Durr-i maknūn,
[1240, i.e. 1825].

در مکنون, [1240ه, 1825م].

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Main Author
ʻAbd al-Fattāḥ Gujarātī.
Related Names
Pearse, George Godfrey, 1827-1905, former owner.
Nuttall, Frank E., 1875-1943, former owner.
Language(s)
Persian
Published
[1825].
Subjects
Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī, > Maulana, > 1207-1273. > Mas̲navī.
Manuscripts, Persian > Michigan > Ann Arbor.
Sufi poetry, Persian > History and criticism.
Headpieces (layout features) > 19th century.
Summary
Fine copy of a selection of excerpts from Rūmī's (d.1273) celebrated Mas̲navī compiled and elucidated by ʻAbd al-Fattāḥ al-Gujarātī.
Note
Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center, Isl. Ms. 891
Origin: As appears in colophon on p.258, transcription completed 16 Dhū al-Qaʻdah 1240 [ca. 2 July 1825].
Accompanying materials: a. Scrap with inscription in ink "Durr i Maknūn | A.H. 1264 [?] | Not in B.M. or India Office" (paginated pp.1-2) -- b. Slip of ruled paper with inscription in ink "Durr | e | maknūn | - | MS. | 1204 | DURR | E | MAKNŪN | - | MS. | 1204 | Title on label. | Mended & furbished | Label removed & thrown away." (paginated pp.3-4) -- c. Slip with description in hand of G. Meredith-Owens "MO 16 Durr-i maknūn | A ṣūfī poem, being an abridgement of of the Mas̲navī of Rūmī made by ʻAbd al-Fattāḥ Gujaratī. Copied in 1204 (?)" (paginated pp.5-6) -- d. Slip with description (in hand of E. Husselman ?) "Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad, Jalāl al-Dīn, Rūmī | Durr i maknūn. An abridgment of the Masnavi Abd al-Fattah, Gujurātī. Written A.H. 1240 [in red pencil, '? 1204 ?'] = A.D. 1824. | n. f. anywhere | 118 ff. 236 pp." (paginated pp.7-8) -- e. Slip with note "Persian MSS (Heyworth-Dunne?) with Husselman and Meredith-Owen notes" (paginated pp.9-10) -- f. Slip with note "counted for 1968/69 Annual Report" (paginated pp.11-12).
Former shelfmark: Mich. Isl. Ms. temp. no. 40
Binding: Pasteboards (thin) covered in dark red leather ; Type III binding (without flap) ; doublures and hinges (trimmed in zig-zag pattern) also in dark red leather ; spine gold-stamped "PERSIAN | M. S." ; sewn in cream thread, two stations ; worked chevron endbands in dark blue and cream (headband) and dark blue and red (tailband), in fairly good condition ; overall in fair condition with minor abrasion, shrinkage, etc. ; pieced repairs in red leather at head and tail of spine, damaged at tail exposing primaries.
Support: non-European (likely Indian or Persian) laid paper with roughly 11 laid lines per cm. (vertical, faint and fairly indistinct) and no chain lines plainly visible, quite cloudy formation, dark cream in color, quite well-burnished (burnisher's marks visible) ; flyleaves in European laid paper with watermark of dagger [?] in circle visible in front flyleaves.
Decoration: Simple headpiece (ʻunwān / sarlawḥ) at opening on p.24, consisting of rectangular piece carrying the basmalah surmounted by scalloped dome (flanked by two other scalloped domes to evoke w-shaped piece) outlined in red and blue rules ; keywords and headings rubricated ; written area surrounded by triple rule-border in red and blue, divisions within defined by double rule-borders in red.
Script: Nastaʻlīq ; elegant, compact hand in a medium line ; serifless with marked descent of words to baseline, elongation of horizontal strokes, pointing mainly in conjoined dots.
Layout: Written in 12 lines per page, with written area mainly divided to two columns ; frame-ruled.
Collation: vi, 11 V(110), V-1 (119), iv (plus letter tipped in) ; exclusively quinions ; middle of the quire marks in the form of black oblique strokes in upper outer corner of right-hand leaf and lower-outer corner of left-hand leaf ; catchwords present ; lacuna on p.154 marked "صحيح البياض" ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during digitization (includes inserts and flyleaves).
Colophon: "Scribal," triangular, reads "تمت وبالخير قد عمت ١۶ ديقعده ۱۲۴ هجرى والحمد لله على ذلك والصلوه على حبيبه واله واصحابه تم"
Incipit: "ابتدا کرد مولوی علیه الرحمه مثنوی را در بیان معنیت [؟] حق با خلق که خمرت طینت آدم بیدی اربعین صباحا ..."
Title from inscription on 'title page' (p.23).
Ms. codex.
Possible former inventory marks on front flyleaf "MS | 1913", "L | 173", etc. ; on front flyleaf (p.13), ownership statement in name of "ميجر جنرل جناب ج ج پرس" (General George Godfrey Pearse, 1827-1905, see British Museum collection database entry for "Major George G Pearse RA" and NRA entry GB/NNAF/P146976 for "Pearse, George Godfrey (1827-1905) General"), reads "مالک این کتاب میجر جنرل جناب ج ج پرس صاحب است اگر کسی دعوی کند باطل و عاطل است" ; bookplate for Pearse (with name and coat of arms with "Nihil amanti durum") appears on lower doublure ; effaced ownership statement on 'title page' (p.23) ; tipped in at close (pp.269-270) a letter addressed to "Major General G. G. Pearse" from "Shah Mohamed Gause Gawahir Shuttary... سيد شاه محمد غوث شطارى" ( Sayyid Shāh Muḥammad Ghaws̲ī Shaṭṭārī [Shuṭṭārī] / سيد شاه محمد غوث شطارى ) dated "19 September /9/ 81 [1881]" in Bangalore and discussing his gift of this manuscript "... I have sent a Persian mystical book Named Duray Muknoo [?] and hoping that your honor might accept it, and another Persian book which you have forwarded me I have already given it to the old-book binder and I shall send it as soon as possible..." ; detailed inscription in ink on back flyleaf (p.262) signed "Geo. G. Pearse Major General, Royal Artillary" reads "Ootacamund. India. - July 1882. | This little Persian M.S. consists of selections from the great Persian work, the 'Musnuvie [Masnavie ?] ūl Shurreef' of Molannah Jallal ūl Deen Roomie, with commentaries by Moulvie Abdool Fatteh Goojratie, who terms it the 'Door i Muknoon' i.e. the secret pearl. | This copy was transcribed by an unnamed writer in A.H. 1240 corresponding to A.D. 1824. | The calligraphy is very good and neat. The work is philosophical & goes in for being deep & learned." ; collation marks "بلغ" and occasional corrections.
Physical Description
119 leaves : paper ; 205 x 117 (160 x 65) mm.
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