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A collection of alchemical texts attributed to Lull, with some additional matter

Title
A collection of alchemical texts attributed to Lull, with some additional matter.
Created
England, [ca. 1450; between 1500 and 1510]
Physical Description
ff. 316 : paper ; 281 x 205 (205-210 x 130) mm.
Language
Latin
Notes
Watermarks: Original paper: 1) an extremely primitive-looking unicorn with very short horn and long tail somewhat like Briquet 9962 and 10176; 2) a less primitive unicorn rather similar to Briquet 9985; 3) bullshead with defined eyes and nostrils and with cross above, rather like Briquet 15054. Inserted leaves: a very elegant unicorn mark, more developed than Briquet 10104; and some leaves with a gothic "P" with cinquefoil above, rather like Briquet 8809.
Script: The original portion written by a single English gothic cursive hand with heavy standard abbreviation. The inserted leaves (first 4 ff. now extant, ff. 88-96, 163-169, 268-274, and 307-319 [of which f. 167 is a blank and f. 315 is a parchment leaf]) written in another gothic cursive habitually employing writing of different sizes.
Original text: Headings in red, rubricated. Some pages with diagrams or drawings. The illustrations include Lullian alphabets and tables in the form of wheels, an Arbor philosophorum, a group of flasks, and a good, large drawing of a furnace. Inserted leaves: Red headings, and capitals with slight decoration.
Binding: Eighteenth century, English. Dark calf, sides paneled in blind with a roll tool of vine pattern, leafy sprays at the corners, back with six plain compartments and five raised bands, probably original parchment label on second compartment from top bordered with ink rule and lettered in ink: "RAYM. LULLII | OPERA | MANUSCRIPTA". The binding considerably repaired and some leather renewed. Original plain edges, the top blackened.
In Latin.
Provenance
Denis Duveen, who acquired it from Maggs Bros., Ltd. (booksellers), London, 1938; Mellon MS 83, acquired with the Duveen collection. Gift of Paul and Mary Mellon, 1965.
Access and use
Material is open for research.
Summary
Manuscript on paper of a collection of pseudo-Lullian alchemical writings, translated from the French and Catalan originals, with a little additional matter. The codex underwent a transformation in the early 16th century when considerable new matter was added by another English hand on different, thinner paper; leaves have been inserted throughout the original codex.
Format
Archives or Manuscripts
Added to Catalog
July 28, 2011
References
Alchemy and the occult Mellon MS 12.
Ramon Lull, A Collection of Alchemical Texts Attributed to Lull, With Some Additional Matter. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.
Cite as
Ramon Lull, A Collection of Alchemical Texts Attributed to Lull, With Some Additional Matter. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.
Genre/Form
Manuscripts, Medieval - England - 15th century.
Citation

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