[Hatt risalesi] - [خط رسالەسی]

This volume contains an undated manual of Arabic-script calligraphy that does not bear the name of its author. After a brief historical introduction, with the mention of a few illustrious calligraphers, and instructions on sharpening a pen, the author describes one by one first the simple forms and variants of each letter. Six calligraphic styles are mentioned: muhakkak, sülus, reyhani, nesih, tevki', and rıka'. In the second part, which unlike the first is announced by a heading (ikinci fasıl, f. 17v), the connected forms and ligatures are categorised and described. The margins contain examples of each letter, using whole and half dots as units of proportion; the final section, on the final form of the letter ya, is preceded by one on the combination of lam and elif. The margins of the work contain examples of the formation of the letters in various positions, as well as ligatures and the composition of words. The back of the work (f 18v) has been used to practice some of these ligatures. The manuscript was possibly copied in the Şehremini neighbourhood of Fatih in Istanbul in the 19th century CE.

Unrestricted

Acquired by the British Library from C. S. Mundy in 2007.