From the Collection: Voynich, Wilfred Michael, 1865-1930
Published / Created:
1919 1961
Call Number:
Beinecke MS 408A
Container / Volume:
Box B
Image Count:
20
Description:
Correspondence between W. Voynich and Prof. W. R. Newbold concerning
Newbold's supposed decipherment of the manuscript (1919-26).
Correspondence between Anne M. Nills, executrix of the estate of Ethel
Voynich, and the Rev. Theodore C. Peterson, dated 1935-61, concerning the
provenance, dating and decipherment of the manuscript.
From the Collection: Voynich, Wilfred Michael, 1865-1930
Published / Created:
AD 1666 [or 1665?]
Call Number:
Beinecke MS 408A
Container / Volume:
Box A
Image Count:
2
Description:
Autograph letter of Johannes Marcus Marci of Cronland in which he
presents the manuscript to Athanasius Kircher in Rome, in the belief that
Kircher would be able to decipher it. "Reuerende et Eximie Domine in
Christo Pater. Librum hunc ab amico singulari mihi testamento relictum,
mox eundem tibi amicissime Athanisi ubi primum possidere coepi, animo
destinaui: siquidem persuasum habui a nullo nisi abs te legi posse.
Petijt aliquando per litteras ejusdem libri tum possessor judicium tuum
parte aliqua a se descripta et tibi transmissa, ex qua reliqua a te legi
posse persuasum habuit; uerum librum ipsum transmittere tum recusabat in
quo discifrando posuit indefessum laborem, uti manifestum ex conatibus
ejusdem hic una tibi transmissis neque prius huius spei quam uitae suae
finem fecit. Verum labor hic frustraneus fuit, siquidem non nisi suo
Kirchero obediunt eiusmodi sphinges. Accipe ergo modo quod pridem tibi
debebatur hoc qualecunque mei erga te affectus indicium; huiusque seras,
si quae sunt, consueta tibi felicitate perrumpe. retulit mihi D.
Doctor Raphael Ferdinandi tertij Regis tum Boemiae in lingua boemica
instructor dictum librum fuisse Rudolphi Imperatoris, pro quo ipse
latori qui librum attulisset 600 ducatos praesentarit, authorem uero
ipsum putabat esse Rogerium Bacconem Anglum. ego judicium meum hic
suspendo. tu uero quid nobis hic sentiendum defini, cujus fauori
et gratiae me totum commendo maneoque. Reuerentiae Vestrae.
Ad Obsequia Joannes Marcus Marci a Cronland. Pragae 19 Augusti.
AD 1666 [or 1665?].