Details

Subjects:

Angels -- Early works to 1800.
Magic -- Early works to 1800.
Magic.
Occultism -- Early works to 1800.
Occultism.
Angels.

Form/Genre:

Codices (bound manuscripts)
Manuscripts, German -- 18th century.
Manuscripts, European.

Language:

German.

Summary:

Magical handbook with instructions for conjuring angels for the seven days of the week. Sections include information on magical circles, prayers to recite for conjurations, and lists of divine names with their corresponding hours.

Notes:

Ms. codex.
Title from title page (f. 1r).
Foliation: Paper, 50; [1-50]; modern foliation in pencil, upper right recto.
Layout: Written in 15-17 long lines.
Script: Written in a cursive script by a single hand.
Decoration: Several diagrams and tables (f. 6v, 20r, 27r, 28v, ); alchemical symbols in red ink throughout.
Binding: Contemporary marbled paper wrapper.
Origin: Written in Germany 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. 590, Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, 1809-2014.
Sold at auction at Sotheby's (London), 15 July 2014, as part of Lot 411.

Publications about:

Brooke-Hitching, Edward. The Madman's Library: The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities From History. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2020. 146 (ills. fols. 6v, 27r).

Cited as:

UPenn Ms. Codex 1679.

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:

913534786

Web link:

Unique at Penn blog post