Abu Talib Khan (Mirza) Manuscript volume of Persian Poems, India, AH 1218 (1803–04)

Abu Talib Khan (Mirza) Manuscript volume of Persian Poems, India, AH 1218 (1803–04)

Persian manuscript on paper, copied by Muhammad ‘Ali in AH 1218 (1803–04), in a fine thuluth hand in black ink; every page decorated with silver flecks over blue and green grounds, the text enclosed within borders of scrolling rumi ornament and ruled in red and blue, with several illuminated and architectural headpieces; decorative papers and English laid paper endpapers, all edges gilt, bound in a dark green later Indian leather binding, richly decorated with gilt floral tooling and relief ornament, the spine similarly gilt, red calf pastedowns

A richly decorated manuscript of the Persian poetry of Mirza Abu Talib Khan, copied during the author’s lifetime and in the year of his return to India from his celebrated travels in Europe.

Sir Charles William Rouse Boughton (1747-1821)

Mirza Abu Talib Khan (1752–1805), poet, scholar and traveller, was born at Lucknow into a family of Iranian origin. After serving in the administration of Awadh and spending time in Calcutta, where he published an edition of the poetry of Hafiz in 1791, he embarked in 1798 upon the journey for which he became famous. Travelling through Africa and Europe, he spent an extended period in Britain before returning to India in 1803.

The present manuscript was copied in AH 1218 (1803–04), while Abu Talib was still living and at the very moment of his return from Europe. Of particular interest is an early English inscription identifying the volume as “Poems Upon England by Mirza Abu Talib, AD 1803”, associating the poems with the author’s celebrated experience of Britain.

The manuscript is remarkable for the richness and consistency of its decoration. The pages throughout are embellished with silver flecks against blue and green grounds, the text surrounded by scrolling rumi ornament and red and blue rules. Several more elaborate illuminated and architectural headpieces punctuate the manuscript. The fine thuluth calligraphy is complemented by its handsome dark green Indian leather binding, decorated in gilt with floral and relief ornament.

An attractive and unusually richly decorated contemporary manuscript of Abu Talib Khan’s Persian poetry, copied during his lifetime and closely associated by both its date and early English inscription with his return from Europe.

Charles William Boughton went to India at the age of seventeen in 1764, in the employ of the Indian Board in Bengal. Thirteen years later he had risen to become the chief representative in Dacca, a post he retained until 1778 when he returned to England. In this country he continued as a civil servant and then became Member of Parliament for Evesham. Having inherited two baronetcies he was created the same title in his own right in 1791. From 1799 until his death in 1821 he was a Commissioner for Public Accounts at what is now the Public Audit Office. In 1784 he was appointed Secretary to the Board of Control for India and held the post until 1791. As well as his official duties, while in India he became a Persian scholar and retained an interest in India, publishing a 'Dissertation concerning the landed property of Bengal' in 1791