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Description
Text only page.
Text in paragraphs. The second and third paragraph are preceded by
red initials which are neither Voynich nor latin characters.
The right margin is badly stained and there appear to be some columns of
letters ("key like sequences") in that band, which are barely visible
in the reproductions.
The bottom margin contains the erased signature of Jacobus de Tepenecz,
also barely visible in the reproductions.
The folio number is barely visible and there is another red mark
vaguely looking like 29 or secundus? below it.
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 first one (EVA &252) looks like a
capital K lying on it side, with the vertical bar at the bottom.
The second one (EVA &253) looks like the first, with an extra
squiggly line rising from between the two "horns". The two symbols
are drawn or painted with flaring strokes ending in swallowtail
serifs.
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 thrid column seems to be 1 off from the first: italic miniscules,
r next to s, and so on. More is visible in UV shots than Petersen shows.
Brumbaugh 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"
(not confirmed by any illustrations of the page).
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 signature of Jacobus de Tepenec does not look very much like his
formal signature as visible on a document kept in Melnik (link to
be added), but that should not mean too much.
There is much speculation about why it should have been erased and
who would have erased it (or whether it has simply faded).
The character tables in the right margin are possibly an attempt by one
of the owners to decipher the alphabet.
Brumbaugh also mentions the year 1*30 being written above the alphabet, and
favors the theory that it is 1630, written by the owner prior to Marci.
Miscellaneous
The Yale copyflo is almost unreadable.
An illustration of this page appears in Levitov,
p.93 (<Reeds)
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