Seven treatises on mathematics, astronomy and statics

Content

The script, ornamentation and binding of the volume indicate that it is part of a set comprising also manuscripts IO Islamic 923, IO Islamic 924 and IO Islamic 1249, all of which were transcribed in 1198/1784, probably for their owner Warren Hastings, Governor-General of Bengal from 1772 to 1785. A collation note at the end of the first text (f. 7v) is dated 14 Shawwāl 1198/31 August 1784.

A table of contents in Persian is given f. 1r.

A date lable attached to the inside of the back cover (left board) shows that the manuscript was borrowed for two months in 1908 from the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Library by Eilhard Wiedemann (d. 1928), professor of physics at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen. In 1911-12, Weidemann published a German translation of item 7 in this manuscript ('Die Schrift über den Qarasṭūn', in Bibliotheca Mathematica , 12, pp. 21-39).

Contents:

(1) Anonymous treatise on the linear astrolabe Ancient instrument for astronomical observations. (أسطرلاب خطّي) (ff. 2v-7v);

(2) Ibn al-Haytham (ابن الهيثم), Maqālah fī ṣūrat al-kusūf (مقالة في صورة الكسوف; ff. 8v-34r);

(3) Anonymous, al-Muʿādal āt (المعادلات; ff. 35v-180r);

(4) al-Kūhī, Wayjan ibn Rustum (الكوهي، ويجن بن رستم), Risālah fī ʿamal ḍilʿ al-musabba ‘ al-mutasāwī al-aḍlā‘ fī al-dā‘irah (رسالة في عمل ضلع المسبع المتساوي الأضلاع في الدائرة; ff. 182v-189r);

(5) al-Kūhī, Wayjan ibn Rustum (الكوهي، ويجن بن رستم), Ṭarīq fī istikhrāj khaṭṭayn bayna khaṭṭayn wa-tatawālá ‘alá nisbah (طريق في استخراج خطّين بين خطّين وتتوالى على نسبة; ff. 189v-191r);

(6) Ibn Sinān, Ibrāhīm (ابن سنان ، إبراهيم), Kitāb fī misāḥat qaṭʿ al-makhrūṭ al-mukāfī (كتاب في مساحة قطع المخروط المكافي; ff. 191v-197r);

(7) Thābit ibn Qurrah (ثابت بن قرّة), Kitāb fī al-qarasṭūn (كتاب في القرسطون; ff. 198v-207r).

Extent and format

Codex A collection of pages, usually gathered into quires, and bound between covers. ; ff. i+208+i

It is grouped into

Anonymous treatise on the linear astrolabe

11 images

Ref: IO Islamic 461, ff 2v-7v

Maqālah fī ṣūrat al-kusūf مقالة في صورة الكسوف Alhazen ابن الهيثم

53 images

Ref: IO Islamic 461, ff 8v-34r

al-Muʿādalāt المعادلات

290 images

Ref: IO Islamic 461, ff 35v-180r

Risālah fī ʿamal ḍilʿ al-musabba‘ al-mutasāwī al-aḍlā‘ fī al-dā‘irah رسالة في عمل ضلع المسبع المتساوي الأضلاع في الدائرة Kūhī, Wayjan ibn Rustum كوهي، ويجن بن رستم

14 images

Ref: IO Islamic 461, ff 182v-189r

Ṭarīq fī istikhrāj khaṭṭayn bayna khaṭṭayn wa-tatawālá ‘alá nisbah طريق في استخراج خطّين بين خطّين وتتوالى على نسبة Kūhī, Wayjan ibn Rustum كوهي، ويجن بن رستم

4 images

Ref: IO Islamic 461, ff 189v-191r

Kitāb fī misāḥat qaṭʿ al-makhrūṭ al-mukāfī كتاب في مساحة قطع المخروط المكافي Ibn Sinān, Ibrāhīm ابن سنان، إبراهيم

12 images

Ref: IO Islamic 461, ff 191v-197r

Kitāb fī al-qarasṭūn كتاب في القرسطون Thābit ibn Qurrah al-Ḥarrānī ثابت بن قرّة الحراني

18 images

Ref: IO Islamic 461, ff 198v-207r

Physical characteristics

Material: Eastern laid paper

Dimensions: 230 x 130 mm leaf [150 x 80 mm written]

Foliation: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Library foliation stamped in black ink

Ruling: Misṭarah ; 12 lines per page; vertical spacing 8 lines per 10 cm

Script: Nasta‘līq

Ink: Black ink, with rubricated headings and overlinings and diagrams in red

Decoration: Every opening and every page has a border in gold, black and red ink; the first opening (ff. 2v-3r) is extensively illuminated in gold, red, green and blue

Binding: Hybrid binding with European and Islamic-style features; leather doublure

Condition: Excellent condition; book block re-sewn, boards reattached and spine replaced

Marginalia: Very few and all appear to be by copyist

Seals: ff.1r and 208v

Written in

Arabic in Arabic script

Type

Manuscript

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: Oriental Manuscripts

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IO Islamic 461

History of this record

Date(s)

1198 (AH, Hijri qamari)

Provenance

East India Company Library, its seal (ff.1r and 208v)

Immediate source of acquisition

From the library of Warren Hastings (1732-1818), Governor-General of Bengal (1773-1785) incorporated into the collection of the East India House in 1809.

Related material

Finding aids

Loth, Otto, A Catalogue of the Arabic Manuscripts in the Library of the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. (London : Printed by order of the Secretary of State for India in Council, 1877), Item 767, pp. 222-23

People & organisations

Warren Hastings

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Seven treatises on mathematics, astronomy and statics, British Library: Oriental Manuscripts, IO Islamic 461, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023676611.0x000001> [accessed 8 May 2024]

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