Scienza cabalistica... [etc.].

Format:

Book

Manuscript

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)

Language:

Italian

Latin

Subjects (All):

Anagrams--Early works to 1800.

Anagrams.

Cabala--Early works to 1800.

Cabala.

Ciphers--Early works to 1800.

Ciphers.

Numerology--Early works to 1800.

Numerology.

Occultism--Early works to 1800.

Occultism.

Palmistry--Early works to 1800.

Palmistry.

Genre:

codices (bound manuscripts)

diagrams

manuals (instructional materials)

Manuscripts, Italian.

Manuscripts, European.

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. 591, Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, 1809-2014.

Sold at auction at Sotheby's (London), 15 July 2014, as part of Lot 411.

Physical Description:

87 leaves : paper ; 211 x 148 (169 x 105) mm bound to 218 x 162 mm

Place of Publication:

[Italy], [between 1700 and 1799]

Language Note:

Italian and Latin.

Summary:

Collection of cabalistic texts that discuss numerology, ciphers, anagrams, and chiromancy with numerous tables and diagrams throughout.

Contents:

1. f.2r-17v: Scienza cabalistica. 2. f.19r-52v: Kabala triangolare di Abramo Auanez Ebreo. 3. f.54r-63r: Cabala Caldaica perfettissima. 4. f.64r-75v: Cabala angelica divina Salomonis in sepulchro Robohamis invenia. 5. f.77r-86r: Kabala chiromantica.

Notes:

Ms. codex.

Title from title page of first work (f. 2r).

Foliation: Paper, i (contemporary paper) + 87 + i (contemporary paper); [1-87]; modern foliation in pencil, lower right recto.

Layout: Written in 22 long lines.

Script: Written in a semi-cursive script by a single hand.

Decoration: Pen and ink diagrams of hands for use in chiromancy (f. 77r-81v).

Binding: Contemporary parchment. Front and back pastedowns are detached from boards. Paper is stained due to mold and moisture damage, particularly the first and last few leaves.

Origin: Written in Italy in the 18th century.

Local Notes:

Purchased with support from the B. H. Breslauer Foundation.

Cited as:

UPenn Ms. Codex 1680.

OCLC:

908764487

Online:

Unique at Penn blog post