Elmiyeh Collection

43 scientific manuscripts (No's W 1-43) (8 pages) (70 titles)

(1) Ibn Babawayhi (Abu Ja'far Muhammad b. Ali b. al-Husayn al Qomi); died 381 H./991 CE :

"Kitab man la' yahzuruhu al-faqih" (i.e., as E.G.Browne put it so well, 'Every man his own lawyer'), 975 pp., (28x16 cm); dated 993 H / 1585 CE; Arabic complete parts 1-5:

Part 1 pp.1-128 (literally: "The book of him/her who lacks a legal scholar")
Part 2 pp. 219-478 (2. of the "four books" of the early Shi'a, cf. Browne IV, pp. 358 ff)
Part 3 pp. 479-695
Part 4 pp. 696-906
Part 5 pp. 907-975 Famous standard work of Islamic jurisprudence.

In mint condition, consistently clear writing, clear script, easily legible. Comments in margins. Double borders (gold & blue). Headings and marked passages red. - Dark leather binding with internal ornamental designs. Scribe: Abd al-Rahim Mazandarani (written and dated in Mekka). - Rarity. -

(2) Shaykh Muhammed b. Ya'qub al-Kulayni (or: al-Kulayni, died 329 H / 941 CE):

"Kitab al-iman wa al-kufr min al-kitab al-kafi" ( The book of faith and heathendom from the Book Kafi; commentary thereof: No.24); 476 pp., (25.5x17 cm); finished 1112 H / 1699 CE; Arabic The author is the first of the so-called "three Muhammad's", and his work "Kafi" the first of the so-called "four books" of Shi'ite Islam (the preceding author, Babawayhi, and his book are considered to be No. 2). Theological standard work of the early Shi'a. -

Fine, clear, consistently well legible script. Two decorations: one in gold (1), the other in gold and various colors (323). Triple borders. Headings and marked passages in red ornamental script. - (Appendix) S.323-476: "Kitab al-Du'a" ( Book of Prayer). Of scientific as well as of calligraphic interest. - Red binding.

(3) Muhammad b. Hasan al-Tusi (a.k.a. "Shaykh of Tus", died 460 H / 1067 CE; the third of the so-called "three Muhammads"):

"Misbah-i Shaykh-i Tus" ( The light of the Sheikh of Tus); 608 pp., (21.5x14 cm); dated (p.295): 946 H / 1539 CE; Arabic Very beautiful, excellently preserved manuscript of varying, but always easily legible script (partially vocalized); beginning & end (1-13, 587-608) a calligraphic masterpiece. -

Double borders (gold, blue); Paragraph headings and marked passages red; numerous comments in margins. - The author, through his works, ranks among the 'founding fathers' of Shi'ite Islam. - Beautiful red Saffian leather binding with gold ornaments. - Rare.-

(4) Shaykh Ja'far b. Hasan al-Hilli (or: 'al-Hilli', died 676 H / 1277 CE; honorary title al-muhaqqiq al-awwal, 'first authenticator'):

"Sharayi' al-islam wa al-ahkam" ( Laws and precepts of Islam); 667 pp., (28x19 cm); dated 1080 H / 1669 CE); Arabic Famous standard work of Shi'ite jurisprudence and source of Querry's book "Droit Musulman ..." (2 vol., Paris 1871/72): cf. Browne IV. 377 ff. -

Large, clear, well legible script; titles and marked passages red; rich comments in margins. - Scribe: Mu'min b. Sayyid Iftikhar al-Lalih-Abadi. - Dark brown leather binding w. latch and ornaments.

(5) Muhammad Karim-Khan b. Ibrahim Kermani (3rd Chief of the Shaykhis / died 1288 H / 1870 CE):

"Mizan al-'uj" (Heavenly scales); 121 pp., (18.5x12.5 cm); 3 treatises (No's 1&3 Persian, No 2 Arabic), on calendar computations, astronomy & astrology, w. 1 drawing and 73 tables, written in 1259-70 H / 1843-54 CE. Copy prepared by his student Muhammad Baqir al-Khurasani, dated 1281 H / 1864 CE.

