Alchemical Hands in the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili

Marginalia, Scholarship & Reception

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Buffalo RBR HIGH

Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Buffalo, NY (United States)

Edition: 1499 | Studied by: Russell 2014 | Dissertation references: 59 | Images in project: No

Description

The most densely annotated copy in Russell's study. Five interleaved hands (A-E). Hands A-B possibly Jesuit, St. Omer. Hand E is an alchemist following pseudo-Geber's sulphur and Sol/Luna framework.

Annotator Hands

HandAttributionDescription
AAnonymous (possibly Jesuit, St. Omer)First French hand in black ink. Wrote summary of HP narrative on page following dedicatory letter. If the book was at St. Omer before 1739 (as Jesuit ex libris suggests), this may be a Jesuit annotato
BAnonymous (possibly Jesuit, St. Omer)Second French hand in light brown ink. Primary interest in etymologies of Greek terms. Only annotator in the study to identify Hebrew roots. Also traces Plinian sources (Naturalis historia) for wines,
CAnonymousLatin hand in brown ink. Primarily interested in signposting the narrative, summarising major passages.
DAnonymousItalian hand responding to Hand A. In one instance crosses off A's comments and offers abbreviated summary. Primary interest in architecture. Switches to Latin when labelling architectural features.
EAnonymous (alchemist) [pseudo-Geber (Jabir ibn Hayyan)]Final distinguishable hand. Applies alchemical reading. Overwrites Hand D (latest hand). Follower of pseudo-Geber school emphasizing sulphur and Sol/Luna pairings. Unlike BL alchemist, uses minimal id