Details

Standardized Title:

Almagest. Arabic

Other Title:

Majisṭī
مجسطي

Subjects:

Astronomy -- Early works to 1800.
Astronomy.

Form/Genre:

Manuscripts, Arabic.
Manuscripts, 14th century.
Manuscripts, Medieval.
Codices (bound manuscripts)
Diagrams.
Treatises.
Tables (Data)
Annotations (Provenance)

Language:

Arabic.

Summary:

An extensive treatise on Aristotelian astronomy, considering the motion of the stars and planets in a spherical, geocentric universe.

Notes:

Ms. codex.
Title from title page (f. 1r).
Foliation: Paper, 174; [1-37, 50-101, 124-145, 145-152, 101-124, 154-185]; modern foliation in pencil, correcting previous foliation in pencil, lower center recto.
Layout: Written in 36 long lines.
Script: Written in maghribī script by Aḥmad ibn Aḥmad ibn Salāmah al- Sinhājī al-Muhājirī?, an astronomer (colophon, f. 185r).
Decoration: Diagrams, tables, titles, headings, and selected words in red throughout.
Watermark: Similar to Piccard, Axe, no. 788 (Florence, 1379).
Binding: Red leather with flap (Type II); blind-stamped central mandorla and double frame of straight rules; gold-tooled around the central stamp and small, gilt-stamped corner decorations; plain paper doublure.
Origin: Copied in Saragossa [Sarqusṭah] Spain in Jumādá al-Ākhirah A.H. 783 (September 1381 CE) for Ibn al-Qursunuh al-Isrāʼīlī, astronomer to Pedro IV of Aragon (colophon, f. 185r).
Many edges and corners of leaves mended with paper.

Local notes:

Lawrence J. Schoenberg & Barbara Brizdle Manuscript Initiative.

Penn Provenance:

Formerly owned by Aḥmad ibn Mubārak Luṭf Allāh, Muḥammad al-Raʼīs and Muḥammad ʻAbd al-Ḥayy ibn ʻAbd al-Kabīr al-Kinānī al-Ḥasanī (series of notes, f. 1r).
Formerly owned by Misiyo Riniyo (Monsieur Rinillot?), a French ambassador (note dated 1922, f. 1v).
Sold by Sam Fogg Ltd. (London) to Lawrence J. Schoenberg, June 1998.
Deposit by Lawrence J. Schoenberg and Barbara Brizdle, 2011.
Gift of Barbara Brizdle Schoenberg, 2016.
Formerly owned by Imam Aḥmad ibn Mubārak Lutfullāh, Muḥammad al-Raʼīs and Imam Muḥammad ʻAbd al-Kathīr al-Kinānī (note by Misjo Rinijo, f. 1v).
Formerly owned by Misjo Rinijo (Monsieur Rinillot?), a French ambassador (note dated 1922, f. 1v).

Cited in:

Described in Transformation of knowledge: early manuscripts from the collection of Lawrence J. Schoenberg (London: Paul Holberton, 2006), p. 52-53 (LJS 268).

Publications about:

Herman, Nicholas. Making the Renaissance Manuscript: Discoveries from Philadelphia Libraries (exh. cat.). Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Libraries, 2020. 46, 210-11 (cat. 61).

Cited as:

UPenn LJS 268.

Contributor:

Ibn al-Qursunah al-Isrāʼīlī, associated name.
Aḥmad ibn Mubārak Luṭf Allāh, former owner.
Muḥammad al-Raʼīs, former owner.
Muḥammad ʻAbd al-Ḥayy ibn ʻAbd al-Kabīr al-Kinānī al-Ḥasanī, former owner.
Schoenberg, Lawrence J., former owner.
Lawrence J. Schoenberg Collection (University of Pennsylvania)
ابن القرسنة الاسرائيلي، associated name.
احمد بن مبارك لطف الله، former owner.
محمد الرأيس، former owner.
محمد عبد الحي بن عبد الكبير الكناني الحسني، former owner.

OCLC:

122638121

Web link:

The Lawrence J. Schoenberg and Barbara Brizdle Manuscript Initiative Fund Home Page

Access Restriction:

Access to this item is subject to staff review.