Object is of great scientific and calligraphic interest. Script and tables thoroughly accurate. Four colors: gold, black, red, blue. - Fine four-colored varnished binding w. astronomic designs & ornaments. - Unedited. -

(6) Muhammad Baqir b. Zayn al-'Abidin al-Tabatabai (student of Kermani):

"Risalah-yi dar barah-yi isbat ya radd-i dou hadith-i zaman-i payghambar"; 188 pp., treatise on two Hadiths:

Light leather binding (20.5x13 cm). - Manuscript in the author's own hand: Persian. Dated 1290 H / 1873 CE). - Unedited autograph. -

(7) Muhammad b. Muhammad Karim Kirmani (Son and successor of the above Kermani):

"Risalah-yi Nasiriyah" ( Treatise composed for Prince Nasir al-Dawlah, in response to the latter's questions regarding some religious matters); 228 pp., (15x10 cm); written in 1300 H / 1882 CE. Copy of the original dating from the same year, 1882, prepared by the author's follower, Hajji Muhsin Naraghi. -

Fine, clear script. Two-colored leather binding. - Unedited. -

(8) 'Abd al-Razzaq Lahiji (a.k.a 'Fayaz', Iranian philosopher, 17th century):

"Kitab-i gowhar-i murad" ( Book of the jewel of desire); 379 pp., (29.5x20 cm); dated 1124 H / 1712 CE. - Clear, fine, consistently well legible script (Persian). This and the following book present the main works of this original thinker (cf. Gobineau & Browne IV, 408 ff.). -

Written approximately 40 years after the author's death by Muhammad Husain Tabrizi. - Dark leather binding w. ornaments. -

(9) 'Abd al-Razzaq Lahiji (s.a.):

"Sarmayah-yi Iman" (Mainstay of faith), (16x9 cm); 332 pp., dated 1107 H / 1695 CE, i.e. written approximately 25 years after the author's death; scribe: Ibn Taj al-Din Hasan Sultan-Muhammad.

Consistently clear, legible script. - Fine two-colored leather binding w. ornaments and latch. - Both manuscripts (s. above, too) rare and of scientific interest.. -

(10) Suyuti (died 1565 in Cairo; famous Arab polygraph of Iranian ancestry: writer & poet, jurist, universal scholar & historian, biographer, grammarian & esteemed commentator of religious and poetic works):

"Al-bahjat al-marziyah fi sharh al-alfiyah" (Commentary of 'Alfiya', a poetic work of Ibn Malik / died 1274 : see list for first collection, No's D 8 & 9; - 20x15 cm); 342 pp., Arabic; dated 1050 H / 1649 CE; scribe: 'Ali Taqiy al-Khorasani.

Text is complete, well legible & undamaged (beginning & end pp. 1-15, 270-342 replaced); marked passages red or bold. - Dark leather binding w. ornaments. -

(11) Ms. with following Arabic prose and poetry: (20x14.5 cm), 216 pp.

Ms. in mint condition. Well legible, completely undamaged text: possibly partially unedited. - Brown leather binding w. 3 nice ornamental medaillons on front and back.

(12) Shaykh Dawud b. Mahmud al-Qaysari (died 751 H / 1350 CE; renowned scholar and master of Sufi mysticism):

"Sharh 'ala ash'ar Shaykh al-Fariz" (Commentary on the poetry of Sheikh 'Umar b. al- Fariz); 191 pp., (18x12 cm). Ibn al-Fariz (died 1235 H), a.k.a. 'Sultan of lovers', is considered to be the greatest mystical lyricist in the Arabic language. -

Ms. (17th cent.) in good condition (pp.149- 158 lightly damaged); script clear and easily legible; verses in red & comments in black. - Scribe: Muhammad b. Abi Bakr. Light brown leather binding with ornamental border. - Not edited. -

(13) Shaykh Ahmad b. al-Hasan al-Jarbardi (died 746 H / 1345 CE):

"Sharh al-shafiyah" (Commentary on the Shafiya (the healing one) of the theologian, Ibn al-Hajib); 345 pp., (19x14 cm); 17th cent.

Completely preserved & well legible text with notes in margins. - Scribe: Husayn b. 'Ali al-Najafi. - Brown leather binding with 3 ornamental medaillons on each side. - Arabic. (Persian lithograph dated 1863 exists)

(14) Sayyid Rukn al-Din al-Astarabadi:

"Sharh al-kafiyah fi al-nahw" (Arabic) (Commentary on Arabic syntax; 24.5x13 cm); 304 pp., dated 1101 H / 1688 CE); scribe: Muhammad Isma'il al-Husayni. -

Clear, well-preserved text. - Leather binding w. 3 ornamental medaillons on each side.

