Author
Muḥtasham, Ali ibn Aḥmad, 1499 or 1500-1587 or 1588.
Publication Date
[1789]
Subject
Manuscripts, Persian, Manuscripts, Persian /
Michigan, Manuscripts, Persian / Michigan /
Ann Arbor., Persian poetry, Persian poetry /
1500-1796., Headpieces (layout features)
Type
Book
Language
Persian
Digital
No
Manuscript
Unknown
Pages Count
340
Physical Dimensions
340 leaves : paper ; 308 x 205 (200 x 75) mm
Library
HathiTrust Digital Library
Record ID
006816030
Library Location
University of Michigan
Notes
About: Beautiful copy of the Anijān of Muḥtasham-i Kāshānī (d.1587 or 9) produced by Muḥammad Fatḥ Allāh ibn Muḥammad Taqī Sāravī, known as Mullā Muḥammad Sāravī (author of the Tārīkh-ilī) for Shāṛḥammadī (1769-1834, r.1797-1834) | Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center, Isl. Ms. 337
On pp.676-7, produced on the orders of Fatḥ ʻAlī Shah Qājār (1769-1834, r.1797-1834) seemingly before his ascension to the throne ("ḥaẓalīr Fa li-amīr" Khān, al-shahīr bi-Bābā Khān, Qājār Quvānlū ... sawwadahu wa-nammaqahu...") by Ibn Muḥammad Taqī, Muḥammad al-Sāravī (Muḥammad Fatḥ Allāh ibn Muḥammad Taqī Sāravī, known as Mullād thevīamma Muḥammam author Yauman al-Arbiʻāʼ 23 Jumāda I 1203 [ca. 19 February 1789]. Later statement dated Rabīʻ I 1232 [January-February 1817] on 'title page' (p.3) names the (by now deceased) copyist and indicates that the manuscript was inspected for the Imperial Library.
Former shelfmark: "432 T. De M. [i.e. Tamaro De Marinis]" and "١۷" inscribed in pencil on opening leaf (p.1, serves as flyleaf) ; possible inventory inscription on fore edge of text block.
Binding: Heavy pasteboards covered in painted lacquerwork with spine in dark gray leather ; Type III binding (without flap), two-piece binding (overlapping flanges visible at spine) ; upper and lower doublures in fine painted lacquerwork of a central medallion evoking a four-petalled flower and pendants of vegetal design in gold on a red ground, framed in gold ; upper and lower covers bear paintings of nearly identical composition with entire panel virtually filled with swirling vines in yellow / gold, leaves of green and grapes of dark red on a pale orange ground, surrounded by vegetal borders in gold on dark red and green grounds ; sewn in red thread, two stations ; worked chevron endbands in red, cream and [?] (now gray), good condition ; overall in fair condition with some abrasion and losses to lacquerwork and pasteboard, etc. ; housed in box for protection.
Support: European laid paper of several types ; opening type with 13 laid lines per cm. (horizontal), chain lines spaced 19–22 mm. apart (vertical) and watermarks of "FC" under scalloped crown (see p.8, etc.) and shield with lion rampant, "F" below and scalloped crown above (see p.10, 14, 16, etc.) ; next type with 11-13 laid lines per cm. (horizontal), chain lines spaced 22 mm. apart (vertical), and watermarks of smiling lion passant guardant with "F" below (see p.12, 20, 22, etc.) and "FC" only (see p.26, 28, etc.) ; next (and majority) type with 11 laid lines per cm. (horizontal), chain lines spaced 19–21 mm. apart (vertical), and watermarks of "FL" under scalloped crown (see p.98, 120, 360, 680, etc.) and three hats (see p.100, 154, 184, 340, 488, etc.) ; all highly sized and burnished, thin and crisp though quite sturdy.
Decoration: Splendid illuminated headpiece (ʻunwān / sarlawḥ) at opening on p.4 consisting of rectangular panel with empty gold cartouche flanked by floral motifs and swirling vegetal design in gold, red, blue, and white on fields of blue and red design, surmounted with swirled pieceral w motifs in green, lavender, orange, red, pink, and yellow on a blue and gold ground with outline and accents in white and black, all set in a well of blue with white accents ; rich illuminated marginal decoration (including inner margin) on incipit and facing page (pp.4-5) consisting of elaborate swirling floral vegetal design in green, orange, yellow, pink, lavender, and light blue on a gold ground, on incipit page (p.4) surroundinglion carrying ʻA meld of go meath a Shah Qājār ("صلى الله عليه وسلم"); additional exquisite double illuminations at openings on pp.342-343 and 344-345, including headpieces and marginal decoration (on pp.344-345, marginal decoration includes birds in pink, blue and orange) ; written area of incipit and facing page surrounded by frame of red with gold accents, gold cloud-bands setting off the text, and vertical bands of blue and red arabesque framing the columns ; written area elsewhere surrounded by frame of gold bands defined by black fillets (columns and divisions within written area also defined by gold bands and black fillets) ; keywords and section heading rubricated ; occasional textual dividers in the form of three or four red discs.
Script: Shikastah (shikastah-nastaʻlīq / شكسته نستعليق ) ; elegant Persian hand ; serifless, with effect of words descending to baseline, closed counters, and elongated horizontal strokes.
Layout: Written in roughly 19 lines per page, with written area mainly divided to two columns ; frame-ruled.
Collation: IV (8), 34 IV(280), V+3 (293), 2 III(305), III+1 (312), 3 IV(336), II (340) ; Chiefly quaternions ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during digitization (includes front flyleaf).
Colophon: "Scribal," including patronage statement, in Persian and Arabic, reads "Hisb-ul-Amar Amir bin Nazir dressed in crown and head ... Fatehali Khan al-Shaheer Baba Khan Qajar Delivery ... price of Abdul Muhtaj Allah ibn Mohammad Taq al-Saroi Mohammad in Thum al-Arba'a Thal-Ashroun city of Jamaida al-Awwal city of Sin 3"
Explicit: "If you want to learn points"
Incipit: "Nafir chicken suhoor sing cho sad loud hundred noise cry night from roy more more
Title from statement on title page (p.3).
Ms. codex.
Inscriptions in pencil on recto of opening leaf (p.1, serving as front flyleaf) "432 T. De M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" and "١۷" along with inventory mark "محتشم" ; on 'title page' (p.3), statement dated Rabīʻ I 1232 [January-February 1817] (accompanied by rectangular seal impression "... عبده عبد الوهاب المسوى") Letter of the late Mullah Mohammad Sarovi Batarikh of Rabi' al-Awal, 1232 from the courtesy of the Blessed Shahshanshahi Ruhi and Rouhul-Alamin Library ..." ; later medallion in the name of Fatḥ ʻAlī Shah Qājār in the outer margin of the incipit page (p.4), reads "الصلتان خاه قاجار" ; as appears in closing matter, produced for Fatḥ ʻAlī Shah Qājār (1769-1834, r.1797-1834) ; fairly clean copy with rare correction (see p.304, 323, etc.).
