Unattributed copy of Benedetto Cotrugli's treatise on ships and shipbuilding, composed in 1464-1465, including information on cartography, construction and use of the compass, types of ships, and meteorology and astronomy for use in navigation. Includes references to classical and medieval authors, which at the beginning of the manuscript are noted in the margins with red ink (f. 1v-4r). Dedicated to the doge (Cristoforo Moro, who served 1462-1471) and senate of Venice.
Support: parchment and paper; Extent: 84 leaves : 213 x 138 (152 x 70) mm bound to 222 x 152 mm; Foliation: Parchment and paper, ii (19th-century paper) + 84 + ii (19th-century paper); 1-4¹⁰ 5⁹(-1) 6⁹(-1) 7-8¹⁰ 9⁶; [1-84]; modern foliation in pencil, upper right recto.
Written in 30 long lines; vertical bounding lines ruled in blind visible on some leaves.
Written in italic script.
3 colored diagrams (world map surrounded by concentric circles and zodiac signs, f. 8r; world divided into temperature zones surrounded by concentric circles, f. 12r; benches for rowers, f. 30v); 1 ink diagram (compass points, f. 49v); 3 astronomical tables in black and red (f. 66r, 66v, 68v); 1 three-quarter white vine-stem border with a 10-line illuminated initial in gold on gold with blue vines (f. 1r); 3 illuminated initials, 4 to 6 lines in height, in gold with white vine-stem ornamentation and extensions (f. 28r, 47r, 72v); 2-line initials in red or blue at the beginning of chapters; some marginal notes (f. 1v-4r) and headings throughout in red.
For a full list of Decorations in this manuscript please see the Content and Decorations section by clicking on the [i] button in the top left corner of the image viewer above.
Ms. codex.
Title supplied by cataloger.
1. f.1r-3r: [Preface]
2. f.3v-27r: Descriptio totius orbis.
3. f.28r-47r: [Types of ships and roles of officers]
4. f.47r-72v: [Meteorology and astronomy]
5. f.72v-80v: [Maps and cartography]
Venice?, Italy
Written in northeastern Italy, probably Venice, in 1464 (f. 19v) and 1465 (f. 66v).
19th-century English blind-tooled morocco, with marbled endleaves.
Italian, with a preface in Latin
Formerly owned by Frederick North, fifth Earl of Guilford (armorial bookplate inside upper cover); sold as part of his collection at auction at Evans, 13 Dec. 1830, lot 563 (note on second flyleaf).
Formerly owned by English astronomer, mathematician, antiquarian, barrister, and numismatist John Lee (armorial bookplate inside upper cover); sold as part of his collection at auction at Sotheby's, 8 Nov. 1888, lot 266.
Offered for sale at auction at Sotheby's, 10 July 1968, lot 283.
Sold at auction at Sotheby's, 7 December 2004, lot 40, to Lawrence J. Schoenberg.
Deposit by Lawrence J. Schoenberg and Barbara Brizdle, 2011.
Gift of Barbara Brizdle Schoenberg, 2019.
Venice?, Italy
Written in northeastern Italy, probably Venice, in 1464 (f. 19v) and 1465 (f. 66v).
Italian, with a preface in Latin
Formerly owned by Frederick North, fifth Earl of Guilford
Formerly owned by English astronomer, mathematician, antiquarian, barrister, and numismatist John Lee
Offered for sale at auction at Sotheby's, 10 July 1968, lot 283.
Sold at auction at Sotheby's, 7 December 2004, lot 40, to Lawrence J. Schoenberg.
Deposit by Lawrence J. Schoenberg and Barbara Brizdle, 2011.
Gift of Barbara Brizdle Schoenberg, 2019.
Unattributed copy of Benedetto Cotrugli's treatise on ships and shipbuilding, composed in 1464-1465, including information on cartography, construction and use of the compass, types of ships, and meteorology and astronomy for use in navigation. Includes references to classical and medieval authors, which at the beginning of the manuscript are noted in the margins with red ink (f. 1v-4r). Dedicated to the doge (Cristoforo Moro, who served 1462-1471) and senate of Venice.
Ms. codex.
Title supplied by cataloger.
1. f.1r-3r: [Preface]
2. f.3v-27r: Descriptio totius orbis.
3. f.28r-47r: [Types of ships and roles of officers]
4. f.47r-72v: [Meteorology and astronomy]
5. f.72v-80v: [Maps and cartography]
Written in italic script.
3 colored diagrams (world map surrounded by concentric circles and zodiac signs, f. 8r; world divided into temperature zones surrounded by concentric circles, f. 12r; benches for rowers, f. 30v); 1 ink diagram (compass points, f. 49v); 3 astronomical tables in black and red (f. 66r, 66v, 68v); 1 three-quarter white vine-stem border with a 10-line illuminated initial in gold on gold with blue vines (f. 1r); 3 illuminated initials, 4 to 6 lines in height, in gold with white vine-stem ornamentation and extensions (f. 28r, 47r, 72v); 2-line initials in red or blue at the beginning of chapters; some marginal notes (f. 1v-4r) and headings throughout in red.
For a full list of Decorations in this manuscript please see the Content and Decorations section by clicking on the [i] button in the top left corner of the image viewer above.
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