The book ‘Manuscript Transcription and Centers in Iranian Civilization’ written by academic Habibollah Azimi has been released in English and German by Lambert Academic Publishing (LAP).
After an American magazine published one of his articles on manuscripts, LAP, a German publication house, asked him via e-mail to write more on the subject in the form of a book, Azimi told IBNA.
“I received a proposal to write a book about the fundamentals of manuscriptology after almost 20 years of teaching the subject in universities in Iran and writing numerous articles in this regard. So I thought it was the right opportunity for me to deliver this science, which is originally from Iran, to the people of other countries,” the author said.
As the researcher said, although manuscripts are found in abundance in Europe’s national libraries, their knowledge of manuscriptology is not sufficient.
Azimi said before the publication of this book, he had published books in Russian and English. His book ‘Principles of Manuscriptology’ was published by the National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI) in both Persian and English and once again in Russian and was well-received.
In the book the author explains that in the 13th and 14th centuries, the number of writers, scribes, book-makers and book-painters increased considerably and consequently, transcription, book-making and book illuminating centers were established in Iran and other Islamic countries.
According to the book, by glancing at Islamic manuscripts, it can be argued that many manuscripts were transcribed in three main transcription centers: A) Court transcription centers where manuscripts were transcribed gloriously for their conferring on kings and caliphs in royal courts; B) Scientists and scholars’ transcription centers where manuscripts were transcribed for their educational requirements; and C) Scribes and book-dealers’ transcription centers where book-dealers or educated minds delivered some ordered or needed manuscript to be transcribed by some scribes for a fee.
The book contains some special customs and traditions of transcription which appeared in the centers.
A former deputy head of the NLAI, Azimi is an expert in the field of manuscriptology, which is the study of history or literature by means of very old palm-leaf manuscripts, rare paper manuscripts or epigraphs.
He holds a PhD degree in Islamic law and jurisprudence and has taught in several universities. He has conducted research on codicology, study of manuscripts and their interrelationships, and the knowledge of manuscripts and written more than eight books and 20 articles on the subjects.
