Manuscript on paper, composed in three parts, of a large number of practical procedures, chiefly alchemical but sometimes medical, with a few standard medieval alchemical texts by Khalid ibn Yazid, Theodoric, and Albertus Magnus. Occasionally there are passages in cipher, added by Martin Roesel of Rosenthal ca. 1586, long after the principal contents were written; the cipher seems to be of a simple number-substitution type
Description:
In Latin and German, partly in cipher., Watermarks: 1) unidentified eagle watermark somewhat resembling Briquet 104; 2) a crown pattern resembling Briquet 4921 and 1922; 3) the Paschal lamb resembling Briquet 61., Script: Part I (ff. 1-29): Written in 1536 in red and black in a gothic cursive by Wolfgang the Organist. Part II (ff. 30-65): Written in a well-controlled gothic cursive without color. Part III (ff. 66-132): Written in one or possibly two scrawling gothic cursives, with red headings on ff. 109-124., Several initials illuminated in trick have been cut from a late 15th-century MS and pasted into the present MS at ff. 2v, 4v, 5, 10r, and 16r. Marginal drawings of alchemical apparatus are cropped, as also marginalia., and Binding: Probably ca. 1586 for Martin Roesel. Red-stained limp parchment (most of the stain now lost), single central clasp and catch now missing from center of fore-edges, two slits on each fore-edge for thong or ribbon ties, also missing.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Topic):
Alchemy, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Medicine, Medieval
Manuscript on paper of a large quantity of alchemical recipes and procedures, relating above all to metallurgy and transmutation. With Alchimie und Bergwerck; and German translations of John of Rupescissa, De consideratione quinte essentie; and Ramon Lull, Extracts from Experimenta and Testamentum novissimum
Description:
In German and Latin., Watermarks: 1) a long-stemmed cross above a bull's head; 2) a six-lobed arc above and each lobe surmounted by a three-lobed cross; 3) a crown. All with vertical chain marks, trimmed, not identified., Script: Very neat and clear gothic cursives, captions by the same hand, written in two parts, the second beginning at f. 201r., Some red sentence-strokes and underlining; red captions and chapter headings with minimal elaboration, carefully laid out on the page, also pen line-fillers at end of each section, as needed for text spacing. A penned brown and red crown as folk symbol at left margin of f. 135r. Infrequent sketches of alchemical vessels in brown or red at side margins, some very slightly trimmed., and Binding: Original blind-stamped brown calf over beveled wooden boards, the sides paneled in vertical patterns of roll tools, two brass catches on upper cover, remains of brass attachments for clasps on the lower; the original backstrip with three raised bands laid down; plain edges; restored by Carolyn Horton, New York, and with a leather title label on the backstrip supplied by her.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Topic):
Alchemy, Formulas, recipes, etc, Manuscripts, Medieval, Metallurgy, and Transmutation (Chemistry)
Manuscript on paper of an untitled Kunstbuechlein containing hundreds of recipes for a variety of alchemical processes, chiefly metallurgical
Description:
In German and Latin., Script: Calligraphically written by a highly skilled hand using a variety of Fraktur, secretary cursive, and italic scripts., Three-column table of alchemical symbols on last leaf. No color, but progressively frequent use of alchemical symbols; full-page drawing of a double coat of arms with inscriptions on first front flyleaf recto, and a small drawing at foot of f. 53v, of a woman apparently scratching herself with the legend "The flea bites me," both probably by the same skilled hand, possibly the copyist of the codex., Somewhat damaged, especially at beginning, by water-staining and fraying, with some leaves wanting, but the remainder entirely legible and without substantial losses., and Binding: Original limp parchment stained olive green, now worn and with most of the spine, originally with three bands, missing; plain edges. Preserved in a modern box of boards with linen back, modern leather title label added.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Topic):
Alchemy, Formulas, recipes, etc, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Metallurgy
