Details

Subjects:

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

Form/Genre:

Codices.
Hybrid books.
Manuscripts, English.
Manuscripts, European.

Summary:

Notes on cabala collected by Charles Rainsford and copied into a commonplace book containing 10 introductory pages of printed material including a title page, introduction, and template for an alphabetical index, partially filled in by Rainsford. Sections include how to predict a plentiful or scarce season by observing the type of insect on an oak apple (p. 24), notes on the Persian magi (p. 22), the origin of the Evil Principle (p. 94), the Symbols of Pythagoras (p. 127), and writings on the book of Enoch and the seventy-two divine names of angels (p. 162).

Notes:

Ms. codex.
Title supplied by cataloger.
Pagination: Paper, i (contemporary paper) + 191 + i (contemporary paper) leaves; [x], 1-4, 4-5, 5, 7-98, 100-184, [185-372]; contemporary pagination in ink, upper outer corners.
Script: Written in a cursive script in the hand of Charles Rainsford.
Binding: Contemporary half leather.
Origin: Written in England circa 1783 (printed title page, p. i).

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. 619, 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 1702.

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:

919001729

Web link:

Unique at Penn blog post