Skip to Main Content

Banner featuring Arabic calligraphy in dark blue ink above the words Islamic Medical Manuscripts at the National Library of Medicine written in burgundy ink.

Catalogue: Natural History - Gallery

Folio 115b from Muhammad ibn Mūsá al-Damīrī's Kitab Ḥayāt al-ḥayawān (The Life of Animals). The thick biscuit-brown is quite damaged from worm holes, and there is some water damage. The text is written careful medium-small naskh using black ink with headings in red. The text area has been frame-ruled.

MS A 19, fol. 115b

Folio 12a from MS A 35 which begins Jalāl al-Dīn al-Suyūtī's Maqāmah fī wasf rawdah misr tasammá Bulbul al-rawdah (The Maqāmah on the Distinctiveness of the Egyptian Garden, called The Nightingale of the Garden). The biscuit, glossy paper has horizontal laid lines, single chain lines, and watermarks. The text is written in a medium-small naskh script showing some North African influence using black ink with headings red. There is also red shading of some words; there are red teardrop text stops and catchwords. The text area is frame-ruled.

MS A 35, fol. 12a

Folio 18b from MS A 35 which begins Jalāl al-Dīn al-Suyūṭī's al-Maqāmah al-yāqūtīyah (The Ruby Maqāmah). The biscuit, glossy paper has horizontal laid lines, single chain lines, and watermarks. The paper is waterstained. The text is written in a medium-small naskh script showing some North African influence using black ink with headings red. There is also red shading of some words; there are red teardrop text stops and catchwords. The text area is frame-ruled.

MS A 35, fol. 18b

Folio 201b from MS A 82 part of al-Hārith ibn Kaladah al-Thaqafī's al-Risālah fī al-as’ilah al-tabī‘īyah al-hārithīyah (The Essay on the Natural Questions of al-hārith). The glossy ivory paper has vertical laid lines, single chain lines and is watermarked. The text is written in a small naskh script tending toward ta‘liq. There is a note in the right margin.

MS A 82, fol. 201b

Page 91 of MS A 91 which begins an anonymous treatise Risālah fī khawāṣṣ al-panzahr (Treatise on the occult properties of the bezoar-stone). The paper is a thick, glossy, light-beige (darkened near the edges) paper with laid lines, single chain lines, and watermarks. The text is written in a medium-small naskh script, with black ink and headings in red.

Page 254 from MS A 91 which is the opening page of al-Jawhar al-fard fī mufākharat al-narjis wa-al-ward (The Unique Gem in the Rivalry of the Narcissus and the Rose) by al-Māridīnī. The paper is a thick, glossy, light-beige (darkened near the edges) paper with laid lines, single chain lines, and watermarks. The text is written in a medium-small naskh script, with black ink and headings in red. It is a fluid script with a number of ligatures.

MS A 91, p. 254

The back cover of Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing). The volume is bound in dark-brown leather over pasteboards. The cover has a central, large, gold-stamped, floriated S-shaped design enclosed by three concentric gold-tooled rectangular frames. The corners of the inner frame have gold-stamped finial decorations, and the corners of the middle frame are connected to those of the outer frame by lines of gold-stamped S-shaped feathers, which also form the middle frame. The outer frame is a composite of three geometric gold-tooled patterns.

MS P 1, binding (upper cover)

Folio 30a of of Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring two zodiacal constellations, Capricorn above and Aquarius below drawn in opaque watercolors and ink within the text. The thin, fragile, beige paper has indistinct vertical laid lines. The text is written in a rather casual ta‘liq script with a tendancy toward naskh, using black ink with headings in red and red overlinings. The text is written within frames of double red lines, with some rectangular areas framed in single red lines and extending into the margins.

