592

ACQUISITIONS OF 1980-7 (Or. 17.957, cont., 17.958)

Begins (p. 4): yju-Jjl *** j* ^u*-j ‘r'b*' i *-A‘ , ^ at5( » j^jjl J-öL*- QA^KaAjj) fJI 3 <-**-» *Ló^,( Ends (p. 103): v«J.I >ujü ^jlsLujI»!^ kik»*? j uW>-» l**U j.*l 3 ... mo JAiJfiLt M»l jVjl i-islj Colophon (ibidem): a-. ... J.si^i.1. ijJLtiS <_J» [?] 0*? 4**1» ai aJLu»j 3i (*(*(• *:!>•* * ' * ' '

Cod.Or. 17.958 Humayün-name 4- *^ 1 ó>é *- aA A late 17th-century copy of a Turkish version of the stories of Kalïla and Dimna by ‘Alïb. Salih, also known as ‘All Qelebi or Vasi‘ ‘Allsi (d. 950/1543-4). The title is found on the ‘title page’ (3a). The work is preceded by a lengthy introduction with abundant praise of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. In its preface, the author, who does not give his name, relates the history of the story collection and explains that he translated the Persian version entitled Anwar-i Suhaylfby Husayn Wa‘iz al-Kashifi (d. 910/1504-5). He did the work in his spare time while he was müderris in Edime (3a-4a). The author was busy with the translation for twenty years but, when he offered the work to Grand Vizier Lutfï Pa§a, the latter contemptuously refused, proclaiming that it had all been a waste of time. The Sultan, however, was able to recognize the stylistic merits of the work and promoted the author to kaziof Bursa (cf. Schmidt, Pure Water, p. 258). The main part of the work is divided into fourteen chapters; the first begins on f. 9a, the last on f. 237a. A few marginal corrections and editions. (For other copies of the same work, see Codices Or. 448 and 1246.) Bound in gold-embossed, dark red leather with flap; the back has been mended with red cloth; glazed white paper; (l)+249+(l) folios; 274x175 mm and 215x115 mm; 27 lines; catchwords; small ta'lik; headings, rubrics and dots in red; gold borders within black lines; gold index squares on ff. lb-2a; a magnificent headpiece with floral motifs in gold, pink, blue, red and black (3b); completed by ‘All b. Hizir from the village of Aydönat (modem Paramithia) during the final days of Cemaii 1-ah.ir 1090 (30 July - 7 August 1679); owners