Details

Subjects:

Druzes.
Occultism -- Early works to 1800.
Sabaeans.
Occultism.

Form/Genre:

Codices.
Manuscripts, English.
Manuscripts, European.

Summary:

Essay that focuses on the history and religion of the Sabaeans and the Druzes, with discussion of many other world religions and cultures such as those in India, Scandinavia, and Egypt.

Notes:

Ms. codex.
Title from caption title (p. iii).
Pagination: Paper, 188 leaves; [v], 1-336, [xxxv]; contemporary pagination in ink, upper outer corners.
Layout: Written in 16 long lines.
Script: Written in a cursive script in the hand of Charles Rainsford.
Binding: Contemporary parchment. Front pastedown has come loose from board.
Origin: Written in England in 1796 (p. iii).

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. 615, 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 1697.

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:

918941813

Web link:

Unique at Penn blog post