MS P 1, fol. 30a

Folio 30b of of Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring three constellations: above, the zodiacal constellation of Pisces, in the middle, the southern constellation of Cetus shown here as a harpy wearing a crown, and, below, the constellation of Orion depicted as a man carrying a sword in is left hand and a shepherd's staff in his right drawn in opaque watercolors and ink within the text. The thin, fragile, beige paper has indistinct vertical laid lines. The text is written in a rather casual ta‘liq script with a tendancy toward naskh, using black ink with headings in red and red overlinings. The text is written within frames of double red lines, with some rectangular areas framed in single red lines and extending into the margins.

MS P 1, fol. 30b>

Folios 71b and 72a of of Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuringA map of the inhabited world drawn in opaque watercolors and ink. The thin, fragile, beige paper has indistinct vertical laid lines.

MS P 1, fols. 71b-72a

Folio 152b of of Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring two different types of trees drawn in opaque watercolors and ink within the text. The thin, fragile, beige paper has indistinct vertical laid lines. The text is written in a rather casual ta‘liq script with a tendancy toward naskh, using black ink with headings in red and red overlinings. The text is written within frames of double red lines, with some rectangular areas framed in single red lines and extending into the margins.

MS P 1, fol. 152b

Folio 164a of of Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a small bird perched in a tree drawn in opaque watercolors and ink within the text. The thin, fragile, beige paper has indistinct vertical laid lines. The text is written in a rather casual ta‘liq script with a tendancy toward naskh, using black ink with headings in red and red overlinings. The text is written within frames of double red lines, with some rectangular areas framed in single red lines and extending into the margins.

MS P 1, fol. 164a

Folio 168b of of Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring two types of palm trees drawn in opaque watercolors and ink within the text. The thin, fragile, beige paper has indistinct vertical laid lines. The text is written in a rather casual ta‘liq script with a tendancy toward naskh, using black ink with headings in red and red overlinings. The text is written within frames of double red lines, with some rectangular areas framed in single red lines and extending into the margins.

MS P 1, fol. 168b

Folio 262a of of Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring six animal-headed demons or jinns drawn in opaque watercolors and ink at the bottom of the text. The thin, fragile, beige paper has indistinct vertical laid lines. The text is written in a rather casual ta‘liq script with a tendancy toward naskh, using black ink with headings in red and red overlinings. The text is written within frames of double red lines, with some rectangular areas framed in single red lines and extending into the margins.

MS P 1, fol. 262a

Folio 311a of of Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a simurgh drawn in opaque watercolors and ink at the top of the text. The thin, fragile, beige paper has indistinct vertical laid lines. The text is written in a rather casual ta‘liq script with a tendancy toward naskh, using black ink with headings in red and red overlinings. The text is written within frames of double red lines, with some rectangular areas framed in single red lines and extending into the margins

MS P 1, fol. 311a

Folio 1b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring an illuminated headpiece. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The text is written in a small ta‘liq script using black ink, with headings and emphasized words in red and with some red overlinings. The text is set within frames of black lines filled with gilt.

MS P 2, fol. 1b

Folio 18b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring six constellations of the northern skies: Corona Borealis (al-fakkah, in Arabic), Cygnus (al-dajajah) shown here as a crested bird, and Lyra depicted as a green parrot, with Cassiopeia seated on a throne in the middle, and Perseus (bottom right) and Boátes (bottom left).The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 18b

Folio 22a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring five zodiacal constellations: Cancer, Leo, Libra, Virgo (a man sitting cross-legged with a sheaf of wheat in his right hand), and Scorpio. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 22a

Folio 22b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring eight constellations (from the top): Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius (a large figure drawing water from a well), Pisces, Cetus (a harpy with a peacock's tail), Orion (a standing turbaned male with sword and shepherd's staff), and the constellation Eridanus (the River). The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 22b

Folio 24b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring five southern constellations (from the top): Hydra, Corvus, Centaurus with Lepus (usually a hare, but here a yellow long-tailed cat), and, at the bottom, Lupus (al-sab‘, a wild beast) shown as a pink tiger. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 24b

Folio 47a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring creatures from the Island of Zanj (jazirah-i Zanj), including gray and green winged humanoids. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 47a

Folio 48b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a lion-headed humanoid laying prostrate in the middle of the text. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The text is written in a small ta‘liq script using black ink, with headings and emphasized words in red and with some red overlinings. The text is set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 48b

A section of folio 50a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring an oryx-like creature with small tusks. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines.

