Beinecke MS 208                                                     Italy, s. XVI^^med
Ptolemy, Harmonicorum libri III(in Greek)

     1. f. 1r    [Table of Contents, for Book I only:] [Greek].

     2. ff. 1v-65v     [Greek].

          I. Duering, ed., [Greek] (Goeteborg, 1930) pp. 2-111.

          Paper (unidentified watermarks are faint and have been obscured by
     ink), ff. i (paper) + 65 + ii (paper), 333 x 231 (210 x 120) mm.
     Written in 30 long lines, lightly ruled in hard point; single bounding
     lines that do not always extend to edges of folio.
          I-VI^^10, VII^^4 (+ 1 added at end, f. 65). Catchwords are
     perpendicular to text in lower margin along inner bounding line.
          Written in a neat Greek minuscule by Camillus Venetus (see below).
          Book and chapter headings and 3-line initials in red. Many
     delicately drawn diagrams illustrating the text: tones, harmonics,
     scales, modes, the zodiac.
          Binding: s. xvi. Original sewing with two strands of thread on
     five single supports adhered to the inside of the boards. Plain wound
     endbands are sewn on vegetable fiber cores which are laced into
     pasteboards. The square spine is lined all along with vellum. The edges
     are lavender. Covered in black goatskin, blind-tooled with a large
     diamond in concentric borders made up of flowers, foliage and heads in
     medallions. Two ribbon fastenings now wanting, as is some spine lining
     and leather.

          Written in Northern Italy in the middle of the 16th century by
     Camillus Venetus, who was also responsible for Beinecke MSS 270 and
     271. According to Karpozilos (p. 68) the scribe was associated with or
     a student of Andreas Darmarius; Knox attributes MSS 270 and 271 to
     Andreas Darmarius himself (Ziskind Catalogue, pp. 44 and 53). However,
     a close inspection of the hand reveals that all 3 manuscripts were
     written by Camillus Venetus (we thank P. Canart for his assistance in
     attributing the Beinecke codices). Unidentified shelf-mark "N. 46" on
     f. 1r. Library of the Santa Iglesia del Pilar, Saragossa, Spain (Graux
     and Martin, p. 212, no. 416; Olivier, pp. 52-57). Gift of the Yale
     Library Associates in 1954.

     Bibliography: Faye and Bond, pp. 40-41, no. 208.
          "Eight Medieval Manuscripts," Gazette 29 (1955) pp. 108, 112.
          T. Mathieson, "Towards a Corpus of Ancient Greek Music Theory: A
     New Catalogue raisonne Planned for RISM," Fontes artis
     musicae 25, no.
     2 (1978) pp. 129-32.

     Barbara A. Shailor