[PERSIAN BOOKS PRINTED IN BOMBAY / THE BOOK OF SHAHS] Kitâb al-badî’ al-musammâ bi-Jahângîr’ nâma az afkâr-e shâir mîr ferzâna Abu al-Qasim al-Harâti al-mutakhallis bi-Madih

AL-HARÂTÎ, ABU AL-QASIM.

Matbaa-e Jadîd El-Binâ-e Naserî, Bombay [Mumbai], Receb 1309 = [February 1892].

In contemporary full cloth. Fine and decorative heading and chapter headings in Hatayî style, in a fine ta’liq script, sixteen lines in parallel columns. Demy 8vo. (21 x 14 cm). In Persian. 402 p. Slight foxing on the edges, spine is repaired, chipped on the extremities of the binding, and heavy fading on the cloth. The pages and text are very clean. Otherwise, it's a very good copy. 

The third and the last edition of this scarce “Book of Jahangir”, which is classified among the anonymous works of the pre-Mongol period, even though its author identifies himself as an otherwise unknown "Qâsim the Panegyrist" (Qâsim i Mâdiḥ) who versified the book in Herat. The dating of its pre-Mongol origin is uncertain. From the author's nickname, it is understood that he was a poet under the patronage of the Iranian court when this work was written.

It is the story of Rustam’s son Jahângîr, whose adventures are remarkably like those of Suhrâb (Zohrab) and even more so those of Burzô. Like them, he is brought up among the Turanians (Turks) and meets his father on the battlefield, but (like Burzô) is recognized by his father and reconciled with him. He joins the Iranian ranks, fights on behalf of Kai Kâ'os, and after various adventures is killed by a dêw [i.e., giant] while hunting.

This poem stands apart from the other components of the epic cycle through its language (Arabic words are common) and its largely Islamic content. (Storey).

Storey 320., As of April 2024, OCLC (25886434) shows more than ten paper copies, however, this is exceedingly rare in the market. Editions: Bombay 1847 (according to the Âsafîyah catalogue iii p. 100); 1867 (ibid. p. 630); 1892. Mohl’s translation of the Shâh-nâmah i pp. lxxi-lxxiii; Safâ, Hamâsah pp. 324-5.