MS P 2, fol. 50a

Folio 53a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring five mythical sea creatures, including a human-headed fish and a winged fish. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 53a

Folio 59a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring two figures with heads on their chests, looking at each other. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 59a

Folio 59a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a sea-creature, two dog-headed humans talking, and a group of snake-humans. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 59b

A section of folio 63a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a yellow monkey. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines.

MS P 2, fol. 63a

Folio 65a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a woman with long hair behind a large gray fish above a monkey (labeled insan al-ma', 'aquatic being') and a pink fish. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 65a

Folio 80a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a humanoid with hair standing on end lying in the middle of the text. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The text is written in a small ta‘liq script using black ink, with headings and emphasized words in red and with some red overlinings. The text is set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 80a

Folio 115a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a man feeling the pulse of a prone male figure while another looks on in the middle of the text. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The text is written in a small ta‘liq script using black ink, with headings and emphasized words in red and with some red overlinings. The text is set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 115a

A section of folio 117b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a warrior on horseback, with the rider carrying a mace and wearing a tiger-skin cloak and a leopard-skin hat. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines.

MS P 2, fol. 117b

Folio 119a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a turbaned, bearded male with dagger in his waistband sits on a couch. Behind him there is a servant with a flywhisk, and before him a bearded turbaned youth displays a portrait of turbaned but beardless male in the middle of the text. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The text is written in a small ta‘liq script using black ink, with headings and emphasized words in red and with some red overlinings. The text is set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 119a

Folio 123b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a yellow camel crossed with a hoofed animal with horns in the middle of the text. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The text is written in a small ta‘liq script using black ink, with headings and emphasized words in red and with some red overlinings. The text is set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 123b

Folio 147b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring two dark-skinned dog-headed demons with pearls and feathers, both sticking out their tongues; a yellow wolf-headed demon with wrist beads (noise-makers); a half-section of a female; and a harpy with horns and wrist-beads (noise-makers). The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 147b

Folio 149a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring six animal-headed demons or jinn, all (except the blue elephant-headed demons) snapping their fingers. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 149a

A section of folio 149b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring two animal-headed demons or jinn, one blue and one black. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines.

MS P 2, fol. 149b

Folio 151a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring fabulous beasts and demons: two horned demons playing musical instruments; a feline, horned quadruped with two heads; a brown demon with a cat's head and tail, wearing wrist beads (noise-makers); and an elephant with rear claw feet. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 151a

Folio 157a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a bull waterbuffalo (jamus) with a bell round his neck and a ring (with attached lead) through his nose, and, below, a spotted, horned quadruped called simply 'a red animal'. . The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 157a

A section of folio 159a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring an oryx. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines.

MS P 2, fol. 159a

Folio 161b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a rabbit (arnab) and a lioness (asad). The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 161b

Folio 163a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a tiger. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 163a

Folio 163b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a fox (tha‘lab), a goat, and a wart-hog. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fols. 163b

Folio 167b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring above: an elephant labeled sanbad, 'an apparition'. below: a fox-like animal labeled sinjab, usually meaning an ermine or some type of squirrel. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 167b

Folio 169a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring four mammals: a small gray cat labeled sannur al-barr ('the desert cat'), a yellow long-tailed dog-like animal labeled sher or 'lion', a pink spotted antelope, and a black spotted feline with bushy tail labelled dab' or 'hyena'. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 169a

Folio 169b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a lynx or caracal (‘anaq) and an elephant-headed demon. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 169b

Folio 171a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring three animals: a dog-like animal labeled filw (meaning a colt of a horse or ass) at the top, a pink cheetah (fahd) in the middle, and at the bottom an elephant (fil). The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 171a

Folio 171b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a yellow monkey. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 171b

Folio 173a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a rhinoceros (karkaddan). The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 173a

Folio 177b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a green parrot (baygha), a nightingale (bulbul), and an owl (bum). The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

>

MS P 2, fol. 177b

A section of folio 181b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a cock and (above) a partridge (darraj). The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines.

