Manuscript on paper of an unidentified alchemical text illustrated with eighteen inserted drawings with captions relating them to the text.
Description:
Attribution of the text to Nicolas Barnaud appears uncertain., Binding: Original French calf binding, the otherwise plain covers with double perimeter border of gold-tooled lines, back divided into six compartments by five raised bands, the compartments outlined by a double gold rule and with a fleuron in the center, except for title "SOLI DONIV PHVS" impressed in gold in second compartment from top, red-speckled edges, head and foot of spine repaired., Script: Written in a good French cursive hand sloping to the right., and Watermarks: Text paper quite browned, with watermark of rays (?) within a double circle, with inscription, not identified; paper of leaves with drawings thicker and whiter, no watermark observed.
Manuscript on paper of an alchemical text with illustrations of procedures pictured symbolically as taking place in flasks.
Description:
Binding: Modern English (?) binding of stiff parchment, the upper cover with a painting in colors closely copying the watercolor drawing which occurs as fig. XXIV on f. 27r of the manuscript. Plain edges., In Latin and French., Mellon MS 124, acquired with the Duveen collection. Gift of Paul and Mary Mellon, 1965., Script: Written in a practiced cursive sloping to the right, sometimes carelessly but with care taken in the captions, the writing sometimes very small., and Watermarks: Paper watermarked with a crowned cartouche, a conventional design on the shield, the name "D & C Blauw" below; compare the much larger (later?) examples cited by Heawood, 3267-3268.
