This manuscript was given to John Shore, first Baron Teignmouth (1751-1834), by his instructor in Indian languages about 1775. The book’s earlier history and the date of its move from Iran to India are not known. Some time after it came into the possession of Baron Teignmouth, the manuscript was nearly lost in the Ganges when the boat transporting it capsized. The memory of this unfortunate event is preserved by the book’s margins, most of which are waterstained. After Baron Teignmouth returned to Great Britain, the manuscript was loaned to the noted Orientalist, Sir William Ouseley, whose 17 July 1827, letter of thanks is appended to this book. The Teignmouth Shahnama became part of the Kevorkian collection on 16 June 1952, and entered the present collection on 1 December 1969. Nothing is known about the scribe Mahmud ibn Muhammad ibn Mahmud al-Jamali, other than the fact that he was responsible for the text of two other manuscripts: an 857(1453) Divan of the early Timurid mystical poet Qasim al-Anwar and an 867 (1463) Khamsa of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi.
Binding is early 19th c. dark blue leather, by H. Walter. Grey marbled paper doublures.
Project Notes
NB all details added/changed according to datasheeets of Afsaneh F. Some folios still have missing record, and some differ from previous catalogues etc. E.g, are there 52 (as originally noted) or 51 miniatures (AF recorded 53!). Ideally, all to check one day. No images still.
NB is there a fol. 169 of Rustam vs. Ashkabus - currently mislocated under the Isma'il II SN entry?
NB Priscilla Soucek gave a (? still unpublished) paper on this ms. at the Edinburgh Shahnama conference.
Still to complete references etc.
References
General Ref:
Sims, E.
The illustrated manuscripts of Firdausi's Shahnama commissioned by princes of the house of Timur. (in Ars Orientalis) 22
(1993) pp. 43-68
Dating Ref:
Colophon
Extracted from the colophon of the work.
Origin Ref:
Welch, A.
Collection of Islamic art. Prince Saddrudin Agha Khan. 3
Geneva. Switzerland.
Illustration Ref:
W., F.K.
Persian and Indian Miniatures.. (in Pennsylvania Mus. Bull.) 19
pp. 108-12
