Voynich MS - Quire 1

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Voynich MS - Quire 1
Description Quire 1 is a standard quire of four bifolios, containing folios 1 through 8. The quire mark (Pmus) is on f8v. There is one text-only page (f1r) and all other pages have herbal drawings. Schematic folio layout: Browse interlinear transcription of Quire 1
Folio 1
Folio 1, together with folio 8 form a standard-sized bifolio. The folio nr. of folio 1 is barely visible on f1r.
f1r
Description This is the first page in the MS and it appears more worn then most other pages. It is a text-only page with four paragraphs of text, and there is additional writing by later owners. Text Browse interlinear transcription of f1r Four paragraphs of text. Each paragraph ends with one or two right-justified words (sometimes referred to as 'titles'). Paragraphs 2 and 3 have large initials (coloured red) which are not part of the Voynich alphabet. The two symbols are drawn or painted with flaring strokes ending in swallowtail serifs. The right margin is badly stained. The text in the right margin shows three columns of letters. The first column has a through z in a lower case italic hand (< Reeds). The presence of every letter could not be confirmed, but a, b, c, ... o, p, q, r, s, ... y, z are pretty clear. Next to those are very spotty fragments of Voynich letters. Jim Reeds could make out <8> next to a, next to c, <6> next to y, and one of the gallows letters somewhere near the q, r, s range. The third column seems to be 1 off from the first: italic miniscules, r next to s, and so on. Petersen copies some of them in his hand transcription, but more is visible in the UV shots. The folio number is barely visible and there is another red mark vaguely looking like 29 or secundus? below it. Brumbaugh further reports seeing some numbers in the upper right corner of f1r before it was obliterated by the application of chemicals (intended to reveal faded writing). The bottom margin of f1r contains the signature: Jacobj de Tepenece, visible under UV light. Voynich reports seeing illegible characters below this signature. Brumbaugh reports that below the signature is the word "Prag" In reality, it says 'No 19' (number not entirely certain). Colour The three "doodles" are red. Analysis Currier language: A Currier hand: 1 The page layout suggests four quotes with attributions, or signed endorsements. It is assumed that this page was also originally meant to be the MS first page. The four paragraphs could perhaps represent a summary of the contents of the MS. The first red doodle looks like the old-style (Greek) Aries symbol. It is very similar to such a symbol in an illustration of an old greek Ms. The second doodle is vaguely similar to the first one and has also been compared to a Chinese character. The character tables in the right margin are possibly an attempt by one of the later owners to decipher the alphabet. Brumbaugh also mentions the year 1*30 being written above the alphabet, and favours the theory that it is 1630, written by the owner prior to Marci. This is no longer legible, even under UV illumination. The signature of Jacobus de Tepenec is a clear indication that he once owned the book, even though the name may possibly have been written by someone else. The 'No 19' below it is a common feature of all books once owned by Jacobus de Tepenec, or at least the six that have currently been identified (see the biographies page). There is much speculation about why it should have been erased and who would have erased it (or whether it has simply faded). Miscellaneous An illustration of this page appears in Levitov, p.93 (<Reeds)
f1v
Description Herbal page One plant centered on page. Root: a knobby, warped, pancanke-like tuber with short roots attached like claws or fangs all around the rim. Light color. Stem: thick, well drawn. Light color. Branches: one straight up, two oblique with drooping tips. Leaves: broad lance-shape, with two short tails. Stalk: short. Flowers: one, growing at the tip of the center branch. Stalk: very short. Chalyx: conical, continuous with petals. Petals: short rounded, light-colored. Core: hemispherical, dark-colored Text in paragraphs. Text Browse interlinear transcription of f1v Two paragraphs of text left and right of the stem. Colour Green and tan (or yellow cf. Petersen) Analysis Currier language: A Currier hand: 1 Possible plant identification: uva lupi, atropa belladonna, solatrum d[iv\|w]ale, Ref: Fuchs p.398 (according to Petersen). could be a berry according to Stolfi. A part of the same plant (same roots) reappears in the Pharma section, on f102r1 (item 204). Miscellaneous An illustration of this page appears in Reeds (ref), p.3 (<Reeds)
Folio 2
Folio 2, together with folio 7 form a standard-sized bifolio. The folio nr. of folio 2 is on f2r.
f2r
Description Herbal page A page-filling plant drawing. Small roots, a stem with leaves and flowers with dotted bulbs below them. Text in paragraphs carefully avoiding the drawing. Folio nr. (2) in upper right corner. Text Browse interlinear transcription of f2r Two paragraphs of text, one near the top of the page and carefully avoiding the flowers and the other one near the bottom, on either side of the stem. The plant has a label. Colour Green, green with red spots (buds) and light yellow (flower) Analysis Currier language: A Currier hand: 1 Possible plant identification: Cyanus segelis coeruleus (Kornblume), centaurea (cf. Holm)
f2v
Description Herbal page White(?) water flower. Text in paragraphs. Text Browse interlinear transcription of f2v Two very short paragraphs of text. Colour White (flower) and green (rest) Analysis Currier language: A Currier hand: 1 Possible plant identification: Collocasia, Egyptian lotus. Nymphoides Peltata (yellow floating heart) (<Zandbergen). No roots but seems to grow on a tree branch (type of water-flower root.
