Manuscript on paper of a private compilation. The two well known works entered into the codex deal with magical properties ascribed to certain gems and the supernatural significance of the carving of stones. Together with these formal texts are found other extremely varied materials: procedures for restoring wine which has suffered various accidents, for making glass of different colors, for the early ripening of grapes, for making an ass bray loudly, for frightening dogs, and so forth
Description:
In Latin and Italian., Watermark: unidentified flower-petal., Script: Probably written by a single hand, employing a Gothico antiqua on ff. 1-11r, with a less formal treatment of the same elsewhere, and more cursive writing for the passages in Italian; the writing relatively careful at the beginning, progressively less so until the end., Red ink for most headings, red capitals and paragraph marks, except on f. 11v-12r and 16v-17r, which are without color., Lower margins affected by damp throughout and partly repaired with blank paper., and Binding: Nineteenth century. Paper boards, more recent gilt-stamped label on backstrip.
Manuscript on paper of a group of shorter works by Christopher of Paris (pseudonym), probably a Venetian alchemist. With John of Rupescissa, De consideratione quinte essentie. Also includes recipes for making blue pigments and a procedure for etching a design on an iron surface
Description:
In Italian and Latin., Watermarks: 1) anchor with ring atop the shank, all within a circle; 2) plain and ill-drawn anchor with thick flukes, the top of the shank forming a small, neat cross with the short stock. Both probably Italian papers, not directly comparable to the varieties illustrated by Briquet., Script: Written by a single scribe in a late humanistic cursive hand sloping slightly to the right., No headlines, headings and some capitals in pale red., and Binding: Sixteenth century. Brown calf, the covers blind-ruled to a rectangular pattern, the large center rectangle diagonally ruled to a lozenge pattern, a single quatrefoil impressed in blind in each of the rectangles and lozenges so formed, edges partly renewed and rebacked in the style of the period of the binding with compartments formed by three double raised bands, a gold stamped title label in the second compartment from top reading: "CHRISTOPHE | DE PARIS | - | RUPESCISSA | MANUSCRIPTS | ITALY | 15TH C". The endpapers are modern insertions, though of old paper, and the binding, while of the period of the manuscript, probably had no original connection with this codex.
Manuscript on paper of Apocryphal Gospel Books and Miracles of the Virgin, including 1) Evangelium infantiae; 2) Liber passionis et resurrectionis Iesu Christi; 3) miracle legends about the Virgin
Description:
In Italian., Script: Copied by two scribes. Hand 1, the notary Franciscus Salvator (Francesco Salvatore) from Ventimiglia, copied artt. 1-4 in Gothica Semihybrida Libraria (Mercantesca). Hand 2 copied artt. 5-6 in Gothica Hybrida Libraria/Currens (Mercantesca)., Decoration: Long red headings up to f. 29r (artt. 1-2). In artt. 3-4, space for headings was provided, but they were not executed. Space was reserved for 2-line initials, but these were not executed. Artt. 4 and 5 are undecorated; there are no guide letters for the 1-line initials at the opening of each of these articles, for which space was reserved., and Binding: 20th century, brown leather and wooden boards. Spine has three raised bands.
Manuscript on paper (thick) of methods and examples of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and the rule of three
Description:
In Italian., Watermark: shield with kneeling man holding cross?. Similar to Briquet 7629?., Script: Copied by one hand in Humanistica Cursiva Libraria/Formata., A few geometrical figures., Pages slightly damaged by the acidity of the ink., and Binding: Original limp parchment, a large circle traced with a sharp pencil on the front cover, a group of small circles in the form of a cross on the rear cover. At the top left corner of the front cover a paper label with the 16th-17th century inscription in Humanistica Cursiva: "Mathematicorum. Anonymi arithmetica manu scripta linguae Italicae". On the spine is written in the same type of script "Aritmetica" and, at the top, the letter "A".
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Topic):
Arithmetic, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Mathematics, Medieval
Manuscript on paper of Astrological tables for solar and lunar locations, probably for use in compiling calendars; tables of latitudes of cities; chronological tables for 1508-18. Most tables are accompanied by prose descriptions
Description:
In Italian., Watermarks: trimmed, in upper margins; unidentified eagle enclosed by a circle similar in design to Briquet Aigle 204., Script: Written in Italian notarial script by a single scribe., Yellow added to initials and to astrological signs, and some numbers., Stained throughout; final folio repaired., and Binding: Eighteenth century. Blind-tooled brown sheepskin.
Manuscript on paper made by an unknown Venetian mathematician, astronomer and cartographer. This manuscript is highly interesting for the excellent drawings of contemporary Mediterranean sailing-ships
Description:
In Italian., Script: Written by one hand in Gothico-Humanistic Cursive, which in the maps alternates with Capitalis. Headings in Capitalis inscribed on scrolls or tablets., Maps, borders and decorations in colours. Clumsily drawn human and animal figures., and Binding: Original limp vellum. On the spine is written "G***ctrica MSS". On the rear cover are a pen-drawing, upside-down, of the same decorative device as on f. 2r, and a sketch of city gates.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Islands of the Mediterranean.
Subject (Topic):
Atlases, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscript maps, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Sailing ships
Manuscript on paper (trimmed) of 1) Alphabetical index. 2) Extract from Petrarca, Africa, VI, 885-918. 3) Petrarca, Canzoniere. 366 poems. 4) Transcription of a note on the front flyleaf of the Virgil manuscript copied by Petrarch, Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, MS S.P. Arm. 10, scaf. 27. 5) Petrarca, Trionfi
Description:
In Italian., Script: Copied by one hand writing an unusual and upright form of Humanistica Cursiva Libraria, marked by a conspicuous shape of r; a second hand copied the replacement leaves 108 and 109, and a third hand copied f. 149r-v; both using the same type of script., Pale red headings (the one on f. 9r in Capitalis), subscriptions and plain initials (Capitalis). On f. 9r (beginning of art. 3) splendid 5-line trompe-l'oeil initial in Veneto-Paduan style in the shape of a square purple stone slab showing the letter V and plants in relief, slightly damaged., A section in the middle of ff. 85 and 86 is missing and has been replaced by pieces of paper written by a contemporary hand, and Binding: Seventeenth century. Limp parchment with two modern leather ties. On the spine the inscription in ink: "Petrar** Manuss***".
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Petrarca, Francesco, 1304-1374.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Italian poetry, and Manuscripts, Medieval