(15) Anthology of religious prose and poetry (20x14 cm); Arabic,194 pp., dated 1167/68 H / 1754/55 CE; contains contributions of famous sheikhs: Shihab al- Din Ahmad al-Suhrawardi, Muhiy al-Din al-'Arabi, Muhammad al-Hamadani, Muhammad al-Hattab, Badr al-Din al-'Adili, Abu Ishaq al-Asfarani.

Complete & undamaged; fine, clear script, titles and marked passages in red. Partially w. comments in margins. - Binding (blue) later. -

(16) Muhammad Tahir b. Muhammad Husayn al-Shirazi: (died 1098 H / 1687 CE; Shaykh al-Islam of Qom, famous legal scholar & authority on tradition and classical literature; 3 works, edited):

"Al-arba'in" (The forty; 17th cent.; 20.5x14.5 cm), 775 pp.; An apologetic account, comprising 40 theses, of the 'Alawite dynasty, particularly of the 12 Imams of the Iranian Shi'a in the light of various humanistic aspects; contains many valuable quotations of famous classics (philosophers, historians, literati, scholars). -

Complete; well legible script; red marginal headings in ornamental script; comments. - Fine light leather binding w. latch and ornamental seam. - Arabic. - Pp.1-38 most probably autograph. - P. 1 bears autograph & twofold seal of the author's son: Ibn Muhammad Jawad Muhammad Tahir (four lines in ornamental script). - Ms. was donated to a religious foundation (waqf) in 1282 H / 1816 CE). - Unedited and of scientific value. -

(17) Anthology of Astronomy (16x10.5 cm); Persian & Arabic; dated 1210 & 1234 H / 1794 & 1818 CE;

contains seven essays on astronomy ('ilm-i nujum), astrology (sana'at-i tanjim), science of astrolabes (ma'rifat-i asturlab), cosmic psychology (mirat al-muhaqqiqin), by various authors, such as 'Abdullah Qutb al-Din b. Sultan Muhammad al-Fayini, Ibrahim al-Kermani etc.; 314 pp.-

Various types of scripts; well-preserved; headings in red. - Black leather binding with ornaments. - Largely unedited. -

(18) Nizam al-'Ulama' Rafi' al-Din b. 'Ali Asghar al-Tabatabai (died 1326 H / 1908 CE; of Tabriz, famous scholar and literate, 21 printed works):

"Risalah fi 'ilm al-'aruz" (Treatise on the science of prosody; 17.5x11.5 cm); 90 p .. dated 1270 H / 1853.

Perfectly preserved, consistently large, clear, well legible script; marked passages red; w. 6 illustrations (pp.65-70). - Nice brown leather binding. - Unedited autograph. -

(19) Muhammad Baqir b. Muhammad Taqiy al-Majlisi (died 1111 H / 1700 CE; famous scholar and theologian; cf. Browne IV, 403: "One of the greatest mujtahids of the Safawi period . . ."; cf. 1.coll.No's D1&2.

"Kitab tuhfat al-za'ir" (Book of the pilgrim's gift); Persian; (20x13 cm); 566 pp., dated 1146 H / 1733 CE.

Well preserved; various types of scripts, well legible; Arabic quotations vocalized; last page replaced; comments in margins; marked passages red. - Two-colored leather binding. -

(20) Mulla Sadra (Sadr al-Din Muhammad-e Shirazi; died 1050 H / 1640 CE); the greatest philosopher of new Persian humanistic history; cf. Browne IV, 408 & especially H.Corbin, "Histoire de la philosophie".

"Tafsir al-surah al-hadid" (Exegesis of Sura 57, 'Iron'); (21x15 cm); 214 pp., appr. 1700.

Arabic; complete; perfectly preserved; very nice & clear script w. red titles and marked passages. - Brown leather binding. - This esoteric pantheist (cf. French translations) used Coranic exegesis as 'camouflage' for his actually rather unorthodox, inter- denominational teachings.

(21) Shaykh Mufid (Muhammad b. Muhammad al-Harithi; died 413 H / 1022 CE; E.G.Browne: "This great Shi'i theologian . . . "):

"Kitab al-irshad" (Book of guidance); (24.5x16.5 cm); 274 pp., dated 1064 H / 1654 CE.

