Urdu manuscript

[Urdu Mirror for Princes]. Hindustani Stories.

Probably Kashmir, early 19th century CE.

8vo (146 x 218 mm). 60 ff. (including endpapers). Urdu manuscript on sturdy laid paper. 9-14 lines of neatly written black and occasional red nasta'liq script, per extensum. Contemporary oriental auburn morocco binding with blindstamped borders to covers; spine with Western gilt spine label ("Hindustani Stories M.S.").

 4,500.00

An anonymous collection of narratives in Hindi-Urdu, belonging to the Mirror or Princes genre: edifying tales about monarchs, princes, or noblemen, written to instruct rulers in the art of good governance.

Some duststaining and fingersoiling, mainly confined to margins. Spine-ends chipped; extremeties rubbed. Flyleaves shows numerous inscriptions in Indian languages as well as the rough pen sketch of a four-wheeled horse-drawn hackney carriage.

Provenance: lower flyleaf has old ink ownership "W. A. Schults [?] B.D." and corresponding acquisition note on lower pastedown: "Bought of Quaritch (No. 470)", underneath which is an additional ink ownership, "W. Black 22/5/[18]51", as well as an ink note, "Hindoostani Stories". Offered by Erik von Scherling of Leyden in his 1937 Rotulus catalogue ("British India, 18th century. 26 shillings") and still in the Dutch trade in the 21st century.

References

Erik v. Scherling, Rotulus IV (1937), no. 1945.