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Catalogue: Veterinary Medicine

Kitāb al-Siyāsah fī ‘ilm al-farāsah wa-ashā’ir al-khayl wa-amā’irhā (MS A 71): (Management in Horsemanship and the Features and Chacteristics of the Horse); كتاب السياسه فى علم الفراسه واشائر الخيل وامائرها; attributed to ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (d. 661/40); على ابن ابى طالب

This treatise on the management and care of horses is falsely attributed to the Imam ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib, the last of the Orthodox Caliphs.

The beginning of the text corresponds to that in Berlin, Staatsbibliothek, MS We. 782, fol. 37a-52a , whose title corresponds to the variant title of this copy (see Ahlwardt, Berlin, entry no. 6187). The copy at NLM, however, appears to be a longer treatise with a different ending from the Berlin copy.

No other copies have been identified.

Kitāb al-Siyāsah fī ‘ilm al-farāsah wa-ashā’ir al-khayl wa-amā’irhā (MS A 71)

Illustrations

Page 55 from Kitāb al-Siyāsah fī ‘ilm al-farāsah wa-ashā’ir al-khayl wa-amā’irhā. The text is written in medium-large naskh script with headings either in a large script or in purplish-red ink; there are also small text stops in purplish-red ink. The text is written within frames of single purplish-red lines and the text area has been frame-ruled. In the left margin are drawing including a small human figure of a warrior.

MS A 71, p. 55

A page from the treatise on horsemanship titled Kitāb al-Siyāsah fī ‘ilm al-farāsah wa-ashā’ir al-khayl wa-amā’irhā and falsely attributed to the last of the Orthodox caliphs, ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (d. 661/40). A later owner, possibly a child, has put various doodlings, drawings, and jottings in the margins, such as this small human figure of a warrior.

Page 92 featuring the colophon from Kitāb al-Siyāsah fī ‘ilm al-farāsah wa-ashā’ir al-khayl wa-amā’irhā. The text is written in medium-large naskh script with headings either in a large script or in purplish-red ink; there are also small text stops in purplish-red ink. The text is written within frames of single purplish-red lines and the text area has been frame-ruled. There is marginalia in the top margin.

MS A 71, p.92

The final page of the treatise on horsemanship titled Kitāb al-Siyāsah fī ‘ilm al-farāsah wa-ashā’ir al-khayl wa-amā’irhā and falsely attributed to the last of the Orthodox caliphs, ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (d. 661/40). According to the colophon shown here, lines 11-15, the copy was completed on 29 Kanun al-thani 1830 (= 29 January 1830); the year is given according to the Western calendar. The copyist was a Christian named Ḥannā ibn Jurjis Ṣarūf, who states that he worked in Damascus, Syria.

Physical Description

Arabic. 92 pages (pp. 1- 92). Dimensions 19.1 x 14.7 (text area 14.1 x 9.8) cm;17 lines per page. The title is given on the title page (p. 1). A variant title is given at the start of text (p. 2 lines 4?5): Kitāb fī ‘ilm al-farāsah wa-ma‘rifat al-khayl al-jiyad wa-amā’irhum wa-ashā’irhum (The Book on the Art of Horsemanship and the Knowledge of First-rate Horses and Their Characteristics and Features). The author's name is given on title page (p. 1) as Imam ‘Alī; this is an incorrect attribution to the caliph ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib, who died in 661/40.

According to the colophon (p. 92 lines 11-15), the copy was completed on 29 Kanun al-thani 1830 (= 29 January 1830); the year is given according to the Western calendar. The copyist was a Christian named Ḥannā ibn Jurjis Ṣarūf, who states that he worked in Damascus, Syria.

The text is written in medium-large naskh script with headings either in a large script or in purplish-red ink; there are also small text stops in purplish-red ink. Throughout the volume the text is written within frames of single purplish-red lines. The text area has been frame-ruled. There are catchwords.

A later owner, possibly a child, has put various doodlings, drawings, and jottings in the margins, such as the small human figure of a warrior on p. 55.

The ivory paper have a nearly matte finish and has fine horizontal laid lines, single chain lines, and watermarks. The paper is slightly damp-stained.

The volume consists of 92 pages, two preliminary pages, and two end pages. The two preliminary pages are blank except for penciled notes regarding the author and title and other penciled doodlings. The two end pages are completely blank.

Binding

The volume is bound in a tan leather modern library binding. There are modern paper pastedowns and endpapers.

Provenance

The volume was purchased in 1941 by the Army Medical Library from A. S. Yahuda (ELS 1731). No further information is available on its provenance.

References

Schullian/Sommer, Cat. of incun. & MSS, entry A 71, p. 321, gives year incorrectly as '29th of Qanun II, 830 (i.e. 1426)'.

NLM Microfilm Reel: FILM 48-126 no. 4