Details

Subjects:

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

Form/Genre:

codices (bound manuscripts)
compilation manuscripts.
drawings (visual works)
treatises.
Manuscripts, Latin -- 18th century.
Manuscripts, European.

Language:

Latin and German, with occasional words in Greek and English.

Summary:

Collection of alchemical treatises by various authors. Includes a list of contents (p. i). Sections discuss subjects such as the properties of light, phosphorus, and mystical numbers, with references to noted alchemists such as Robert Fludd, Ramon Llull, Basil Valentine, and many others.

Notes:

Ms. codex.
Title supplied by cataloger.
Pagination: Paper, 150 leaves; [iv]; 1-296; contemporary pagination in ink, upper outer corners. Front and back pastedowns are detached from boards.
Script: Written in cursive and semi-cursive scripts by at least two hands.
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. 586, 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 1675.

Contributor:

Fludd, Robert, 1574-1637.
Llull, Ramon, 1232?-1316.
Valentine, Basil.
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:

910729861

Web link:

Unique at Penn blog post