The Catalogue of the Rig 'dzin Tshe dbang nor bu rNying ma'i rgyud 'bum
Modern library pagination and markings
In this volume, the western numbering is written in blue pencil numbers. There is no rectangular IOL paper sticker, with volume identification.
Microfilm
On the microfilm, there is an IOL rectangular card, centred, reading, Ba 15.
Paper composition
Some sheets are thinner than others, although most are quite thick, appearing to consist of two layers of paper.
Size of folios
The size of the plain sheets is 576 x 125mm. There is some size variation (eg. 87 is 570mm and 218 is 578mm in length), and some sheets are not cut very straight.
Sheet numberings
As in other volumes, many of the sheets have tiny Tibetan numerals written sideways, some of which are missing or partially cut off, and where they do occur, they do not seem to correspond to the page numbering in words.
Pagination
Page details are given in words written sideways in black ink, to the left of the writing on each recto side.
Page settings
Most sheets, as in other volumes, have 7 lines of black ink writing, with double red vertical lines to the sides of the writing. The lines are ruled with faint (diluted?) reddish ink. The writing is not always exactly square on the page (eg. on 227 it goes up slightly to the right).
Ornaments, openings and punctuation
Double yig mgo are found in the upper left corner of all recto sides, apart from 1-4. gNyis, gsum, and bzhi each have a triple yig mgo, and the verso side of gcig also has a triple yig mgo. The regular double yig mgo usually start on or to the right of the red vertical margin delineators. There are some slight differences in style, with some larger or more elongated than others.
Handwriting
The writing in this volume seems to be of a consistent style throughout.
State of preservation
In comparison with some other volumes, such as the preceding Volume Pha, there are less edge indentations, holes through the lettering or other observable insect damage in this volume. Occasional sheets (eg 15, 27-8, 32, 46, 62-66, 68-71, 84-86, 105-6, 113, 125-131, 146-149, 225, 247-8, 250-2, 267, 290) have a single indentation at one edge, a single hole near an edge (227-234, 256, 293), or more than one edge indentation (26, 29-30, 104, 114, 116-121, 138-141, 215, 219, 259, 282-287, 289), or (186) a hole in the paper beneath the text, or (72) a single edge indentation and a hole beneath the text. Very occasional sheets (137, 160, 261, 288, 294) have small holes at the edges and in the middle of the page, or (145, 161, 295) a single larger hole or more than one hole (196, 201, 262) away from the edge of the page, or (246, 266, 296) a number of indentations and holes. There is some evidence of attempted repairs (eg. 144 has two small pieces of paper stuck to the bottom edge of the sheet).
Cover folios
There is no blue lacquered front folio in this volume.
There are no index leaves in this volume.
Decorated first folios: construction
The first folio, gcig, is a laminate of about 12 sheets, 571 x 124 mm.
The recto side is plain azure blue lacquer, but with gold margins ruled and the collection, volume, and folio identifications given at the left border, in gold writing. The box made by the ruled lines measures 435mm x 69mm. Thick crossed stitches attach the folio together, two along the top, five along the bottom, and one to the left and the right of the folio.
Decorated first folios: frames [ TITLE PAGE]
The verso side of gcig (1b) is blue lacquer, with elaborate intertwining straight gold lines around the outside of the page, outlining exactly the same interlocking key design as we find in other volumes. The upper sheet has a rectangular window cut out for the text, 450 x 74mm, outlined (around the frame) with a red paint line. There is a single tear in the upper window frame.
Decorated first folios: window curtain
There is a silk cover fitted over the window, with three layers. The yellow layer is at the top, with gold thread around the outside, and it measures 425 x 62mm visible (the upper part tucks under the blue frame above; where there is tear in the window frame it is possible to see a single line of gold horizontal running stitches attaching the cover to the folio). A blue layer is the middle layer, with white thread around the outside, measuring 434 x 67mm visible. The third and final layer beneath is orange, with green thread around the outside, measuring 449 x 73mm visible.