Folio 3
Folio 3, together with folio 6 form a standard-sized bifolio. The folio nr. of folio 3 is on f3r.
f3r
Description Herbal page Plant has stem with closely stacked leaves. Text in single paragraph. Folio nr. (3) in upper right corner. Text Browse interlinear transcription of f3r One paragraph of text near the top of the page and three near the bottom. Colour Green (leaves) and red Analysis Currier language: A Currier hand: 1 Possible plant identification: crassulatea (Cretan Dittany)
f3v
Description Herbal page Plant with 'telescope' roots, frog-like leaves and pods. Text in paragraphs. Text Browse interlinear transcription of f3v Two paragraphs of text. Colour Green (leaves), blue (pods) and red Analysis Currier language: A Currier hand: 1
Folio 4
Folio 4, together with folio 5 form a standard-sized bifolio. The folio nr. of folio 4 is on f4r.
f4r
Description Herbal page Plant with lots of tiny leaves and small flowers. Text in paragraphs. Folio nr. (4) in upper right corner. Text Browse interlinear transcription of f4r Two paragraphs of text Colour Leaves green (some red) and yellow flowers Analysis Currier language: A Currier hand: 1 Possible plant identification: O'Neill Centaurium Erythaea
f4v
Description Herbal page Plant with tiny leaves and apparently two types of flowers. Bulging stem above nondescript roots. Text Browse interlinear transcription of f4v Colour Brown bulb, green leaves and blue flower Analysis Currier language: A Currier hand: 1 Miscellaneous An illustration of this page appears in Reeds (ref), p.4 (<Reeds)
Folio 5
Folio 5, together with folio 4 form a standard-sized bifolio. The folio nr. of folio 5 is on f5r.
f5r
Description Herbal page Folio nr (5) in upper right corner. Text Browse interlinear transcription of f5r Colour Green, also blue or brown. Analysis Currier language: A Currier hand: 1
f5v
Description Herbal page Plant stem has impossible(?) 'loop'. Text in one paragraph. Text Browse interlinear transcription of f5v One paragraph of text. Colour Red and blue flowers, yellow, green leaves, light brown bulb Analysis Currier language: A Currier hand: 1
Folio 6
Folio 6, together with folio 3 form a standard-sized bifolio. The folio nr. of folio 6 is on f6r.
f6r
Description Herbal page Plant has leaves similar to those on fol. 50r. Text in paragraphs. Folio nr (6) in upper right corner. Text Browse interlinear transcription of f6r X paragraphse of text. Colour Green pods with red openings and yellow 'cushions' on the side. Green leaves and yellow roots. Analysis Currier language: A Currier hand: 1
f6v
Description Herbal page Text Browse interlinear transcription of f6v Colour Green leaves, green seeds with blue thorns. Analysis Currier language: A Currier hand: 1
Folio 7
Folio 7, together with folio 2 form a standard-sized bifolio. The folio nr. of folio 7 is on f7r.
f7r
Description Herbal page Page-filling flower with 8-fold symmetry, short stem and simple bifurcating roots. Text in paragraphs. Folio nr (7) in upper right corner. Text Browse interlinear transcription of f7r Two paragraphs of text. Colour Flower: green, white, red (outside in), red roots. Analysis Currier language: A Currier hand: 1 The roots make me believe this is a large magnification of a very small flower. Possible plant identification: Nymphaea alba (Holm)
f7v
Description Herbal page Text Browse interlinear transcription of f7v Analysis Currier language: A Currier hand: 1 Miscellaneous An illustration of this page appears in Levitov, p.10 (<Reeds)
Folio 8
Folio 8, together with folio 1 form a standard-sized bifolio. The folio nr. of folio 8 is on f8r. The quire number (Pmus) is on f8v.
f8r
Description Herbal page No flower. Leaf looks very much like Ivy. Text in paragraphs. Folio nr (8) in upper right corner. Text Browse interlinear transcription of f8r Three paragraphs of text. All three end with one word (signature) in right margin (as on f1r). Analysis Currier language: A Currier hand: 1
f8v
Description Herbal page Quire mark 'Pm9' in lower right corner. Text in paragraphs. Text Browse interlinear transcription of f8v Two paragraphs of text (longish). Analysis Currier language: A Currier hand: 1