[La fontaine de toute science]

Name:

Sidrac, active 13th century

Timespan:

Early works to 1800

Date:

1457

Description:

Encyclopedic and didactic dialogue on natural philosophy in the form of a series of questions and answers, often classified as a romance. The philosopher Sidrac responds to the questions of Boctus (or Boccus or Bocchus), an Eastern king. Another subject of the dialogue is the therapeutic properties of plants. A table of contents at the beginning of the manuscript (f. 3r-20v) lists the questions.

Language:

French, Old (842-ca.1400)

Provenance:

Sold by Il Polifilo (Milan), cat. 21 (1952), no. 93.

Subject:

Philosophy, Medieval; Science, Medieval; Materia medica, Vegetable -- Early works to 1800; Materia medica, Vegetable

Resource Type:

Text

Form/Genre:

manuscripts (documents); codices (bound manuscripts); dialogues; romances (medieval narratives); Manuscripts, French; Manuscripts, Renaissance

Physical Description:

218 leaves : paper; 285 x 215 (173 x 135) mm bound to 295 x 215 mm

Rights:

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

Notes:

Ms. codex.; Title supplied by cataloger (Zacour-Hirsch).; Foliation: Paper, ii (modern paper) + 218 + ii (modern paper); [1-218]; modern foliation in pencil, lower right recto.; Layout: Written in 32 long lines.; Script: Written in a cursive script.; Decoration: 7-line puzzle initial in black and red (f. 21r); 2- and 3-line initials in red throughout; rubrics in red; capitals touched with yellow.; Binding: 15th century blind-stamped calf, repaired and rebacked.; Origin: Written in France in 1457 (f. 1r).; Incomplete at the end, 2 or more leaves missing.; Wormholes in text, water-stained.; Middle French.

Physical Location:

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Manuscripts, Oversize Ms. Codex 912