Details

Subjects:

Cabala -- Early works to 1800.
Cabala.
Mathematics -- Early works to 1800.
Mathematics.
Mineralogy -- Early works to 1800.
Mineralogy.
Occultism -- Early works to 1800.
Occultism.

Form/Genre:

Codices.
Drawings (visual works)
Manuscripts, English.
Manuscripts, Hebrew.
Manuscripts, European.

Language:

English, with a few words in Hebrew.

Summary:

Collection of works that includes a section on mathematical problems and riddles (f. 2r), a short work discussing the Hebrew alphabet (f. 8r-11v), and a translation of a letter written by a monk in Brussels to another member of his order, supposedly in England and dated 29 December 1768 which discusses cabala (f. 13r-35r). Also contains a catalogue of specimens of ores and minerals collected by Rainsford that is written upside down and starting from the opposite end of the manuscript (f. 188r).

Notes:

Ms. codex.
Title from title page (f. 1r).
Foliation: Paper, 190 leaves; [1-190]; modern foliation in pencil, upper right recto. Contemporary foliation in ink, [i], 1-24, 24-144, upper left verso when the manuscript is in the opposite orientation. All references in this record are to modern foliation.
Script: Written in a cursive script in the hand of Charles Rainsford.
Decoration: Alchemical symbols used throughout.
Binding: Contemporary suede.
Origin: Written in England between 1764 (f. 1r) and 1809.

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. 608, 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 1694.

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:

919285895

Web link:

Unique at Penn blog post