Clear, well-preserved, partially vocalized text, reading which presents no difficulties whatsoever. Marked passages in red; exhaustive comments in margins; last page written by another scribe. - Leather binding in various colors (somewhat damaged). - Arabic. - One of the standard works of the early Shi'a. -

(22) Imam Reza (eighth Imam of the Shi'a, whose tomb in Mashad is one of Iran's most famous sites of pilgrimage; died appr. 203 H / 818 CE):

"Al-da'wat al-mubarakat", (Blessed invocations); (17x11 cm); 323 pp., dated 988 H / 1580 CE; scribe: Khalilullah Shirazi Sayings attributed to Imam Reza (in Arabic), with introduction and comments (Persian). -

Clear, easily legible script, consistently vocalized in the Arabic part, red marked passages; explanations in the margins. - Some pages are somewhat damaged, but the text is complete and undamaged. - Two-colored leather binding.

(23) Ms. with two treatises by two authors (18.5x11 cm); (Arabic),165 pp.

1) Fakhr al-Din Muhammad al-Razi (died 606 H / 1209 CE; famous philosopher, theologian, and legal scholar): "Risalah fi 'ilm al-kalam" (Tractate on dialectics; pp. 1-100); first sheet (incomplete) replaced; remainder clear, undamaged, extensively commented. - Considered essential. -

2) Khalifa Sultan (Safavid wazir in the first half of the 17th cent.) "Ta'liqat" (Marginalia on al-Khafri; pp. 101-165).

Several lines of text on pp. 148-150 & 162/163 are damaged and illegible. - Probably unedited. - Dated (v.1 & 2, pp. 100, 165): 1109 H / 1697 CE. - Scribe: Muhammad Karim. - Dark red leather binding. -

(24) Khalil b. al-Ghazi al-Qazwini (died 1089 H / 1678 CE; great expert on law and tradition; student of Shaykh Baha'i and fellow student of Khalifa Sultan, lived and taught (see no. 2 !) in Mekka, later in Qazwi:

"Sharh usul al-kafi" (Commentary on the book Kafi; s.a.) ; (19x10 cm); 301 pp., dated 1075 H / 1664 CE; scribe: Muhammad b. Afzal. - The manuscript, written 14 years prior to Qazwini's death, is a copy of the merely 21 years older original (written 1053 H / 1643 CE), which in all likelihood does no longer exist. -

Very well preserved text (headings and marked passages red) with extensive comments; Arabic. - Leather binding w. latch (brown-red). - (Only a quite inadequate, now unavailable lithograph of 1895)

(25) Muhammad Ja'far b. Safar-Khan al-Hamadani (died 1239 H / 1823 CE; mystic philosopher):

"Mir'at al-Haqq" (Mirror of God; 20.5x12.5 cm); 358 pp., dated 1204 H / 1789 CE.

In mint condition; fine, even, consistently well legible script with marked passages (red) on varnished paper. - Light brown leather binding with ornaments. - (A Persian edition of 1936 no longer available). - Probably authograph. -

(26) Ali b. Ahmad (scribe):

"Risalah fi al-tajwid fi al-Qur'an" (Arabic); (15x10 cm), 135 pp. (Compilation of traditions on the proper reading of the Qur'an); dated 1271 H / 1854 CE. -

Black leather binding (worn). - Fine, large script (with marked passages in brown-red); text complete and undamaged. -

(27) Sa'd al-Taftazani (Sa'd al-Din Mas'ud b. 'Umar; died 791 H / 1389 CE; philosopher and 'grand-master' (ustad-i kull) of sciences at the court of Timur in Samarqand; cf. Rypka, 'Iranian Literary History', p.306: "one of the greatest scholars of Islam . . . "):

"Mukhtasar al-talkhis" (Synopsis of the Quintessence); (17x9 cm); 435 pp., dated 1064 H / 1654 CE; scribe: Ibn Isma'il al-Husaini. -

In clear, easily legible script (marked passages red); extensive comments in margins; page edges partially somewhat damaged, but text undamaged. - Leather binding (damaged) w. cloth spine. - Arabic. - (Persian edition, Tehran 1374 H / 1955 CE)

(28) Sa'd al-Taftazani (s.a.):

"Risalah shamsiyah fi al-mantiq" (Solar tractate on logic), 377 pp. (21x11.5 cm); dated 1202 H / 1787 CE).

Undamaged text in clear script w. red marked passages & commentary. - Brown leather binding with ornamental margins. - Arabic. - (Egyptian lithograph of 1894).

(29) Shaykh Zayn al-Din 'Ali b. Ahmad al-Amili (Shahid-e thani, 'second martyr', executed 1559 by the Turkish Sultan Selmi; famous legal scholar of the twelver-Shi'a):

"Risalah fi isbat salat al-jum'ah" (Treatise on the regulation of the Friday prayer; 16x10 cm); 194 pp., dated 1128 H / 1716 CE; scribe: Muhammad Taqiy.

Even, fine script, totally undamaged; Arabic. - Three-colored leather binding. - Unedited (missing in listing of printed publications of the author).

(30) Shaykh Zayn al-Din al-Amili (s.a.):

"Khasa'is yawm al-jum'ah" (Particularities of Friday),14. pp (22x14 cm); 18th cent.; on 40 attributes of the Islamic holiday.

Main body of text in 'print quality' ornamental script (w. headings in red) & comments in margins (in different, ordinary script); text completely preserved & undamaged. - Cardboard binding. - Arabic. - (Tehran lithograph w/o date exists)

(31) Muhammad Ashraf b. Habibullah al-Tabatabai:

"Sharh khulasat al-hisab", 218 pp. (Commentary on the Outline of Arithmetics of Muh. al-Harithi; 20x14 cm); dated 1043 H / 1635 CE; scribe (and commentator): 'Abdullah b.Khalifa. - The Ms. is merely six years more recent than the original (written 1038 H / 1629 CE), of which it is an exact copy.

Completely preserved, easily legible text w. comments, tables, & drawings. - Pp. 212-216: Appendix; contains, among other things, a reported lecture by the contemporary universal scholar, Shaykh Baha'i (died 1621). - Light leather binding w. ornamnents. - Arabic. - Most probably unedited. -

(32) Shaykh Baha'i (Baha' al-Din Muhammad al-Amili; died 1030 H / 1621 CE; Shaykh al-Islam, royal wazir and confidante of Shah Abbas the Great; poet & universal scholar, theologian, legal scholar, mathematician, physicist, astronomer):

"Zubdat al-usul", (Essence of the foundations; 19x12.5 cm), dated 10478 H / 1637 CE; 207 pp., scribe: 'Abd al-Qadir b. Haydar. Ms. written only 16 years after the author's death, as a copy of the original of 1018 H / 1609 CE. -

Completely preserved text with comments in margins. - Leather binding w. latch. - Arabic. -

(33) Muhammad Mahdi Abu 'Ali Naqi al-Sharif; (21x12 cm) 245 pp.

1) "Risalah dar hifz-i sihhat-i musafir wa mu'alijah-yi amraz bidun-i huzur-i tabib" (Treatise on the preservation of the health of the traveller and the treatment of ailments without the presence of a physician); Persian, pp. 1-174.

2) "Mukhtasar 'ala al-sana'at al-tibb" (An outline of medicine, with a summary of the tradition); Arabic, pp. 175-229.-

3) "Nou-i mu'alijah-yi malikhuliya" (A way of treating melancholy ); Persian, pp. 237-238 (different script) 4) Notes in Hebrew script: PP. 1, 2, 78, 125, 230-236, 240/41, 243-245. -

Dated: 1261 H / 1845 CE. - Brown leather binding. - Evidently unedited autograph. -

(34) Hajj Shaykh Ja'far:

"Kitab-i 'ashariyah" (The book of the 'Ashariyah), 272 pp. (22x17.5 cm); dated: 1311 H / 1893 CE; contains 14 religious discussions (majles) in large ornamental script: Arabic (vocalized) quotations, set off against the background of the Persian main body of the text through use of varying script. - Paper bears Russian seal. - Comments in margins. -

Clean, immaculately preserved. - Red leather binding w. red spine and ornamental borders. -

(35) Muhammad al-Ghazali (died 505 H / 1111 CE; great philosopher and universal scholar who reconciled orthodoxy and mysticism; cf. Henri Corbin in 'History of Islamic philosophy': ". . . one of the strongest personalities, one of the best-organized texts . . ."):

"Minhaj al-'Abidin" (Road of the faithful; 21x13cm); 271 pp., dated 1156 H / 1743 CE; scribe: Shams al-Din.

Very well preserved; consistently clear script with partial vocalizations; headings & marked passages red & in ornamental script; undamaged; Arabic. - Light brown leather binding w. nice ornaments. -

(36) Ms. with the two following works: (20x15 cm) 224 pp.

