TEHRAN -- Two Iranian books, the Kulliyat-i Sadi and the Kitab al-Masalik wal-Mamalik, have been inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register list.

A total of 47 new nominations from around the world were added to the list during the 12th meeting of the International Advisory Committee of UNESCO's Memory of the World Program, which was held in Abu Dhabi from October 4 to 6.

The Kulliyat-i Sadi is composed of Persian poet Sadi’s Bustan (The Orchard) and Gulistan (The Rose Garden).

This version, which was calligraphed during the 14th century, just 60 years after Sadi’s death, is preserved at the National Library and Archives of Iran, the director of the Public Relations Department of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO, Farhad Etemadi, told the Persian service of ISNA on Saturday.

Iran keeps another version of the collection at Astan-e Qods Razavi Library in Mashhad.

The Kitab al-Masalik wal-Mamalik (The Book of Itineraries and Kingdoms) was written by Abu Is’haq Ibrahim ibn Muhammad Istakhri, who lived during the ninth and tenth centuries.

The National Library and Archives of Iran holds the Persian version of the book while the Arabic version is kept at the library of Germany’s Goethe-Institut, Etemadi said.

Both versions were inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register list in one file, he added.

Earlier in 2013, a collection of selected maps of Iran from the Qajar era (1779-1926), was added to the list.

“At-Tafhim” written by Abu Rayhan Biruni (973-1048 CE) and “Khamseh” composed by Nezami Ganjavi (c. 1141-1209 CE) were other Iranian books registered on the list in 2011.

A collection of Iran’s administrative documents dating back to the Safavid era was added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register list in 2009.

In addition, the Shahnameh of Baysunqur, one of three ancient copies of Ferdowsi’s epic masterpiece, and the Endowment Deed of Rab-e Rashidi are two other Iranian works that were registered on the list in 2007.

MMS/YAW
END