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Lot Essay
This manuscript appears to contain two works on alchemy, both of them unrecorded. The title of the first appears to be fawaid al-habib by 'Abdallah Muhammad known as Ibn al-Baha. The second work begins on f.196a and is called zinjar al-hukama and is based on the work of al-'Abbas Ahmad ibn Sadrullah al-Hashimi.
The inscription in the shamsa is very faint but appears to state that this was copied from the hand of one 'Ali ibn 'Abdallah al-Ansari.
The title folio contains very important library seals and inscriptions from the reigns of Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jehan:
Akbar period
An inspection note of the Emperor Akbar dated 6 ordibehesht, regnal year 42 (24 April 1598)
Two different seals of Faizi dated 992/1584
Abu'l Fayz al-Fayzi al-Fayyazi (954-1004/1547-95) was the elder brother of Abu'l Fazl the famous historian of Akbar's court and author of 'ayni-i akbari and the akbarnama. Fayzi was honoured with the title of malik al-shu'ara by Akbar and was employed as a teacher to the princes. He is rcorded as having composed 101 books and was prominent in the fields of history, philosophy, medicine and letter writing. Above one of the seals is the legend "From the property...". As he is not recorded as working in the Royal Library, the manuscript may have belonged originally to him and was given by him to the Royal Library.
Seal of Sharif dated 1003/1594-5
Sharif was the son of the painter 'Abd al-Samad and, at one time, tutor to the Emperor Akbar. He was later put in charge of the Royal Atelier and the Imperial Mint.
Jahangir period
Library note dated 12 of the divine mehr 16 regnal year (27 September 1612)
Seal of 'Inayat dated 1016/1607-8
'Inayat is probably 'Inayatullah Shirazi described as a kind and generous man who worked as a librarian and a companion of the Emperor Akbar, but who remained in this position into the reign of Shah Jehan. He wrote poetry with the pen name Fursi.
Shah Jehan period
Note dated azar 4 regnal year (November-December 1632)
Seal of Amanat Khan Jahani dated 1042/1632-3
Amanat Khan was a well-known scribe of the inscriptions of the Taj Mahal. In the shah jehannama he is listed as being received by Shah Jehan and receiving favours.
The Mughals had a passionate interest in alchemy and possessed many volumes on the subject.
The inscription in the shamsa is very faint but appears to state that this was copied from the hand of one 'Ali ibn 'Abdallah al-Ansari.
The title folio contains very important library seals and inscriptions from the reigns of Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jehan:
Akbar period
An inspection note of the Emperor Akbar dated 6 ordibehesht, regnal year 42 (24 April 1598)
Two different seals of Faizi dated 992/1584
Abu'l Fayz al-Fayzi al-Fayyazi (954-1004/1547-95) was the elder brother of Abu'l Fazl the famous historian of Akbar's court and author of 'ayni-i akbari and the akbarnama. Fayzi was honoured with the title of malik al-shu'ara by Akbar and was employed as a teacher to the princes. He is rcorded as having composed 101 books and was prominent in the fields of history, philosophy, medicine and letter writing. Above one of the seals is the legend "From the property...". As he is not recorded as working in the Royal Library, the manuscript may have belonged originally to him and was given by him to the Royal Library.
Seal of Sharif dated 1003/1594-5
Sharif was the son of the painter 'Abd al-Samad and, at one time, tutor to the Emperor Akbar. He was later put in charge of the Royal Atelier and the Imperial Mint.
Jahangir period
Library note dated 12 of the divine mehr 16 regnal year (27 September 1612)
Seal of 'Inayat dated 1016/1607-8
'Inayat is probably 'Inayatullah Shirazi described as a kind and generous man who worked as a librarian and a companion of the Emperor Akbar, but who remained in this position into the reign of Shah Jehan. He wrote poetry with the pen name Fursi.
Shah Jehan period
Note dated azar 4 regnal year (November-December 1632)
Seal of Amanat Khan Jahani dated 1042/1632-3
Amanat Khan was a well-known scribe of the inscriptions of the Taj Mahal. In the shah jehannama he is listed as being received by Shah Jehan and receiving favours.
The Mughals had a passionate interest in alchemy and possessed many volumes on the subject.