[IO Islamic 3442] شاهناشاهنامه

• Shâhinshahnâma.
• This manuscript is now IO Islamic 901 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 3442 here with notations and hyperlinks].

901

Shâhinshahnâma (شاهناشاهنامه).

One of the most modern imitation of the Shâhnâma in honour of the exploits of Fatḥ ‘Alî Shâh, king of Persia (A.H. 1212-1250=A.D. 1797-1834), by the poet laureate Fatḥ ‘Alî Khân Kâshî, with the takhalluṣ Ṣabâ (who died, according to Rieu iii. p. 1082^a, and Schefer, Ambassade au Kharezm, A.H.1238=A.D. 1822, 1823), see Bodl. Cat., Nos. 520; G. Flügel i. p. 603; W. Pertsch, Berlin Cat., p. 957; Fundgruben des Orients, vi, Heft iv. p, 29 sq.; vol. 7, pp. 273 and 281; vol. 9, p. 1 sq.; vol. 17, p. 32 sq.; vol. 18, p. 44 sq.; and vol. 70, p. 71.

Introduction by the author, on ff. 1^b-9^b, beginning: نخست چون بنگری جهانی بینی پر از چون وچند همی بست و گشاد بينى و ستم و داد الخ.

Beginning of the epopee, on fol. 10^b:

بنام خداوند آموزگار – نگارندۀ نامۀ روزگار

This most superb and splendidly executed copy was made by order of Fatḥ ‘Alî Shâh himself, and finished by the transcriber, Mahdî alḥusainî alfarâhânî, the Kâtib of the royal residence, the first of Rajab, A.H. 1225 (A.D. 1810, August 2). Received from Comm. Of Corresp., 28th March, 1816.

No. 3442, ff. 451, 4 coll., each ll. 20; excellent Nasta’lîḳ; gorgeous frontispieces on ff. 1^b, 10^b, and 11^b; ff. 1^b, 2^a, 10^b, and 11^a magnificently illuminated; smaller illumination on ff. 313^a, 314^a, and the last two pages; very fine pictures on ff. 28^a, 32^a, 37^a, 44^b, 56^a, 64^b, 78^b, 88^a, 97^b, 102^a, 110^a , 111^a, 112^a, 113^a, 114^a, 115^b, 116^b, 130^b, 145^b, 150^b, 153^b, 156^b, 201^a, 212^b, 218^b, 235^a, 239^a, 245^a, 263^a, 280^a, 317^b, 339^a, 343^a, 354^a, 382^a, 387^b, 389^b, and 396^b; splendid eastern binding with flowers ; size, 15^3/4 in. by 9^7/8 in.