The Council of the Asiatic Society decided in 1958 to bring out language-wise catalogues of printed books in its collection. First to be published in the Series was a Catalogue of Arabic Printed Books (1958). Now I have the pleasure to place before the members and research scholars a Catalogue of Persian Printed Books in the same series.
The present catalogue has been arranged according to names of authors and it is our expectation that it will be a useful reference guide to the readers and research scholars.
Thanks are due to Maulavi Mutiur Rahman of our Library who compiled this catalogue and to Sri Abdul Khallaque, his successor as Assistant Librarian, for revising the title index proofs and preparing the appendices, which Maulavi Rahman could not complete due to his retirement from the services of the Society in 1964 after a period of 40 years of devoted service.

The present catalogue of Persian printed books has been prepared by Sri Maulvi Mutiur Rahman. Addenda and subject-indices have been prepared by Sri Abdul Khallaque.
It comprises books acquired up to April 30, 1967. It also includes Studies on Persian literature and translation of Persian books in European languages. Though the Society's collection of Persian books is small, it has a number of very rare titles, e.g.: (1) Tarikh Nadri (986); (2) Tarikh Khani (529); (3) Padshah Nama (435); (4) Siyarul-Muta-akherin (564): (5) Tarikh Farishta (870); (6) Sikander Nama Bahri (112); (7) Akhlaque-i- Muhsani (217); (8) Akhlaque-i-Jalali (668); (9) Gulistan (967): (10) Majmua Shainshi (594).
Inspite of our best efforts there may be some errors here and there, which may have escaped our notice. They will be rectified in a later edition. We shall deem our labour rewarded if the catalogue serves the purpose for which it has been compiled.