Mellon MS 40

 ANONYMOUS
 An untitled Kunstbuechlein, in German and Latin
 Germany, possibly the Hartz district, unsigned, 1562

Paper codex in German and Latin, 4to., 197 X 155, ff. 152, numbered 1-154 by
an early hand (omitting ff. 98 and 102), the leaves numbered 13, 17-20, 82,
and 140-145 now missing, the first end flyleaf numbered 155; the original
foliation, which is partly defective through water-staining and wear in the
early leaves, employed in the description following. No signatures,
occasional catchwords at quire-endings. Collation: (1)^^12, (2)^^12-5,
(3-10)^^4, (11-13)^^8, (14)^^8-2, (15-20)^^8, (21)^^8-6, (22)^^8.
Calligraphically written throughout in single columns 136-165 X 123-136
averaging 17-22 lines by a highly skilled hand using a variety of Fraktur,
secretary cursive, and italic scripts in brown inks, three-column table on
last leaf. No color, minimal abbreviation, but progressively frequent use of
alchemical symbols; full-page drawing of a double coat of arms with
inscriptions on first front flyleaf recto described below, and a small
drawing at foot of f. 53v, both probably by the same skilled hand, possibly
the copyist of the codex. At least two papers with unidentified heraldic
watermarks in folds. Somewhat damaged, especially at beginning, by
water-staining and fraying, with some leaves wanting, but the remainder
entirely legible and without substantial losses.

BINDING: Original binding of limp parchment stained olive green, now worn and
with most of the spine, originally with three bands, missing; plain edges.
Preserved in a modern box of boards with linen back, modern leather title
label added.

PROVENANCE: Written for the original owners whose unidentified arms,
described below, are finely drawn on the front flyleaf, recto, with the
initials "I.W.G.W." and "I.W.D.G.," with the date 1562; Denis Duveen, with
his inked number 89, acquired from Dr. Ernst Weil (bookseller), London;
Mellon MS 110, acquired with the Duveen collection. De Ricci-Bond 23 (110).

CONTENTS

Front pastedown: [Blank, except for Duveen's characteristic number and a
pencil scribble, "Manuscript."] First front flyleaf recto: [The entire page
is devoted to an elaborate pen-drawing of a double coat of arms, probably of
a husband and wife of minor German noble families, which may be seen in the
photographic reproduction. Above the left coat are the letters "I.W.G.W." and
above the right, "I.W.D.G.," while the date "1.5.6.2." is written below and
between the letters. Standing in a slight landscape with ruined buildings
below and between the two coats of arms is a female figure seen in left
profile wearing a long dress; in her lowered right hand she holds a banner
which bears an inscription:] Mich beisst der Floch [sic, apparently for
"Floh," i.e., "The flea bites me"; her left hand has raised the skirt of her
dress and is concealed beneath it. The drawing, which is of excellent
quality, is unsigned. On the verso of this leaf and the recto of the second
front flyleaf is a long entry by a later German hand, perhaps reading notes,
as "THEOPHRASTUS LIBRO ARCHI- | doxis Folio J093 ..." is cited. The second
front flyleaf, verso, and f. 1 are entirely blank.]

f. 2r, 1: Wenn du wildt Rauch amlieren Es sej von | kapeln oder Tieren ...
[The text deals first with several procedures involving treatments of glass,
including gilding and silvering glass, then turns to metallurgy, describing
numerous procedures for separating and purifying metals, then the coloring or
tinting of metal surfaces including mention of French and English methods.
The preparation of various metals for different processes is discussed,
followed by further directions for gilding and silvering. On f. 41r Jeoeros
Preuss is mentioned, and a recipe obtained through the generosity of Brother
Augustinus "vom Bressenhause" is spoken of on f. 70v. A recipe by Meister
Hinnrich Petersilbig is written on f. 73v, and a longer procedure begins on
f. 125v, 10:] Die ware Kunst grundtlichen zusamen gezogen, | meinen kinderen
antzuzeigen ... [A "Zement hieoronimi (sic) Doctoris" is cited on f. 149r.
The text ends with a recipe for the coagulation of Mercury on f. 154v,
followed by additional notes in a later hand and, on the first end flyleaf
recto (numbered f. 155) is a table of alchemical symbols possibly by the
original copyist. The second end flyleaf, which is blank, is pasted to the
first, there is no end pastedown, and the inside surface of the lower cover
is blank.]
 [Anonymous, an untitled Kunstbuechlein containing hundreds of recipes for a
great variety of alchemical processes, chiefly metallurgical, dated 1562 on
the front flyleaf which contains an elaborate drawing of the arms of the
original owners.]

SUMMARY: The contents of MS 40 may be compared with other manuscripts of the
Kunstbuechlein or Probierbuechlein type in the Mellon collection, such as MSS
20 (an early, non-German example), 30, 38, 44, and 92. This example, while a
little defective, is distinguished by the very fine armorial drawing at the
beginning and the unusually handsome calligraphy, unquestionably the work of
a professional master. The armorial drawing has been cited by E. T. Parker,
Old Master Drawings, VI, 1931, pp. 55-56, as a work of the unidentified
monogrammist "A. S.," and it has been suggested that the whole manuscript is
a product of the same hand. The amusing drawing accompanying the coat of
arms, a woman apparently scratching herself with the legend "The flea bites
me," lends a special flavor and charm to this codex. R.P.