[IO Islamic 2593] شاهنامه

Shâhnâma.

This manuscript is now IO Islamic 878 in the India Office collections.

[metadata: Hermann Ethé, Catalogue of Persian Manuscripts in the Library of the India Office, 2 vols. (Oxford: India Office, 1903): volume 1, number 2593 here with notations and hyperlinks].

878

The same.

This copy, which is not dated, is likewise divided into two halves, the first on ff. 1b-305b, the second beginning, on fol. 307b, 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. 535a (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, 91/8 in. by 51/8 in.