1) Jamal al-Din 'Abdullah al-Ansari (died 761 H / 1360 CE; well-known commentator & grammarian): "Sharh qatr al-nida" (Tractate on Arabic linguistics; pp. 1-167; several 19th cent. Persian lithographs). -

2) Nizam al-Din Ahmad al-Ardabili: "Mukhtasari dar abyat-i sharh-i qatr" (Commentary (black) on the verses (red) listed under (1); pp. 168-224; Persian; unedited. - Author died 993 H / 1585 CE. Ms. dated 1235 H / 1820 CE; scribe: Afrasiyab b. Malik al-Haddad. -

Text complete, clear, well legible. - Brown leather bindings w. ornaments. -

(37) Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Hurr al-Amili (died 1097 H / 1686 CE; one of the leading theologians & legal scholars of the Safavid period):

"Tafsil wasa'il al-shi'a" (A systematic account of the means [of operation] of the Shi'a; 19x12 cm); 163 pp., 17th cent.; standard work. -

Actual beginning on p.4. Partially obscured by comments and additions (particularly after p.145); interesting but difficult Ms., requires thorough examination. - Two-colored leather binding. -

(38) Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Hurr al-Amili (s.a.):

"Kitab fusul al-muhimmah fi usul al-a'immah" (Book of the relevant sections on the origins of the Imams; 18x12 cm); dated 1109 H / 1697 CE, i.e. written 11 years after the death of the author; important document for the understanding of the Shi'a; large, fine script with marked passages (red). -

Last pages (584-599) partially destroyed. - Beautiful two-colored leather binding w. three ornamental medaillons ea. - Scribe: Khoda-Bakhsh.

(39) Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Hurr al-Amili (s.a.):

"Kitab hidayat al-ummah" (Book on the guidance of the community; 22x16.5 cm); (Arabic) 426 pp., 17th century; society from a Shi'ite viewpoint. -

The first part of the introduction is partially missing, partially damaged (up to the sixth preface); otherwise clear & well legible; a work completed by several scribes, the last of whom, Muhammad Salih b. Muhammad Ja'far (pp. 344-426), being a master calligrapher. - Two-colored leather binding. -

(40) Muhsin Faiz Kashani (died 1091 H / 1680 CE; philosopher & expert of the traditional sciences of the times of Shah 'Abbas II., cf. H.Corbin: "the most celebrated student of Mulla Sadra . . .", p.260):

"Kitab al-nukhbat al-kubrah" (Book of the eminent selection; Arabic); 232 pp., (18x12 cm); end of 17th cent.; Ms. is a copy of the original written in 1050 H / 1640 CE.

Clear, well legible text (red marked passages), comments in margins.- Two-colored leather binding with ornamental seam.

(41) Jami ('Abd al-Rahman; 1414-1492; the last of the great classics of Persian poetry):

"Sharh-i Khamriyah-yi Ibn al-Fariz" (Commentary on the wine poem of  'Umar b. al- Fariz (died 1235); 21x13.5 cm), 78 pp., Ms. dated 1035 H / 1626 CE; scribe: Asadullah al- Ardalani; fully preserved, fine, well legible script with the verses in Arabic (red) & the commentary in Persian (black). - Ibn al-Fariz is considered the greatest Sufi-poet of the Arabic language; his famous wine poem was translated, among other languages, into French (cf. Dermenghem. "L'eloge du Vin", Paris 1931). -

Brown leather binding with ornaments. -

(42) Sa'd al-Taftazani (died 791 H / 1389 CE; cf. Browne III, 353 ff.: considered to be "at the present time the chief man of learning in the world, and the exemplar of scholars . . ."; see also above):

"Al-mutawwal" (The exhaustive [one]; one of the standard works on Arabic philology and stylistics; 24.5x13 cm); 464 pp., Ms. dated 1058 H / 1648 CE; scribe (and one of the commen- tators): 'Ali Bastami. -

Consistently fine script (w. red marked passages) & extensive, continuous comments in the margins (of scientific value). - Text fully preserved. - Brown leather binding (somewhat damaged). -

(43) Muhammad Reza al-Imani al-Mudarris (famous scholar of the 17/18th cent.):

"Jannat al-khulud" (Gardens of etermity; Persian); (43x27 cm); 68 pp., encyclopedic work of Safavid times, written 1128 H / 1715 CE at the behest of Shah Sultan Husain (1694- 1717); furnishes a survey of contemporary knowledge (religious, historical, geogra- phical, medicinal, etc.), such as names and biographies of prophets, imams, khalifs; science of calendars; cities (w. descriptions); diseases (w. remedies and healing prayers); dynasties, etc. - Ms. probably a contemporary copy of the original (18th. cent.).

Text completely and very well preserved, excellent calligraphy; titles and indexed terms in red & blue, margins and borders of paragraphs in silver; five-colored, fine parchment. - Black leather binding (not original). - Of scientific as well as bibliographi- cal interest.

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