[Astronomical miscellany].

Format
Manuscript, Book
Language
Latin
Published/​Created
[France], [between 1275-1325]
Description
236 leaves : parchment, illustrations ; 277 x 199 (180-213 x 115-155) mm bound to 186 x 215 mm.

Details

Subject(s)
Former owner
Donor
Bookseller
Related name
Rare books genre
Getty AAT genre
Contains
Summary note
Collection of astronomical texts.
Notes
  • Ms. composite codex.
  • Title supplied by cataloger.
  • Marginal and interlinear annotations. Contains tables and diagrams.
  • Collation: Parchment ; fol. iii (modern paper) + 236 + iii (modern paper) ; quire marks ; catchwords on last verso of some quires ; modern foliation in pencil.
  • Layout: 30-39 lines per page in one or two columns ; ruled.
  • Description: Headings in red, magenta and light brown ink ; watermarks (later endpapers only: coat-of-arms with two lions topped by a crown, "AB").
  • Decoration: Numerous scientific figures and diagrams, some with brown, red, light green or ochre tints. Beginnings of texts indicated by large blue and red initials (4-6 lines) with penwork infilling and decoration. Sections indicated by blue initials with red penwork and red initials with blue penwork. Alternating blue and red paraph marks. See the entry in Medieval & Renaissance manuscripts in the Princeton University Library, volume 1, page 222 for a detailed description of the illustrations.
  • Origin: Probably of Parisian origins. The main texts date from the 13th to 14th centuries, with extensive marginal annotations dating from the 14th and 15th centuries.
Binding note
Later binding. France, 18th century. Parchment over pasteboard; sewn on five alum-tawed bands; kettle stitch; no endbands. Edges of text block decorated with red and black.
Language note
Latin;
Script
Textualis libraria.
Contents
  • 1. fol. 1r-8r: Canones Azarchelis super tabulas Tholetanas / [Ibrāhīm ibn Yahyá al-Zarqālī]. This is the principal version of the Qānūn translated from Arabic.
  • 2. fol. 8v-94v: Tabulae astronomie vel Tholetane. A 12th century Latin translation of a now-lost Old Andalusian compendium of Arabic astronomical tables.
  • 3. fol. 95r-114v: Nouus quadrans / correctus a Petro dane de Sancto Odomaro. Revision of Profatius Judaeus, Quadrans novus.
  • 4. fol. 115r-116r: Tabula stellarum fixarum.
  • 5. fol. 117r-124r: Algorismus / [Johannes de Sacrobosco].
  • 6. fol. 124r-136v: Tractatus de spera / Iohannis de sacro bosco.
  • 7. fol. 137r-138v: Algorismus de minuciis physicis.
  • 8. fol. 137r-162r: Compotus / Iohannis de sacro bosco. De anni ratione, also known as Computus ecclesiasticus.
  • 9. fol. 162v-168v: Quadrans.
  • 10. fol. 168v-170v: Tabula declinationis solis verificata ad quamlibet diem anni. Calendrical solar tables indicating the declination of the sun.
  • 11. fol. 172v-173v: Tabula principalis Gerlandi continens ciclos solares 19les et litteras tabulares.
  • 12. fol. 174r-179v: [Liturgical calendar]
  • 13. fol. 180r-192r: Prohemium in astrolabium Messehallath. Translated from the Arabic.
  • 14. fol. 192r-198r: Practica astrolabii siue rememoracio parcium astrolabii / [Mashāʼ Allāh ibn Atharī al-Baṣrī]. Translated from the Arabic.
  • 15. fol. 198r-206r: Theorica planetarum et primo de theorica motus solis et circuli eius / [Pseudo-Gerard of Cremona]
  • 16. fol. 206r-209r: Liber tebit benchorat de motu 8spere / [Thābit ibn Qurrah al-Ḥarrānī]. Translated from the Arabic.
  • 17. fol. 209r-212v: Liber Thebith benchoarath de his que indigent exponere antequam legatur almagestum / [Thābit ibn Qurrah al-Ḥarrānī]. Translated from the Arabic.
  • 18. fol. 212v-214v: Liber Thebit de ymaginatione spere et circulorum eius diversorum / [Thābit ibn Qurrah al-Ḥarrānī]. Translated from the Arabic.
  • 19. fol. 214v-216v: Liber Thebit de quantitatibus stellarum et planetarum et primo terre / [Thābit ibn Qurrah al-Ḥarrānī]. Translated from the Arabic.
  • 20. fol. 217r: [Cosmological diagram related to Thābit ibn Qurrah al-Ḥarrānī]
  • 21. fol. 218r-v: [De eclipsibus]. Text concerning eclipses along with tables (1-3) for the conversion of years from anno domini to anno hijri, A.D. 1232-1523 / A.H. 630- 930.
  • 22. fol. 218v-228r: De possibilitate eclipsis Solis et lune.
  • 23. fol. 228v: Tabula ad sciendum in quo signo sit luna omni die anni. Unidentified table relating signs of the Zodiac to the monthly lunar cycle. Below the table is an incomplete copy of the mnemonic calendar verses "Cisio ianus epi sibi vendicat ... bertolo ruf au au ci" (here only for January-August).
  • 24. fol. 229r: [Cosmological diagram concerning the astrolabe].
  • 25. fol. 229v-230r: [Unidentified commentary on the tables of Garlandus].
  • 26. fol. 231r-234v: Compotus manualis.
  • 27. fol. 234v: [Mnemonic calendar verses]
  • 28. fol. 236r: [Easter tables for 1370, 1380-1390, but extended until 1400]
  • 29. fol. 236v: [Miscellaneous astronomical tables and notes]
Provenance
Near the top of fol. 236r is a note (14th century?) pertaining to book lending, presumably by the owner. Robert Garrett purchased the manuscript on 25 April 1925 from bookseller Wilfrid M. Voynich. Garrett deposited the manuscript in the Princeton University Library (deposit no. 9090) in 1940. His gift to the Princeton University Library, 1942.
Source acquisition
Gift of Robert Garrett, 1942.
References
Medieval & Renaissance manuscripts in the Princeton University Library, volume 1, pages 218-223.
Other format(s)
Also available in an electronic version.
Place name(s)
France Paris
Other title(s)
  • Astrologia M.SS.
  • Tabulae Tholetanae.
  • Algorismus minutiarum physiciarum.
  • Quadrans vetus.
  • Canones luce de utraque eclipsi solis et lune.
  • Tractatus de hiis qui indigent expositione antequam legitur Almagestum.
OCLC
1098111865
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