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Binning, Robert Blair Munro, 1814-1891 (Linguist; East India Company Official, Madras Civil Service)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1814 - 1891

Biography

Robert Blair Munro Binning was the third son of David Monro of Softlaw (who by deed of entail assumed the surname and arms of Binning), by his second wife Isabella Blair. Binning had a career as an administrator in the East India Company Service in Madras. He was an enthusiastic linguist in Arabic, Persian and Hindi, in the pursuance of which he collected many manuscripts and other examples of the use of these languages, and published A grammar, with a selection of dialogues and familiar phrases, and a short vocabulary in modern Arabic, edited by Fletcher Hayes, in 1849. He travelled in the Cape of Good Hope, the Levant, Arabian peninsula and Egypt in 1845-1847, but had to quit his post for health reasons in 1850. For the next two years he travelled again, in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and Persia [Iran], which he described in his published Journal of two years' travel in Persia, Ceylon, etc., (2 volumes, London: 1857). Binning bequethed his substantial book and manuscript collection to New College, Edinburgh, and Edinburgh University Library.

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

Or Ms 284: کلّيات سعدی Kulliyyāt-i Sa‘dī, 1065 A.H., 1654 C.E.

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 284
Scope and Contents

The complete works of one of the most celebrated of Persian poets Sa'dī of Shiraz, 606-691 A.H. (1210-1291-2 C.E.).

The titles and frontispieces are illuminated, illuminated lines round the pages.

Dates: 1065 A.H.; 1654 C.E.
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

Or Ms 287: بوستان و گلستان با تصویر Būstān va Gulistān (bā taṣvīr), undated copy (original text composed 13th cent. C.E.)

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 287
Scope and Contents This fine manuscript contains: the complete Būstān of the famous Persian poet Sa‘dī (d. circa 690 A.H., 1291 C.E.), written on the margins and beginning in the usual manner. And, in the centre of the pages, his complete Gulistān, which begins with the preface. It features illuminated frontispieces, gold frames, and is illustrated with seven portraits in the Persian style of the 9th century A.H. (15th cent. C.E.). The binding...
Dates: undated copy (original text composed 13th cent. C.E.)
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

Or Ms 319: قصهٔ شاه و گل Qissah-yi Shāh-u Gul, 1118 A.H., 1706 C.E.

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 319
Scope and Contents

The love-story of Akbar-Shāh (r. 1806-1835 C.E.), a descendant of Tīmūr (d. 1405 C.E.), with Gul-i Surkh.

Dates: 1118 A.H.; 1706 C.E.
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

Filtered By

  • Subject: Persian poetry X

Additional filters:

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Illuminated manuscripts 2
Compilation manuscripts 1
 

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