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‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (MS P 3)
- (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing)
- كتاب عجائب المخلوقات وغرائب الموجودات
- by Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī
- زكرياء ابن محمد القزوينى
MS P 3, fol. 25a |
The constellation Ursa Minor. From 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 (d. 1283/682). Neither the copyist nor illustrator is named, and the copy is undated. The nature of paper, script, ink, and illustrations suggests that it was produced in western India in the 18th century.
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MS P 3, fol. 93b |
Four mythical creatures: A long-tailed green bird, a human-headed fish, a flying fish, and a large fish. From 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 (d. 1283/682). Neither the copyist nor illustrator is named, and the copy is undated. The nature of paper, script, ink, and illustrations suggests that it was produced in western India in the 18th century.
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MS P 3, fol. 106a |
At the top, a female with long hair behind a very long fish, and, below, a snake. From 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 (d. 1283/682). Neither the copyist nor illustrator is named, and the copy is undated. The nature of paper, script, ink, and illustrations suggests that it was produced in western India in the 18th century.
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MS P 3, fol. 108a |
Above: a bullock, labelled baqar al-ma' ('cattle of the sea'). Below: a long fish. From 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 (d. 1283/682). Neither the copyist nor illustrator is named, and the copy is undated. The nature of paper, script, ink, and illustrations suggests that it was produced in western India in the 18th century.
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MS P 3, fol. 115a |
A white horse illustrating a chapter titled faras al-ma' or 'sea horse' (slightly marred painting). From 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 (d. 1283/682). Neither the copyist nor illustrator is named, and the copy is undated. The nature of paper, script, ink, and illustrations suggests that it was produced in western India in the 18th century.
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MS P 3, fol. 191b |
A yew tree. From 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 (d. 1283/682). Neither the copyist nor illustrator is named, and the copy is undated. The nature of paper, script, ink, and illustrations suggests that it was produced in western India in the 18th century.
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MS P 3, fol. 310a |
Two magic squares, the top one a 3x3 square buduh square and the lower one 5x5. From 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 (d. 1283/682). Neither the copyist nor illustrator is named, and the copy is undated. The nature of paper, script, ink, and illustrations suggests that it was produced in western India in the 18th century.
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MS P 3, fol. 323b |
An animal-headed demon labeled al-ghidar ('the liar, the perfidious'), and a horned harpy. From 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 (d. 1283/682). Neither the copyist nor illustrator is named, and the copy is undated. The nature of paper, script, ink, and illustrations suggests that it was produced in western India in the 18th century.
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MS P 3, fol. 324b |
A group of six animal-headed demons or jinns, from 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 (d. 1283/682). Neither the copyist nor illustrator is named, and the copy is undated. The nature of paper, script, ink, and illustrations suggests that it was produced in western India in the 18th century.
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MS P 3, fol. 326b |
Assorted demons (jinns) and strange creatures, one playing a musical stringed instrument. From the chapter on the subjugation of jinn and on the amazing actions of afreet (lesser demons, ‘afarit), in 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 (d. 1283/682). Neither the copyist nor illustrator is named, and the copy is undated. The nature of paper, script, ink, and illustrations suggests that it was produced in western India in the 18th century.
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MS P 3, fol. 370b |
An ostrich and an orange bird. From 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 (d. 1283/682). Neither the copyist nor illustrator is named, and the copy is undated. The nature of paper, script, ink, and illustrations suggests that it was produced in western India in the 18th century.
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Persian. 414 leaves (fols. 1b-414b). Dimensions 22.2 x 12 ( text area 17 x 8.2) cm; 19 lines per page. The title is given in the text (fol. 3b line 9) in a short form (‘Aja’ib al-makhluqat) in the colophon on (fol. 414b line 5), and by a later hand on fol. 1a. The author's name is given on fol. 2a line 3. The translator is not named.
The copy is undated and unsigned. The appearance of paper, script, ink, and illustrations, suggests a dating of the 18th century and a location in western India.
A complete and illustrated copy, probably copied and illustrated in western India.
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 are
catchwords. Fol. 414 is a replacement leaf for the earlier, apparently damaged, final leaf, and is written in a larger script.
More than 190 illustrations, in opaque watercolors and ink, are found throughout the text. Illustrations on fols. 358a, 363a, and 372ab are defaced. There are diagrams in ink (some unfinished) on several folios, and spaces have been left blank for illustrations on several folios.
There are marginalia in several different hands, including some English notes, possibly 19th century, on fols. 11a-12b, 89b, 114a, 131b. The volume was foliated in Arabic numerals on the righthand openings. There is a recent foliation with penciled Western numerals on the lefthand opening.
The thin, light-brown, lightly glossed paper has vertical laid lines but no chain lines. The edges have been trimmed from their original size. The first five leaves have been repaired and reset into new borders, and several other leaves have been repaired. There is some water-staining and foxing, and the paper is slightly worm-eaten. The head, tail, and fore-edge of the manuscript have been marbled.
The volume consists of 414 leaves. Fol. 1a is blank except for the title ‘Aja’ib al-makhluqat in Arabic script and transliterated (Agaib al-Muhlucaat), one owner's note partially cut off, and the impression of an owner's undated large rectangular stamp.
The volume is bound in a European gray-green leather binding over pasteboard with gold-tooled frames on the covers and an intricate overall gold stamped design on the spine which also has the gold-tooled title: AEJAIB AL MUHLUCAAT. The edges of the binding are also decorated with a gold-tooled design. There are marbled paper pastedowns, hinges, and endpapers.
On fol. 1a there is and the impression of an owner's undated large rectangular stamp.
The volume was in the collection of the Army Medical Library in 1946. Further details on provenance are unavailable.
Schullian/Sommer, Cat. of incun. & MSS., entry P 3, p. 330.
NLM Microfilm Reel: FILM 48-131 no. 1
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