Bodleian Library
Oxford
Bodleian Library, Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3BG
In spite of being the oldest collection of Avestan manuscripts in Europe, the Bodleian Library in Oxford has only 4 Avestan manuscripts. Richard Cobbe was the first who brought to England in 1723 a manuscript from Surat. This manuscript is Geldner’s O2, now Bodl. Or. 321. Some years later, Frazer brought from Surat another manuscript, namely Geldner’s O3, now Frazer 258. Other manuscripts in the Bodleian Library belonged to Sir Gore Ouseley (1770-1844). In 1787 Ouseley established in India, where he learnt Persian, Sanskrit and Arabian. He came back to England with many manuscripts in several languages. Among these manuscripts was Geldner’s O1. After he died, the Bodleian Library acquired it.
These are the Avestan manuscripts preserved in this library:
- Xwardag Abastāg Sāde: O3 (=Fraser 258)
- Vīdēvdād Sāde: O2 (=Bodl. Or. 321)