Arabic Ismaili Manuscripts The Zāhid ʿAlī Collection
I.B. Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies
Arabic Ismaili Manuscripts: The Zāhid ʿAlī Collection in the Library of The Institute of Ismaili Studies represents the fourth volume, published under the auspices of The Institute of Ismaili Studies, devoted to the cataloguing of some 750 volumes of Arabic Ismaili manuscripts housed in the Library of the Institute. This new catalogue is entirely devoted to the corpus of manuscripts that formerly belonged to the eminent Ismaili scholar, the late Dr. Zāhid ʿAlī (1888-1958). The collection was donated to the Institute by his family in 1997. The book includes 179 title entries and an appendix featuring miscellaneous material. The majority of the works listed in the catalogue belong to the theological, philosophical and historical traditions of the Fāṭimid and post-Fāṭimid Yemeni, as well as Indian, Ismailis.
The catalogue is arranged alphabetically by title, with details of the content of each work and other relevant information of a literary, historical and doctrinal nature. There are references to other catalogues listing the same works to be found in other collections and details of main editions, translations and studies. The book also features incipits in Arabic for each entry and is supported by indices.
This catalogue is illustrated with colour plates and enriched by a comprehensive introduction that will enable the user to place the featured works in their wider literary and historical contexts.
List of Illustrations
Preface
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Introduction
The Catalogue
Appendix
Index of Authors
Index of Titles in Arabic
Delia Cortese obtained her doctorate in Islamic Studies at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies in 1993. Thereafter she was awarded a post-doctoral research fellowship by the Istituto Universitàrio Orientale in Naples. Dr. Cortese is currently a lecturer in Religious and Islamic Studies at Middlesex University and is affiliated to The Institute of Ismaili Studies. Her publications include Ismaili and Other Arabic Manuscripts: A Descriptive Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Library if The Institute of Ismaili Studies (2000).