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Annotated Copy of Persia and the Persian Question by George Curzon, with Inserted Papers [499ar] (1010/1814)
The record is made up of 2 volumes with inserts (898 folios). It was created in 1892-1924. It was written in English, Urdu and German. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
FROM TEHERAN TO ISFAHAN
37
given to the place by Shah Suleiman when, in about 1670, he built
this palace in a garden previously called Bagh-i-Bulbul, or Garden
of the Nightingale. The chief building is a pavilion standing in
the centre of a large enclosure. At its prime this must have been
a remarkable structure, for it was thus described in 1677 by the
rhetorical Dr. Fryer :—
It is a sweet Place, doubtless, were it cloathed with its glory ; but
as it is, it is a Rich Piece * the Summer House in the middle is saluted
by two Channels, in which are Ships and Boats to represent a Naval
scene of War ‘ Swans and Pelicans find here their diversion ; theSummer
House is built entirely of polished Marble, the Arch of the Cupilo is
Inlaid with Massy Gold, upon the Walls aredepainted the famous Actions
of their Heroes ; the Tank in the middle is all of Silver, the Posts are
stuck with Looking glasses, reflecting the Posture of the Body, and the
Figures of the whole Fabrick ; an Hemispherical Turret presses on Four
Pillars which are the main supporters. 1
Even Chardin, enthusiastic but seldom sentimental, was inspired
to an unwonted outburst by the charms of the Hasht Behesht.
When one walks in this place expressly made for the delights of
love, and when one passes through all these cabinets and niches, one ; s
heart is melted to such an extent that, to speak candidly, one always
leaves with a very ill grace. The climate without doubt contributes
much towards exciting this amorous disposition ; but assuredly these
places, although in some respects little more than cardboard castles, are
nevertheless more smiling .and agreeable than our most sumptuous
palaces. 2
Later on this pavilion fell into decay, but it was rebuilt or restored
by Fath Ali Shah, who in the main hall, covered by a dome and
surrounded by galleries with small chambers in the angles, caused
to be executed frescoes and oil-paintings of himself seated in state
with his court, and mounted on horseback spearing a lion. Other
contemporary pictures adorn the neighbouring walls, including one
of Istarji, or Strachey, the English Adonis. This heptagonal
pavilion, which is now neglected and falling to decay, is sometimes
placed by the Governor at the disposal of strangers of consideration
or officials of foreign governments. It stands in a garden laid out
in parterres, planted with fruit-trees, and with avenues bordered
with cypresses and chenars. Like all Persian gardens, this is no
Travels in Persia, p. 214. 2 Yoyacjes (ed. Tangles), vol. viii. p. 43.
i
About this item
- Content
These two volumes are George Curzon's own personal annotated copies of both volumes of his book Persia and the Persian Question , which was published in 1892. Alongside the volumes are various loose papers relating to Persia [Iran], consisting of the following: received correspondence; newspaper cuttings; publishers' press releases; cuttings from various booksellers' catalogues; various journal and magazine articles; two items of printed official British correspondence; several prints of photographs and sketches; and a few handwritten notes by Curzon.
In most cases these papers, which range in date from 1892 to 1924, relate to the chapters in the book where they were originally inserted, suggesting that they were kept by Curzon with the intention of using them to inform a revised edition of the book.
Of particular note among the small amount of correspondence are two letters received by Curzon in 1914 and 1915 from retired schoolmaster and Islamic scholar Sayyid Mazhar Hasan Musawi of Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India (ff 5-9 and ff 44-53). These letters, which are written in Urdu and are accompanied by English translations, discuss in detail several inaccuracies found in the Urdu version of Persia and the Persian Question .
The various prints of photographs and sketches, which were originally inserted into volume two, are of different locations in the Gulf region. Several of these appear to have been produced in preparation for the publication of the second volume of John Gordon Lorimer's Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Oman and Central Arabia (i.e. the 'Geographical and Statistical' section) in 1908, as they are identical to the versions found in that volume.
Also of note among the loose papers are an illustrated article from Country Life dated 5 June 1920, entitled 'The People of Persia' (ff 36-37), and a printed family tree of the Shah of Persia [Aḥmad Shah Qājār], produced in preparation of his visit to Britain in 1919 (f 233).
Volume one of Persia and the Persian Question contains a map of Persia, Afghanistan and Beluchistan [Balochistan], which is folded inside the front cover (f 1).
The German language material consists of a publisher's press release for two books authored by German archaeologist Ernst Emil Herzfeld (ff 29-30).
- Extent and format
- 2 volumes with inserts (898 folios)
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: this shelfmark consists of two physical volumes. The foliation sequence commences at the first folio of volume one (1-463), and terminates at the last folio of volume two (ff 464-898); these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Each volume contains a large number of loose leaves, which have been foliated in the order that they were inserted into the volume; for conservation reasons, these loose folios have been removed from the volume and stored separately. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers of the two volumes.
Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English, Urdu and German in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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Annotated Copy of Persia and the Persian Question by George Curzon, with Inserted Papers [499ar] (1010/1814), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/33, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100157213847.0x00000b> [accessed 19 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F111/33
- Title
- Annotated Copy of Persia and the Persian Questionby George Curzon, with Inserted Papers
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 4r:4v, 31r:32v, 433r:433v, 463r:463v, back-i, front-a, back-a, spine-a, edge-a, head-a, tail-a, front-a-i, 499ar:499av, 562ar:562av, 617ar:617av, 694r:694v, 710r:710v, back-a-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence