-ʻĀrif al-Zīlī (al-Zaylāʻī) upon al-Rāzī’s compendium of Ḥanafī law, Tuḥfat al-mulūk. Preceded by contents listing (pp.9-10), along with various excerpts at opening and close of codex.
Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 30Origin: As appears in colophon on fol.134a-134b (p.267-268), composition by Muḥammad ibn ʻAlī al-Birgilī [al-Birkilī] finished in 973 [1565 or 6]. This copy by Aḥmad ibn ʻAbdī with transcription finished "tamma al-taswīd..." in the year 1048 [1638 or 9] likely in Istanbul.Former shelfmark: British Museum, London "No. 80. Imtihan al-aḏkiya." ; on fol.1a (p.1) "١٨٠".Binding: Pasteboards (delaminating, composed of recycled paper with writing in black ink still visible) covered in marbled paper with spine and turn-ins in leather ; Type II binding (with flap) ; board linings in laid paper ; interior of fore-edge flap in rose-tinted paper ; sewn in brown thread, two stations ; thread snapped in places, loose in others, elsewhere entirely missing ; fragments of primaries for endbands remain, bright blue and yellow, but neither band intact ; cover ill-fitting with leather shrinkage and expansion and cockling of text-block ; leather is cracking across fore-edge and spine, abraded at corners, red rot ; text block intact except for occasional loose leaves.Support: European laid paper with laid lines vertical spaced roughly 11 laid lines per cm. and chain lines horizontal spaced roughly 28 mm. apart ; very lightly burnished ; no clumping of fibers but some inclusions ; several watermarks including large circle with "M" and profile of duck (see fol.5/fol.8, etc.), crest or scrollwork containing bird with wings outstretched (see fol.22, etc.), crest / scrollwork / arms containing three flowers / lilies (see fol.30, 36, etc.), circle including two hollow six-pointed stars with single star in cone or basket shape (see fol.74, fol.81, etc.) ; some water damage to bottom and top edges intermittently throught text ; minor pest damage throughout ; some leaves have yellower appearance than others ; some foxing ; fingerprints and smudges in both red and black ink ; leaves of first quire loose and fragile, obscuring text on inner margins particularly ; conservation treatement of fol.12 reinforcing loose page along stub with Japanese paper and sodium CMC.Decoration: Textual dividers in the form of red dots ; text rubricated with chapter and section breaks, rare vocalization (fol.14b/p.28), overlining, some marginal glosses and notabilia, sigla and abbreviations within glosses, etc. in red.Script: Naskh/nastaʻlīq ; strong effect of words descending to baseline, mainly closed counters, virtually sans serif, right-slanting, strokes rather than dots for pointing, lām-alif al-mukhaffafa, occasionally superscripting final letter of line, straight but slanted free-standing alif with obliquely cut head, final yāʼ mardūdah.Layout: Written in 17 lines per page ; frame-ruled.Collation: VI (12), 11 V (122), VI (134) ; chiefly quinions ; catchwords present ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during digitization.Colophon: "Authorial" and "scribal," rectangular then triangular, reads: "تم هذه النسخة الشريفة المباركة تصنيف الفاضل الكامل العالم العامل محمد البركلى حراه الله بما يحبه ويرضاه ... تم الكتاب بعون الله الملك الوهاب في يدا [كذا] عبد الضعيف احمد بن عبدي تم الرسالة المسماة بامتحان الاذكيا للعلامة المتاخرين و الفهامة المدققين كاشف المشكلات الدينية رافع المعضلات اليقينية صدر الشريفة النبوية مجي الطريقة الاحمدية صاحب التاليف و التحرير ذو العلم الراسخ في التقرير الشيخ محمد بن علي البالكروي تاريخ تصنيف الشيخ في سنة ٩٧٣ تم التسويد على يد عبد الضعيف احمد بن عبدي بعون الله الملك المنان الكريم ... البلاد دكزلي غفر الله له و احسن اليها و اليه بمقام قصتنطية [قسطنطنية؟] قرب عسى قابوسى سراي مصطفى بابك [؟] ادم الله تع عمره ودولته . . سنة ثمان و اربعين والف"Explicit: "كاف المؤنث وقفا حفظا بحركتهما لا تلتبس بكاف المذكر نحو اكرمتكس ومررت بكس"Incipit: "الحمد لله و سلام على عباده الذين اصطفى خصوصا منهم على السراج المنبر المصطفى و صلوة عليه و عليهم مصفى و مستصفى ... و بعد فلما اردت [ان] ادرس كتاب اللب المنسوب الى الامام الاوحدى عمر القاضي البيضاوي عليه رحمة العزيز القوي سالني بعض اصحابي ان اكتب لهم شرحا يحل عقد الفاظه و مبانيه ..."Title supplied by cataloguer from inscription on fol.1a (p.1) and colophon.Ms. codex.Commentary on Lubb al-albāb, a treatise on grammar by ʻAbd Allāh ibn ʻUmar al-Bayḍawī (d. ca. 685/1286), itself an abridgment of al-Kāfiyah by Ibn Ḥājib (d. 646/1249). Description provided mainly by Sarah Mirza.
Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 356Origin: Lacks dated colophon ; paper would suggest 16th or perhaps early 17th century ; dated calligraphic inscriptions (see p.9 and 11) provide terminus ante quem of 1640.Former shelfmark: "264" inscribed in pencil on added leaf (p.5) ; "394 T. De M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" inscribed in pencil on added leaf (p.6).Binding: Pasteboards covered in dark brown leather ; Type III binding (without flap) ; board linings (doublures) in comb marbled paper (mainly in pink, blue, black, and yellow) ; upper and lower covers carry blind-stamped scalloped mandorla (filled with vegetal composition, compare Déroche class. OAi) with gold-painted accents and tooled border ; sewn in dark blue thread, two stations ; worked chevron endbands in blue and yellow, fair condition ; overall in somewhat poor condition with abrasion, staining, lifting and losses of leather, etc. ; housed in box for protection.Support: non-European (perhaps Persian) and European laid papers of several types ; added leaves in a type with 9 laid lines per cm. (vertical), chain lines spaced 26-27 mm. apart (horizontal) and crown-star-crescent watermark (see p.8, 10, 11, etc.), cream in color, sturdy and burnished ; main type with 10 laid lines per cm. (vertical), chain lines spaced 28-30 mm. apart (horizontal), and angel with wings (in circle) watermark (see p.170-171, etc.), thin but quite sturdy ; many leaves tinted (pink, etc.) and interspersed with silhouette or shadowed paper decorated in exquisite vegetal-floral (see pp.20, 33, 41, 51, 69, 165, etc.) and even textual (see p.31) compositions (some outlined or filled in ink or gold) ; to occasional leaves marbled or other decorative papers have been applied (see pp.72, 80, 91-92, 124, 125, etc.).Decoration: Elegant illuminated headpiece at opening on p.20 consisting of large rectangular piece with empty gold cartouche surrounded by swirling floral vegetal accents in gold, red, white, pink, blue, etc. on grounds of gold and blue (lapis or cobalt), bordered in blue band with diamonds or crosses and surmounted by a small scalloped dome in similar design, itself surmounted by tall vertical stalks (tīgh) ; written area in opening section surrounded by a gold frame with devisions within also defined by gold bands ; in some sections headings (mainly poets' names) rubricated (see p.150, etc.) or chyrsographed (see p.172) ; extensive use of decorative papers (silhouette, marbled, gold-flecked, tinted, etc.) including one case where the calligraphic inscription has been cut away from a marbled paper and applied over a tinted leaf underneath (see p.124).Script: Mainly nastaʻlīq (talik) and naskh ; elegant, even calligraphic Ottoman hands ; larger talik, thuluth and riqāʻ (see p.120, etc.), divani, etc. appear in some of the calligraphic inscriptions.Layout: Highly variable, though some consistency according to calligraphic style employed ; in opening section written area divided to two columns with 10 lines (single hemistich to a line) on the diagonal per column and poet's name above, then a similar arrangement of lines in three larger columns (see p.24), followed by the smaller arrangment in two columns (see p.31), etc. ; an arrangment of 12-14 lines in two large columns also appears (see p.37, etc.) with some lines on the diagonal and others not ; another arrangement features 8 large lines (see p.87) ; still another features 25 hemistiches in 15 lines (see p.93, etc.).Collation: I (2), III+1 (9), V-1 (18), V (28), III (34), IV (42), I+1 (45), IV (53), V-1 (62), 2 IV(78), 2 V(98), 2 III(110), I (112) ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during digitization (includes added leaves at opening and close of codex and the separate pieces of a leaf torn in three, see pp.109-110, 111-112, 113-114).Incipit: "در جفا نیست احتیار ترا آزمودم هزار بار ترا ..."Title from inscription on added leaf (p.5).Ms. composite codex.Elegant collection (majmūʻah / mecmua) featuring poetry in Persian and Ottoman Turkish, as well samples of fine calligraphy. Contributions to the cataloguing from Yasin Şale.
Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 423Origin: Lacks dated colophon but decoration, paper, etc. would suggest late 18th century.Former shelfmark: "101 T. De M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" inscribed in pencil on verso of front flyleaf (p.2).Binding: Boards faced in red cut velvet with dark red leather over spine, fore edge flap and edges / turn-ins (velvet faced, leather edged framed binding) ; Type II binding (with flap) ; board linings and flyleaves in a decorative paper, silver-flecked and painted with charming bird and floral motifs in gold with subtle pink and green accents ; leather framing upper and lower covers carries tooled borders (in a series of s-shaped stamps) flanking gold-painted vegetal accents and tooled rosettes ; design continues on flap ; edges of text block gold-painted with a chain design (series of s-shapes) ; sewn in dark pink thread, two stations ; worked chevron endbands in pink and yellow, good condition ; overall in fairly good condition with minor lifting of spine leather, abrasion and minor losses of leather from upper cover, etc.Support: Mainly non-European (likely Persian) laid paper of at least three types ; opening type with roughly 10 laid lines per cm. (vertical, somewhat indistinct, curving) and grouped chain lines faintly visible (see p.22, etc.), cloudy formation, thin and crisp though sturdy, well-sized and burnished, brown in color ; another type with roughly 9 laid lines per cm. (quite curved, fairly indistinct) and chain lines rarely visible (see p.114, etc.), cloudy formation, sturdy, well-sized and burnished, dark cream in color ; final type with 8-9 laid lines per cm. and no chain lines visible, quite sturdy and well-burnished, some leaves tinted bright magenta ; occasional leaves (see p.206, etc.) and opening added leaves carrying table of contents on European laid paper with 10 laid line per cm. (vertical), chain lines spaced 25-28 mm. apart (horizontal) and a raisin watermark of grapes under fleur de lis (see p.10, 16, 18, 206, etc.) ; flyleaves in European laid paper with "GFA" under eagle watermark.Decoration: Elegant illuminated headpiece (ʻunwān / sarlawḥ) at opening on p.22, consisting of rectangular piece with empty gold cartouche flanked by vegetal motifs, surmounted by w-shaped piece overlaid with similar floral vegetal motifs in mint green, light pink, light blue, orange-red, and white on a ground of gold and light blue, itself surmounted by vertical stalks (tīgh) in light blue and red, all set in a well of pink and gold bands ; written area (and occasionally divisions within, columns otherwise divided by red rules) surrounded by frame consisting of gold band defined by black fillets ; headings and keywords rubricated.Script: Nastaʻlīq (talik) ; elegant Ottoman hand in a medium line ; serifless with slight effect of words descending to baseline, elongation and thickening of horizontal strokes, pointing mainly in strokes (rather than distinct dots) ; a few excerpts at opening and close in other hands, mainly naskh.Layout: Written in roughly 17 lines per page, mainly divided to two columns with lines of each column on the diagonal ; frame-ruled.Collation: ii, II+1 (5), I+1 (8), 7 V(78), IV (86), IV+1 (95), 2 VI(119), I+1 (122), ii ; chiefly quinions with a few quaternions and senions ; catchwords present ; leaves between sections and at close originally left blank (see pp.194-200 and p.213 to close) ; foliation in red ink, Hindu-Arabic numerals ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during digitization (includes flyleaves).Incipit: "بو مجموعۀ زيبا بر قطعۀ بهشت رعنا وبر روضۀ غناى معنا در كه ... منتخبات ازهار نامدار اثارى ايله مشكين بهار وجويبار اشعار سلامت شعارى نمونۀ جنات تجري من تحتها الانهار در حائز قصب السبق مضمار بلاغت شعر وانشا صدر اعظم واسبق مرحوم ومبرور راغب محمد باشانك دواوين عديدۀ شعراى روم بلاغت مرسوم ...Title supplied by cataloguer.Ms. codex.Elegant collection of poetic excerpts in Persian and Turkish organized according to arrangment in tables at opening (see pp.6-20), compiled by the Ottoman grand vizier and littérateur, Koca Mehmet Ragıp Paşa (d.1763).
Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 360Origin: Lacks dated colophon ; G. Meredith-Owens (who also confirmed the identification) has proposed a date of late 18th century (see note on catalog card) as suggested by paper, painting style, etc.Accompanying material: Slip of wove paper with manuscript description in black ink in hand of G. Meredith-Owens, "The romance of Māh-munīr the son of King ʻArabshāh and Khūb-chihreh, daughter of the merchant Abū Naṣr. This tale seems to be otherwise unknown and is probably an Indian composition. Late 18th - early 19th century with contemporary illustrations in the Kashmiri style."Former shelfmark: "217 T. De M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" inscribed in pencil on recto of front flyleaf.Binding: Heavy pasteoards faced in dark maroon leather with green-blue leather over spine and edges / turn-ins and turquoise leather (shagreen) over board corners (leather faced and edged framed binding) ; Type III binding (without flap) ; doublures in purple surface-dyed paper with central diamond shape ornament and pendants cut from gold textured paper and applied ; upper and lower covers carry stamped central ornament (diamond / floral shape) and pendants (with recessed onlays) and blind tooled border ; sewn in dark purple thread, two stations ; worked endbands in magenta and dark purple, good condition ; overall in somewhat poor condition with much abrasion, staining, lifting and losses of leather and pigment, covers detaching, severe spine slant (cocked), etc.Support: non-European (likely Indian) laid paper with 11 laid lines per cm. (horizontal, fairly distinct) and no chain lines visible, thin and transluscent though sturdy, well-burnished ; numerous fills and other repairs.Decoration: Elegant illuminated headpiece (ʻunwān / sarlawḥ) at opening consisting of small rectangular piece with gold cartouche carrying the basmalah flanked by floral motifs in pink, yellow, blue, and red on fields of dark blue, surmounted by tall scalloped w-shaped piece filled with delicate floral vegetal decoration in pink, red, orange, white, green, etc. on grounds of gold and dark blue with red and white vegetal accents, set in a well of black bands flanking a heavy gold band with floral motifs ; written area throughout surrounded by an elaborate vegetal border with floral motifs in green and yellow with red-orange accents, defined by bands of gold and red with outermost red and blue fillets ; margin also defined by black fillets ; keywords rubricated ; occasional textual dividers in the form of red inverted commas ; occasional illuminated floral accents set off text arranged on the diagonal ; 29 near full-page and 43 half-page miniatures in the Kashmīrī style, with generous use of lavender, red-orange, orange, yellow, lime green, and slate blue with occasional gold ; a few pencil drawings (see title page, page facing incipit page, etc.).Script: Nastaʻlīq ; bold, elegant Indian hand in a heavy line ; serifless, with marked effect of words descending to baseline, elongation and exaggerated thickness of horizontal strokes, pointing mainly in distinct or conjoined dots.Layout: Written mainly in 11 lines per page, though occasionally four or fewer lines accompanied by a half or near full-page miniature, or three lines accompanied by decorative arrangement of four lines on the diagonal, forming a diamond shape.Collation: Chiefly quaternions in the latter part of the codex, elsewhere gatherings are now altered for interleaving with an extremely haphazard result ; middle of the quire marks in the form of oblique strokes appear in latter gatherings ; catchwords present ; blank leaves interleaved to protect minatures.Explicit: "حيران ماندند و گریبان ها چاك زدند شه تابوت را یكبار بر آوردند فریاد و واویلا از مرد و زن و پیر و جوان ..."Incipit: "بلبل نوایان چمن عشقبازی و دستان سرایان انجمن نکته پردازی طوطی زبان ..."Title supplied by cataloguer.Ms. codex.Elegant though incomplete copy of what Pasha Mohamad Khan has identified as "Story of the love of Māh-i Munīr son of ‘Arab-Shāh for Khūb-chihrah, merchant’s daughter" (cf. Punjab University Āẕar Collection, MS 16-S-8545G), extensively illustrated with many miniatures (see note on catalog card). Contributions to the transcription also from Pasha Mohamad Khan.
Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center Isl. Ms. 351Origin: As appears in colophon on p.358, transcription completed 17 Ramaḍān 1238 [ca. 28 May 1822].Accompanying materials: Slip with excerpts (in Persian, black ink) paginated (pp.149-150).Former shelfmark: "431 T. De M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" inscribed in pencil on front flyleaf (p.1).Binding: Heavy pasteboards covered in painted lacquerwork, spine in dark brown leather ; Type III binding (without flap) ; doublures in fine painted lacquerwork of swirling floral vegetal composition radiating from a central many-petalled flower in gold on a black ground and surrounded by vegetal border (composition of upper doublure mirrors that of lower doublure) ; upper and lower covers bear paintings of nearly identical floral composition in mirror image to one another on a dark red background, namely a stand of peonies, poppies, roses, etc. surrounded by other floral forms all in shades of pink, light blue and white with stalks and leaves in various shades of green, and surrounded by decorative band of vegetal motifs on a black ground framed in gold-painted borders ; sewn in pink and dark yellow thread, two stations, failing with some gatherings loose ; worked endbands damaged and nearly gone (head and tail) ; overall in fair condition with some abrasion and losses to lacquerwork and pasteboard, etc.Support: non-European (likely Persian or Indian) laid paper with 11 laid lines per cm. (vertical and horizontal, some curving, fairly distinct) and no chain lines visible, thin, crisp and transluscent though sturdy, well-sized and burnished to glossy, gray to off-white in tone ; minor pest damage.Decoration: Exquisite illuminated headpiece (ʻunwān / sarlawḥ) at opening on p.4 consisting of a narrow rectangular piece carrying the basmalah set off by gold cloud-bands and flanked by elaborate floral vegetal compositions on fields of gold and blue with red accents (evoking a series of domes), surmounted by another narrow rectangular piece with empty gold cartouche flanked by elaborate floral vegetal composition on fields of gold and blue with red accents (evoking a perimeter of domes), itself surmounted by a large scalloped dome in gold (with blue mandorla at the center) set against a w-shaped piece in blue (approaching lapis lazuli) all filled with swirling vegetal composition with floral motifs in sades of orange, pink, lavender, blue, yellow, etc. and set in an elaborate well of cartouches in blue, gold, and red filled with floral compositions and bordered in bands of red and white, entire piece set in a well of heavy interlace in gold and black, defined by white bands ; on incipit and facing page (pp.4-5), splendid illuminated marginal decoration consisting of a swirling vegetal composition with sāz leaves and floral forms in gold, orange, pink, blue, etc. ; written area of incipit and facing page bordered in bands of blue and gold with text set off by gold cloud-bands ; elsewhere written area surrounded by gold frame with defining black fillets and outermost blue rule, divisions within and margin defined by gold rules.Script: Nastaʻlīq ; elegant hand ; serifless, with effect of words descending to baseline, closed counters, and elongated horizontal strokes.Layout: Written in 19 lines per page, written area occasionally divided to set off poetry ; frame-ruled.Collation: 22 IV(176), II (180) ; almost exclusively quaternions ; final leaf left blank ; catchwords present ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during digitization (includes insert).Colophon: "Scribal," reads "... با قليمى رسا بند و ازان تاريخ با سجال نه خود مراجعت كردند و نه مكتوبى از ايشان رسيد دوخ روز از دام مكر و جمله و تزوير ايشان نسخات باقيه بعيش و نشاط مشغول كرديد بتوفيق الله تعالى در صبح يوم الاربعاء سابع عشر شهر رمضان المبارك باتمام رسيد وكان تحرير ذلك في سنه ۱۲۳۸"Incipit: "چهره پرداز عرایس حریم عجز و نیاز و مصور نگارخانۀ فرنگ آب و رنگ مضمون اين نسخۀ مسرت طراز ..."Title from inscription on front flyleaf (p.1) and from opening matter on p.5.Ms. codex.Exquisite copy of excerpts from the collection of stories by Mīrzā Barkhvurdār ibn Maḥmūd Turkmān [Turkamān], Mumtāz Farāhī.