Decorated first folios: window layout
Beneath the cover is a double lined gold rectangle drawn on black lacquer, with 3 lines of gold writing, split across two sides of the page. There are miniatures to the left and right, besides which the areas for writing are bounded by vertical strips with a regular pattern of gold lines, in this case, the diamond and swastika design (see "General Information on Volumes"). The larger miniature in the centre, which breaks up the page, is bounded to the left and right by a thin double vertical gold line, outlining a rectangle, 81 x 70mm. The lefthand miniature is within a rectangle 50 x 70mm, the righthand miniature's rectangle is 49 x 70mm. The legends for the miniatures are written below each, within the border of gold lines outside the window. Each legend is within double ornamenal brackets:
[ first, to the left:] {{[yig mgo x 1]/rig 'dzin tshe dbang nor bu la na mo/}} [second, to the left of centre:] {{/lha lcam man da' ra ba/[yig mgo x 1]//sangs rgyas gnyis pa oyan rje/ [or je]/ [then continues to the right of centre, on the other side of the gold vertical strip transversing text:] mkha'gro ye shes mtsho rgyal/}} [third, to the right:] {{ [yig mgo x 1]/sna nams ye shes la na mo/}}Size of folios
The second folio, gnyis, measures 575 x 125 mm.
Decorated second folios
The recto side of gnyis is blue lacquer, with 4 lines of gold writing, within a double gold rectangular box, the outer measuring 485 x 76 mm, the inner, 362 x 63 mm. The margins are ruled as usual, with the collection, volume and folio identification to the left.. The boxes are not exact rectangles; the vertical lines are not at exact right angles to the horizontal lines, coming down slightly to the left. The folio is a laminate of 5 thick layers, with thick cross stitches visible on both sides, two to the top and bottom, one to the left and right. Some of the inner sheets are ruled with 7 lines and red margins. The verso side is ordinary paper.
Page settings
As mentioned above, 2a has 4 lines of gold writing. 2b is ordinary paper. 2b - 6a have double red lined rectangular boxes and margins; in the case of 2b and 3a, with an inner double red lined rectangular box. 2b and 3a each have 4 lines of black writing; 3b - 5b, have 5 lines of slightly smaller writing, and 6a, 6 lines of writing. The boxes are not very exact rectangles, and the ink sometimes is of variable thickness. Sometimes, the lines overshoot the boxes or do not quite join up at the corners. The writing lines are not exactly parallel to the horizontal lines of the boxes: the lines on 4b and 5b come up slightly at the right. The boxes measure as follows. 2b (outer): 499 x 83 mm; 3a (outer): 485 x 81 mm; 3b: 483 x 83mm (left)/ 78mm (right); 4a: 490 x 77mm (left)/ 73mm (right); 4b: 495 x 81mm (left)/ 78mm (right); 5a: 479 x 83 mm; 5b: 480 x 81 mm; 6a: 488 x 79 mm. 6b starts the usual style of red margins down each side and 7 lines per side.
Microfilm
On the British Library microfilm, the photographer has repeated 225 & 226 & 227.
State of preservation
242 has a tear out of the sheet at the top, but the tear does not affect the writing.
State of preservation
246 has a tear out of the sheet at the bottom, as well as insect damage, but the writing is legible.
State of preservation
268 has a tear out of the bottom left-hand corner, but the writing is unaffected.
Page settings
297a has 6 ruled lines (of which only 3 are used), within a red rectangular box, 495 x 78 mm. 297b is blank. A further badly torn sheet completes the volume. It has a red rectangle with margins ruled, but no numbering, on one side, and doodles (see below) on the back.
State of preservation
The final numbered folio, 297, has been thickened and reinforced by extra paper stuck along parts of the edges at the back.
Readers' marks
The final unnumbered folio has some elaborate doodles (it seems!) in black ink on the back. They do not appear to be deliberate designs and some are smudged.