شاه‌نامه / Shāhʹnāmah

An incomplete illuminated and illustrated copy of the Shāhnāmah which includes a preface that was appended at a later date [leaves 10a-14a]. The preface ends with a list of the rulers of Persia.

Manuscript codex.

Title from colophon for jild-i 1, leaf 225a.

Text begins on leaf 10a.

Four loose leaves were out of order and moved to their proper location, causing errors with the penciled foliation in Western numerals (two unmarked leaves after 19, leaf 72 after 22, leaf 415 after 423).

Physical description: 25 lines per page in 4 columns, on glazed, laid Arabic paper. Leaves 1-14, 447-455 are of thinner Arabic paper and were added at a later date. Text framed in gold, red and blue with blue border in the margin; columns separated by double red lines. Catchwords; headings in red. Some text written on a diagonal; spaces left for illumination unfilled. Interleaving bound in and included in Western numeral foliation. Foliation in eastern Arabic numerals begins on leaf 16a; leaves 223-411 and other scattered leaves of this foliation missing. There are also numerous leaves that were detached before the manuscript was foliated in Arabic, and both the preface and the poems are lacking one or more leaves at the beginning. Leaves 1b-6b, 7b-9b, 14b, 225b-226a, 486b-449a, 450a-455a blank. Numerous repairs and some staining.

Decoration: Contains 24 miniatures of fair quality; scenes illustrated include Kay Kāvus airborn (leaf 123a) and Rustam slaying the White Dīv (leaf 224a). Leaves with miniatures are marked with purple, pink or gold cloth bookmarks on the outer edge. Illuminated ʻunvān in gold and colors marking jild-i 2 on leaf 226b.

Binding has been rebacked with what may have been the original covers. Blind-stamped central mandorla containing arabesque and blind-stamped pendants containing pious phrases. Gilt arabesque and red floral pattern; gilt largely rubbed away. Newer doublures are painted paper with traditional design in yellow, red and green.