MS P 2, fol. 181b

Folio 185a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring four birds: a starling (zurzur), a crested flying bird (zamaj, usually a type of eagle), a quail (sumaná), and a falcon (sunqur). The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 185a

Folio 185b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a peacock with six smaller birds above, including a green parrot, a shahin (a white falcon), a pigeon (shafnin), a green magpie (shiqraq), and a raptor (saqr, any bird of prey). The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 185b

Folio 187b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a simurgh (‘anqa', a mythical bird) and, above, a bird that appears to be a hoopoe but is labeled 'aq'aq (magpie). The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 187b

A section of folio 193a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring an ostrich (na‘amat) and a small black bird labeled hudhud (the hoopoe). The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines.

MS P 2, fol. 193a

Folio 195a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a cobra. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 195a

Folio 197a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a dragon (thu‘ban) . The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 197a

Folio 202a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a chubby lizard (dabb) and a curled-up cat-like creature with a leash about its neck, labeled zariban (a stinking animal like a cat, a polecat or skunk). The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 202a

Folio 206a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a three brown upright animal-demons with long tails, wearing pearls. Below is a large lizard labeled susmar, a species of green lizard. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 206a

Folio 208a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring five fabulous creatures: a dark-skinned female wearing only a head-scarf and pearls; two winged figure, nude except for pearls; a bare-breasted, long-haired female with six legs and wrist beads (noise-makers); and, at the bottom, a human-headed snake. The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 208a

Folio 208b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring four mythical creatures: a humanoid with his head in his chest, a human-headed turtle, and two half-sectioned women.The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

MS P 2, fol. 208b

Folio 25a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing), featuring the constellation Ursa Minor drawn using opaque watercolors and ink in the middle of the text. The thin, light-brown, lightly glossed paper has vertical laid lines. The text is written in a careful medium-small nasta‘liq script, in black ink with headings in red. The text is enclosed in frames formed of one blue and two red thin lines.

MS P 3, fol. 25a

Folio 93b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing), featuring four mythical creatures: A long-tailed green bird, a human-headed fish, a flying fish, and a large fish drawn using opaque watercolors and ink in the middle of the text. The thin, light-brown, lightly glossed paper has vertical laid lines. The text is written in a careful medium-small nasta‘liq script, in black ink with headings in red. The text is enclosed in frames formed of one blue and two red thin lines.

MS P 3, fol. 93b

Folio 106a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing), featuring a female with long hair behind a very long fish, and, below, a snake drawn using opaque watercolors and ink in the middle of the text. The thin, light-brown, lightly glossed paper has vertical laid lines. The text is written in a careful medium-small nasta‘liq script, in black ink with headings in red. The text is enclosed in frames formed of one blue and two red thin lines.

MS P 3, fol. 106a

Folio 108a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing), featuring a bullock, labelled baqar al-ma' ('cattle of the sea') and below a long fish drawn using opaque watercolors and ink in the middle of the text. The thin, light-brown, lightly glossed paper has vertical laid lines. The text is written in a careful medium-small nasta‘liq script, in black ink with headings in red. The text is enclosed in frames formed of one blue and two red thin lines.

MS P 3, fol. 108a

Folio 115a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing), featuring a white horse drawn using opaque watercolors and ink in the middle of the text. The thin, light-brown, lightly glossed paper has vertical laid lines. The text is written in a careful medium-small nasta‘liq script, in black ink with headings in red. The text is enclosed in frames formed of one blue and two red thin lines. There is a note in the left margin.

