Details

Subjects:

Bible. Ezekiel.
Bible. Matthew.
Cabala -- Early works to 1800.
Cabala.
Occultism -- Early works to 1800.
Occultism.

Form/Genre:

codices (bound manuscripts)
translations (documents)
Manuscripts, English -- 18th century.
Manuscripts, French -- 18th century.
Manuscripts, European.

Language:

English, French, and Italian, with occasional words in Greek and Hebrew.

Summary:

Collection of cabalistic and occult works compiled and translated by Charles Rainsford. Includes a letter to a young lady in French (p. 8); a description of paradise (p. 52); discussions of biblical texts such as the book of Ezekiel (p. 52) and the gospel of Matthew (p. 66); and translations of several Italian cabalistic texts (p. 107).

Notes:

Ms. codex.
Title from title page (p. i).
Pagination: Paper, 182 leaves; [i], 1-94, 100-104, 107-127, [ccxliii]; contemporary pagination in ink, upper outer corners.
Layout: Written in 24 long lines.
Script: Written in a cursive script in the hand of Charles Rainsford.
Binding: Contemporary green dyed parchment. Page 103-104 has been partially cut out and p. 105-106 has been completely torn out.
Origin: Written in England, 1796 (p. 51) to 1797 (p. 72).

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. 599, 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:

Charles Rainsford, Various Tracts from Original M.S.S. (Oversize Ms. Codex 1687). Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania Libraries.

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:

913830434

Web link:

Unique at Penn blog post