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The 'Khamsa' and 'Tutinama' manuscripts

Double page spread of Majnun at the Ka‘ba, from Nizami, Khamsa, 1509–10

The purchase of two Persian manuscripts in 2012 enhanced the State Library's reputation as the home of the finest and oldest collection of rare books in Australia.

The Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami (dated 1509–10 AD) and the Tutinama (Book of the parrot) of Nakhshabi (1808–09 AD) manuscripts are of particular interest to scholars and the general public, and are shown on rotation in the Library’s permanent exhibition World of the book (formerly Mirror of the world).

'the home of the finest and oldest collection of rare books in Australia'