Details

Subject(s)

• Astronomy—Tables—Early works to 1800 [Browse]
• Cosmology, Medieval—Early works to 1800 [Browse]
• Calendar, Germanic—Early works to 1800 [Browse]
• Manuscripts, Latin (Medieval and modern)—Germany [Browse]
• Manuscripts, Latin (Medieval and modern)—New Jersey—Princeton [Browse]
• Manuscripts, German (Middle High)—Germany [Browse]
• Manuscripts, German (Middle High)—Germany—New Jersey—Princeton [Browse]
• Illumination of books and manuscripts [Browse]

Former owner

Kane, Grenville, 1854-1943 [Browse]

Bookseller

Voynich, Wilfred Michael, 1865-1930 [Browse]

Related name

Princeton University. Library. Manuscript. Kane MS. 52. [Browse]

Notes

• Script: The tables and calendar (fols. 1v-9r) are chiefly written in Fere-textualis, with German cursiva for the saint's days; the Volkskalender (fols. 10r-20r) is written in German Cursiva libraria, with Fere-textualis for tables. According to the colophon on fol. 21r, the scribe of the principal text finished copying on 19 February 1435.
• Decoration: The tables and calendar (fols. 1v-9r) use red, light blue, magenta, green, and brown ink. The Volkkalender (fols. 10r-20r) is rubricated, with space left for unexecuted 2-line initials but no guide letters. Tables in the Volkskalender are in red and brown ink only.

Binding note

England, late 19th (?) century. Brown half morocco and pink, blue, and ochre marbled paper over pasteboard.

Language note

In Latin and German.

Contents

• 1.1r: Two unfinished cosmological diagrams illustrating the theory of solar and lunar eclipses.
• 2.1v: Incomplete table identifying solar eclipses from 1406 to 1462 and diagramming their extent (“Eclipsis solis ad annos infrascriptos ... 1460 Julius / 1462 Novembris”).
• 3. 3r-8v: Incomplete calendar (Jan.-Nov.) with Latin and German running titles written in red, blue, magenta, green, and brown ink. The calendar indicates the positions of the sun and moon, length of day, times of the new and full moon, the Golden Number, Dominical Letter, kalends, and other information.
• 4.9r:Table for calculating the positions of the moon from 1404 to 1479. In red and brown ink. Fol. 9v is ruled but the table has been thoroughly erased.
• 5.10r-21r: “[A]ristotiles und andre meistere die von der nature geschrieben hant Ptolomeus und auch andre meister die von dem gestirne geschrieben hant die schribent alle gemeynlich vnd sprechend, daz diese werlt der vier elementen vnd waz darynne ist wirt gerichtet ...” Explicit: “... daz wir die oister begeen sollen vmb darselbe wedel als fur geschriebin ist. Vnd also han dieser kalender eyn eyn (!) ende in dem klugen synne beslaissen sint vnd gemacht wart des Jars do man schreip 1400 Jare vnd darnach in dem 4 Jare zu liebe vnd dinst vnd durch bedte willen etlichir myner gnediger herren vnd gutten frunde vnd myner lieben gesellen willen Amen et finiui dominica ante festum kathedrae sancti sancti(!) petri. Anno domini millesimo Quadringentissimo Tercessi[m]o quinto per manus et cetera.”

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Provenance

Kane MS. 52 is of unknown early provenance, although the chief portion of the manuscript was completed in 1435. Intermediate provenance is unknown. In 1924 the New York and London antiquarian bookseller Wilfrid M. Voynich (1865-1930) sold the manuscript to Grenville Kane (1854-1943), of Tuxedo Park, N.Y. The Kane Collection was acquired by the Princeton University Library from Kane's heirs in February 1946.

References

Medieval & Renaissance manuscripts in the Princeton University Library, volume 2, pages 118-119.

Cite as

Kane MS. 52, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

OCLC

1104183777

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