Certain astrological and astronomical figures : cut out of a manuscript book dated 1410

Contributor:

Lethe, Johannes (former owner); Chetwode, John, Sir, 1764-1845 (former owner)

Name:

Honourius

Timespan:

Early works to 1800

Date:

1410

Description:

Collection of astrological and astronomical diagrams gathered from 3 earlier manuscripts. After a later parchment bifolium (f. 1-2, with inscription dated 1861 and 18th- or 19th-century English title) come 3 leaves from an early 15th-century English manuscript, perhaps the manuscript book dated 1410 referred to in the title on the later bifolium, possibly from the Liber juratus Honorii, attributed to Honorius of Thebes. These present magical diagrams that are a template for a horoscope (f. 3v), a circular zodiac calendar with no indication of year (f. 4r), and 2 diagrams related to Cabala as it was understood in Europe at the time (f. 4v-5r). An inscription describes the purchasing of the parent manuscript from Richard Chamberlain and a breakdown of the price for a manuscript of 25 gatherings, lining or ruling, binding, and materials (f. 3r). The next leaf, which is folded and comes from a different manuscript, shows a diagram of the earth surrounded by spheres of the elements with an explanation that suggests the diagram concerns the cause of tides (f. 6r) and 2 astronomical diagrams of concentric circles labeled Polus articus and Polus antarticus (f. 6v). The final leaf is from a Spanish manuscript and contains a mathematical table showing the use of Arabic numerals in the computation of large numbers (up to 22 places) for astronomical calculations, with notes using the Spanish terms cuento, millon, summa, and protocuendo (f. 7r). A plain diagram in ink of a labyrinth, drawn on the verso of a fragment of an English document on paper concerning a real estate transaction, is laid in the manuscript.

Language:

Latin

Provenance:

Part of the manuscript (f. 3-5) produced and sold by Richard Chamberlain (inscription, f. 3r).; Part of the manuscript (f. 7) formerly owned by Johannes Lethe (inscription, f. 7r).; Formerly owned by Sir John Chetwode of Oakley Hall, Staffordshire (armorial bookplate, inside upper cover).; Sold by Sam Fogg Ltd. (London) to Lawrence J. Schoenberg, Jul. 1997.; Deposit by Lawrence J. Schoenberg and Barbara Brizdle, 2011.; Gift of Barbara Brizdle Schoenberg, 2021.

Relation:

Video orientation: http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017.12/1338706; The Lawrence J. Schoenberg and Barbara Brizdle Manuscript Initiative Fund Home Page: http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017.12/366278; Digital facsimile for download (OPenn): https://openn.library.upenn.edu/Data/0001/html/ljs226.html

Subject:

Astrology -- Early works to 1800; Astrology; Astronomy -- Early works to 1800; Astronomy; Booksellers and bookselling -- Early works to 1800; Cabala -- Early works to 1800; Cabala; Magic -- Early works to 1800; Magic; Labyrinths -- Early works to 1800; Labyrinths; Booksellers and bookselling

Resource Type:

Text

Form/Genre:

Codices; Fragments (object portions); Diagrams; Manuscripts, Latin; Manuscripts, Medieval; Manuscripts, Renaissance

Physical Description:

7 leaves : parchment; 170-208 x 130 mm bound to 187 x 145 mm + 1 note

Rights:

https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Notes:

Ms. codex.; Title from 19th-century added title page (f. 2r).; Collation: Parchment, 7; 1² 2-5¹.; Script: Written in Gothic book and cursive scripts.; Decoration: Diagrams in blue and red (f. 3v, 4v, 5r) or brown with red (f. 6r) or red and blue (f. 6v); checkerboard pattern in ink (f. 7v).; Binding: 19th-century quarter marbled paper over cardboard.; Origin: Written in England and Spain, ca. 1410 (date cited in later note, f. 2r).; Lawrence J. Schoenberg & Barbara Brizdle Manuscript Initiative.; Latin, with a few words in Spanish (f. 7r).

Physical Location:

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Manuscripts, LJS 226

Collection:

Lawrence J. Schoenberg Collection (University of Pennsylvania)