[Collection of cabalistic texts]

Name:

Charles Rainsford Collection of Alchemical and Occult Manuscripts (University of Pennsylvania)

Timespan:

Early works to 1800

Date:

1700

Description:

Collection of cabalistic works with an emphasis on angels. The primary text is a translation in Italian and Latin of excerpts from the medieval Book of Raziel, also known as the Sefer Raziel HaMalach, in which Solomon recounts how the angel Raziel delivered a book of divine secrets to Adam and Eve after their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Raziel was the angel stationed beside God's throne and thus recorded the secret knowledge that was discussed. The text includes instructions for practical magic such as how to attain one's desires (p. 4), cure illness (p. 10), defeat enemies (p. 33), and gain someone's love (p. 53). Also includes sections on divine names, numerological tables, and invocations.

Language:

Italian

Provenance:

Formerly owned by the Jesuit College in Naples (note, p. iii).; Formerly owned by Charles Rainsford (British army officer, fellow of the Royal Society, and alchemist); bequeathed by Rainsford to Hugh Percy, Second Duke of Northumberland.; Owned by the 2nd through 12th Dukes of Northumberland, ms. 585, Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, 1809-2014 (bookplate, inside upper cover; stamps throughout).; Sold at auction at Sotheby's (London), 15 July 2014, as part of Lot 411.; Rainsford, Charles, 1728-1809, former owner.; Northumberland, Hugh Percy, Duke of, 1742-1817, former owner.

Relation:

Unique at Penn blog post: https://repository.upenn.edu/uniqueatpenn/23/; Video orientation: https://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017.12/100000302

Subject:

Angels -- Early works to 1800; Cabala -- Early works to 1800; Cabala; Magic -- Early works to 1800; Magic; Numerology -- Early works to 1800; Occultism -- Early works to 1800; Occultism; Numerology; Angels

Resource Type:

Text

Form/Genre:

Codices; Manuscripts, Italian; Manuscripts, European; manuscripts (documents)

Physical Description:

61 leaves : paper; 210 x 150 mm bound to 217 x 154 mm

Rights:

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

Notes:

Ms. codex.; Title supplied by cataloger.; Table of contents: 1. p.1-43: Compendio del libro dello Cephar Raziel id est Angelus Magni Secreti. 2. p.53-62: Compendium totius s[anctissima] cabala. 3. p.65-106: Regole di M. Gio. Adamo Wetter. 4. p.109-114: Vero modo d'acquistare la kabola angelica.; Pagination: Paper, 61; [iv], 1-43, [xi], 1-8, [xlvi], 1-6, [iv]; contemporary pagination in ink, upper outer corners; [iv], 1-118; modern pagination in pencil, lower right corners. All references in this record are to the modern pagination.; Script: Written in various cursive and semi-cursive scripts by many different hands.; Decoration: Drawing of sigil (p. 42).; Binding: Contemporary pasteboards.; Origin: Probably written in Italy in the 18th century.; See also UPenn Ms. Codex 1685 for a copy of this manuscript with a partial English translation in the hand of Charles Rainsford.; Purchased with support from the B. H. Breslauer Foundation.; Italian, with some passages in Latin, notes in English, and Hebrew characters.

Physical Location:

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Manuscripts, Ms. Codex 1674