This important library has several bound mss and various single sheets of paintings from the Shahnama. Various brief visits between 2001 and 2005 have permitted a fairly detailed study of the manuscripts, especially the most interesting of them, a 16th-century copy from Khiva (PN 1811). It has however proved extremely difficult to obtain images. Agreement has been reached to publish a catalogue of the Shahnamas as a joint project when the opportunity arises; for the moment, the three volume catalogue edited by Madraimov gives the fullest account of the copies, together with some illustrations, although this is marred by confusion over the numbering of the folios. The Institute does hold a fairly full set of good quality b/w photos of the mss, but now rather disordered.
