Unpublished translation of the introduction of Farhang-i Rashidi, intended to accompany the Persian
Ferhengi Reschidi. Grammatica linguae Persicae
textum ad fidem codicum manuscriptorum edidi et Latine reddidit. Ludovicus Splieth. [Halle] [c.1846]
Persian and Latin manuscript in ink on wove paper, 8vo (22.5 x 18 cm), ff.24, with 21 lines of text per page in single ruled frames, headings in red, Latin text in cursive, Persian in fastidious nasta'liq, f.1r with a calligraphic title in Persian, transliterated Persian, and Latin, written in red and black, in a double-ruled frame. Bound in later calf-backed red cloth, spine worn but joints firm. Paper slightly browned, with a small marginal tear on f.1, text unaffected and contents otherwise in excellent condition. Occasional later pencil annotations. Blind and withdrawn stamps of Nottingham Public Libraries ; printed label of the Waterhouse Collection, 1902, on front pastedown.
No other copies on Copac, not in BL
An unpublished Latin translation of the grammatical muqaddima or introduction to the 17th-century Persian dictionary Farhang-i Rashidi, completed in 1654 and dedicated to Shah Jahan. This was amongst the earliest critical attempts to describe Persian grammar. Ludwig Splieth, a German orientalist, prepared a critical text of this grammatical introduction's Persian original, which was lithographed at Halle in 1846, the first appearance in print of any part of the Farhang-i Rashidi. His Latin translation remained unpublished. Our manuscript appears to be Splieth's fair copy of the text, arranged for the lithographer. His Persian calligraphy is remarkably fine, and the Latin text has been arranged with great care to correspond neatly with Persian original of the Halle lithographed edition. We have been unable to trace any other copies of this text.