[IO Islamic 2593] شاهنامه

<strong>Shâhnâma</strong><strong>.</strong> <strong>This manuscript is now IO Islamic 878 in the India Office collections.</strong> <strong>[metadata:</strong> <strong>Hermann Ethé</strong><strong><em>, </em></strong><strong><em>Catalogue of Persian Manuscripts in the Library of the India Office,</em></strong> <strong>2 vols. (Oxford: India Office, 1903): volume 1,</strong> <strong>number 2593 here with notations and hyperlinks].</strong> 878 The same. This copy, which is not dated, is likewise divided into <em>two halves</em>, the first on ff. 1^b-305^b, the second beginning, on fol. 307^b, with Gushtâsp’s accession: چو گشتاسپ را داد لهراسپ بخت فرود آمد از تخت وبر بست رخت Fol. 306 is left blank; there seem also to be small lacunas after ff. 241, 243, 586, and 587, as the catch-words do not agree with the beginning of the first line in the next pages. This copy contains the very rare epilogue, quoted in Rieu ii. p. 535^a (see No.860 above), and beginning here: چو شد ایزدی ( اسپرى Rieu ) داستان بزرگ سخنهای آن خسروان بزرگ In which as date of completion for the Shâhnâma A.H. 389 (A.D. 999) is given: (read با) نهم سال هشتاد تا سيصدست. This copy was transcribed by Mahdî ‘Alî Kashmîrî; it may belong to the tenth century of the Hijrah. No. 2593, ff. 602, 4 coll., each ll. 23; small, but clear Nasta’lîḳ, the first two pages splendidly illuminated; a portion of the text at the top of the last two leaves torn away; size, 9^1/8 in. by 5^1/8 in.