Penn in Hand: Selected Manuscripts

Ptolemy, 2nd cent.

[Almagest] [manuscript].

[Spain], A.H. 783 (1381)

175 leaves : paper ; 280 x 215 (220 x 145) mm. bound to 280 x 225 mm.

An extensive treatise on Aristotelian astronomy, considering the motion of the stars and planets in a spherical, geocentric universe.

Ms. codex.

Title supplied by cataloger.

Foliation: Paper, 175; [1-37, 50-101, 124-145, 145-152, 101-124, 154-185]; modern foliation in pencil, correcting previous foliation in pencil, lower center recto.

Layout: Written in 36 long lines.

Script: Written in a maghrebi/andalusi script by Aḥmad ibn Aḥmad ibn Salāmah al-[?] Senhadja al-[?], an astronomer (colophon, f. 185r).

Decoration: Diagrams, tables, titles, headings, and selected words in red throughout.

Watermark: Similar to Piccard, Axe, no. 788 (Florence, 1379).

Binding: Morocco, blind-stamped with a medallion and blind- and gilt-tooled, with a flap.

Origin: Written in Spain in 1381 (f. 154r, 157v, 185r) for Qursunna al-Isrāʼīlī, astronomer to Pedro IV of Aragon (colophon, f. 185r).

Many edges and corners of leaves mended with paper.

UPenn LJS 268.

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts University of Pennsylvania LJS 268