[Yūsuf va Zulaykhā, 949, i.e. 1542 or 1543].

Exquisite copy of Yūsuf va Zulaykhā, the fifth of the seven mas̲navīs of Jāmī (d.1492) collected under the title Haft awrang.Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Library, Isl. Ms. 332Origin: As appears in colophon on p.299, copied by Yārī al-Haravī with transcription completed 949 [1542 or 3].Former shelfmark: "131 T. De M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" inscribed in pencil on verso of front flyleaf.Binding: Pasteboards covered in dark brown leather ; Type II binding (with flap), two-piece binding with overlapping flanges visible at spine ; board linings in yellow-tinted gold-flecked laid paper, flyleaves in pink-tinted gold-flecked laid paper ; upper and lower covers carry stamped (over red-brown onlays) and gold-painted mandorla (filled with vegetal composition, compare Déroche class. OAi 4) and pendants with gold-painted accents and tooled border in a series of s-shaped stamps ; edges of text block gold-painted with floral designs ; sewn in dark pink thread, two stations, sewining failing (threads broken in several gatherings) ; worked chevron endbands in pink and pale yellow [?], god condition ; overall in fair condition with much abrasion, staining, some lifting of leather, etc.Support: non-European (likely Persian) laid paper with 7-8 laid lines per cm. (vertical, not very distinct) and irregular chain lines faintly visible (unclear), cloudy formation, sturdy and fairly thick, well-burnished, medium beige in color, some leaves more yellow in color ; flyleaves in European laid paper with 6 laid lines per cm. (vertical), chain lines spaced 28-29 mm. apart (horizontal), and three crescents watermark (98 mm. long, perpendicular to chains) ; some breakthrough at frames, staining and tide lines.Decoration: Exquisite double-page illumination at opening on pp.2-3 consists of large rectangular panels each divided to central rectangular panel carrying opening text set off by cloud-bands (in gold with floral accents, flanking panels filled with arabesque and floral accents in gold, red, yellow, white, etc. on fields of gold and lapis lazuli, and upper and lower rectangular panels with empty gold cartouches flanked by pendants and surrounded by elegant swirling arabesque with floral accents in turquoise, gold, red, white, lavender, and yellow on fields of gold and lapis lazuli evoking book cover design, upper and lower panels surrounded by border of heavy interlace and narrow white bands, entire rectangular panel surrounded by a series of gold lozenges and elaborate border (marginal decoration) with triangular piece or hasp (mainly in gold and lapis lazuli with swirling arabesque) at the center of each of the three outer sides set into an intricate arabesque design with floral accents on fields of gold, light blue, and lapis lazuli accented with perpendicular stalks [tīgh] ; written area throughout surrounded by frame consisting of a series of turquoise, gold, and blue fillets ; written area gold-flecked ; keywords and headings chrysographed.Script: Nastaʻlīq ; compact, elegant hand ; serifless, with effect of words descending to baseline, closed counters, and elongated horizontal strokes.Layout: Written in 14 lines per page with written area divided to two columns ; frame-ruled.Collation: i, III+1 (7), 17 IV(143), III+1 (150),i ; chiefly quaternions ; catchwords present ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during digitization.Colophon: "Scribal," triangular, in Arabic, reads "تمت الكتاب على يد الفقير المذنب المهجور يارى الهروى سنه ۹۴۹ غفر ذنوبهما وستر عيوبهما م"Explicit: "زبانرا گوشمال خامشی ده که هست از هر چه گوئی خامشی به بیادگار نوشتم خطی که ایامی بدین بهانه عزیزان کنند از میاد"Incipit: "الهی غنچه امید بگشای گلی از روضه جاوید بنمای ..."Title supplied by cataloguer.Ms. codex.Rypka,Browne, A literary history of Persia,Rieu, Cat. Pers. MSS. Brit. Mus.,Exquisite copy of Yūsuf va Zulaykhā, the fifth of the seven mas̲navīs of Jāmī (d.1492) collected under the title Haft awrang.Mode of access: Internet.Acquired by purchase (funds donated by Horace Rackham).Inscription in pencil on verso of front flyleaf "131 T. De M. [i.e. Tammaro De Marinis]" ; possible inventory mark in pencil on upper board lining ; effaced mark on front flyleaf ; possible former owners' mark and seal impression (both now effaced) on p.4 ; fairly clean copy