Bombay, India, Aqa Mirza Mohammed Baqer Shirazi, Dated 1275-76 AH (1858-59 AD).
Bombay was inhabited by many second and third generation Indian Zoroastrian members of the Parsi community by the nineteenth century and as communication and trade developed between Iran and India many of these Parsi communities began reconnecting with their ancestral homeland in Iran. This publication represents the pinnacle of this cultural merger with the illustrations and style of manuscript produced for this publication very much following the Qajar style that was prominent in Iran during this period, featuring illustrations which are characterised by a more realistic treatment of portraiture than any Indian artistic equivalent.
The first Bombay Shahnameh was printed in 1262 AH (1846 AD) and in the twelve years between that first edition and the present edition there were six other imprints (in 1266, 1270, 1272, 1274-75 and 1275), each of these considered scarce early and rare editions in themselves with varying issue points and characteristics (often making these early editions bibliographically challenging). The enormous popularity of this text in India meant that it was published in many subsequent editions well into the 20th century and beyond. Rather unusually, this text was nowhere near as popular among the Iranian population when it was first published in Tehran in 1265-67 (1849-51); a secondary edition did not appear in Iran until 1275 (1858 AD), and thus any and all editions published between 1846 and 1858 can be considered early lithographed editions of this epic text.
Single volume, the 'Bombay 1275-76 edition', lithographed from a manuscript, illustrations in the text, 4 books of the Shahnameh all complete and present, lacking two preliminary folios (pp. 1-4, section of preface and fihrist) and 9 folios from the postscript at the end (pp. 36-54, including text for the Molheqât and Farhang-e alfâz-e nâdere), 295 x 205 mm; lithographed text throughout, numerous illustrations in the text, internally very clean and crisp condition, a few tears skilfully repaired; contemporary block-printed cloth over boards, repaired.
Iraj Afshâr (Ketâbshenâsi-ye Ferdowsi), Teheran 1347 AS (1968 AD), p. 195, no. 10.
The first Bombay Shahnameh was printed in 1262 AH (1846 AD) and in the twelve years between that first edition and the present edition there were six other imprints (in 1266, 1270, 1272, 1274-75 and 1275), each of these considered scarce early and rare editions in themselves with varying issue points and characteristics (often making these early editions bibliographically challenging). The enormous popularity of this text in India meant that it was published in many subsequent editions well into the 20th century and beyond. Rather unusually, this text was nowhere near as popular among the Iranian population when it was first published in Tehran in 1265-67 (1849-51); a secondary edition did not appear in Iran until 1275 (1858 AD), and thus any and all editions published between 1846 and 1858 can be considered early lithographed editions of this epic text.
Single volume, the 'Bombay 1275-76 edition', lithographed from a manuscript, illustrations in the text, 4 books of the Shahnameh all complete and present, lacking two preliminary folios (pp. 1-4, section of preface and fihrist) and 9 folios from the postscript at the end (pp. 36-54, including text for the Molheqât and Farhang-e alfâz-e nâdere), 295 x 205 mm; lithographed text throughout, numerous illustrations in the text, internally very clean and crisp condition, a few tears skilfully repaired; contemporary block-printed cloth over boards, repaired.
Iraj Afshâr (Ketâbshenâsi-ye Ferdowsi), Teheran 1347 AS (1968 AD), p. 195, no. 10.
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