Details

Subjects:

Alchemy -- Early works to 1800.
Alchemy.
Occultism -- Early works to 1800.
Occultism.

Form/Genre:

Codices.
Treatises.
Manuscripts, Latin.
Manuscripts, European.

Language:

Latin and Italian.

Summary:

Alchemical treatise concerning the creation of the philosopher's stone (p. 72) and on transmutation of metals such as gold, silver, lead, and mercury. Also includes a table of contents (p.169).

Notes:

Ms. codex.
Title supplied by cataloger.
Foliation: Paper, i (contemporary paper) + 124 + ii (contemporary paper) leaves; [xxxvi], 1-11, [v], 12-22, [v], 23-29, [v], 30-39, [vi], 41-56, [iv], 57-64, [iv], 65-71, [v], 72-122, [i], 123-152, [ii], 153-168, [169-176]; contemporary pagination in ink, modern pagination in pencil, upper outer corners.
Layout: Written in 19-20 long lines; ruled in red pencil or crayon.
Script: Written in a cursive script by a single hand, with marginal notes in a second hand.
Decoration: Manicules throughout (for example, p. 115).
Binding: Contemporary parchment.
Origin: Written in Italy in the second half of the 18th century.

Local notes:

Purchased with support from the B. H. Breslauer Foundation.

Penn Provenance:

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. 583, 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.

Cited as:

UPenn Ms. Codex 1672.

Contributor:

Rainsford, Charles, 1728-1809, former owner.
Northumberland, Hugh Percy, Duke of, 1742-1817, former owner.
Charles Rainsford Collection of Alchemical and Occult Manuscripts (University of Pennsylvania)

OCLC:

907935272

Web link:

Unique at Penn blog post