MS P 3, fol. 115a

Folio 191b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing), featuring a yew tree drawn using opaque watercolors and ink in the upper left corner of the text. The thin, light-brown, lightly glossed paper has vertical laid lines. The text is written in a careful medium-small nasta‘liq script, in black ink with headings in red. The text is enclosed in frames formed of one blue and two red thin lines.

MS P 3, fol. 191b

Folio 310a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing), featuring two magic squares, the top one a 3x3 square buduh square and the lower one 5x5 in the middle of the text. The thin, light-brown, lightly glossed paper has vertical laid lines. The text is written in a careful medium-small nasta‘liq script, in black ink with headings in red. The text is enclosed in frames formed of one blue and two red thin lines. There is a note in the left margin.

MS P 3, fol. 310a

Folio 323b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing), featuring an animal-headed demon labeled al-ghidar ('the liar, the perfidious'), and a horned harpy drawn using opaque watercolors and ink in the middle of the text. The thin, light-brown, lightly glossed paper has vertical laid lines. The text is written in a careful medium-small nasta‘liq script, in black ink with headings in red. The text is enclosed in frames formed of one blue and two red thin lines.

MS P 3, fol. 323b

Folio 324b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing), featuring a group of six animal-headed demons or jinns drawn using opaque watercolors and ink in the bottom of the text. The thin, light-brown, lightly glossed paper has vertical laid lines. The text is written in a careful medium-small nasta‘liq script, in black ink with headings in red. The text is enclosed in frames formed of one blue and two red thin lines.

MS P 3, fol. 324b

Folio 326b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing), featuring assorted demons (jinns) and strange creatures, one playing a musical stringed instrument drawn using opaque watercolors and ink at the top of the text. The thin, light-brown, lightly glossed paper has vertical laid lines. The text is written in a careful medium-small nasta‘liq script, in black ink with headings in red. The text is enclosed in frames formed of one blue and two red thin lines.

MS P 3, fol. 326b

Folio 370b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing), featuring an ostrich and an orange bird drawn using opaque watercolors and ink in the middle of the text. The thin, light-brown, lightly glossed paper has vertical laid lines. The text is written in a careful medium-small nasta‘liq script, in black ink with headings in red. The text is enclosed in frames formed of one blue and two red thin lines.

MS P 3, fol. 370b

Folio 40b of MS P 27 which features the top six lines on this folio are the end of an anonymous and untitled Persian treatise on winds and rain, while the text written diagonally over the rest of the folio is the beginning of an Arabic treatise on numerology attributed to Zosimos. The beige paper is nearly matte-finished. The text is written in a medium-small naskh script with pink-red overlinings and a few headings in about the same color.

MS P 27, fol. 40b

Folio 1b featuring an illuminated headpiece, executed in opaque watercolors, ink, and gilt, of a copy of ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) by al-Qazwīnī. The glossy yellow-brown paper is moderately thin with only laid lines visible. The text is written in a medium-small, widely-spaced, professional, and elegant ta‘liq tending toward naskh script in black ink with headings in red and red overlinings. The text area is frame-ruled.The text throughout the volume is inscribed within frames of blue, red, gilt, and black lines.

MS P 29, fol. 1b

Folio 173a featuring the colophon and a portrait of a scribe immediately below the copyist's name from ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) by al-Qazwīnī. The glossy yellow-brown paper is moderately thin with only laid lines visible. The text is written in a medium-small, widely-spaced, professional, and elegant ta‘liq tending toward naskh script in black ink with headings in red and red overlinings. The text area is frame-ruled.The text throughout the volume is inscribed within frames of blue, red, gilt, and black lines.

MS P 29, fol. 173a

The back cover of MS P 29 is made of dark-brown leather over pasteboards. In the center and the four corners there are gold-stamped flowers on stems, while the frame is formed of gold-tooled acanthus leaves alternating with flowerheads.

MS P 29, binding

Welcome

Getting started

Medieval Islam

Catalogue

Bio-bibliographies

Glossary

Abbreviations

Credits

About the Author

Concordances