‘Συναγωγή’ iii-vi, viii, by Pappus of Alexandria.
Scope and Contents
The manuscript was probably written in Italy in the mid-16th century. One scribe wrote from the beginning to folio 94 verso, line 26; another from there to the end. The latter writes a more upright hand, with fewer ligatures, than the former.
According to A P Treweek in `The Manuscript Tradition of the Collectio Mathematica’, 195, and what follows, the first scribe, possibly Camillus Venetus, also wrote Naples, Bibl. Naz.IIIc14 and Chicago, Newberry Libr.MS. 110, and copied this manuscript from Rome, Angel.gr.111 as corrected by the second hand; the second scribe also wrote Angel.gr.111, and copied this manuscript from Paris gr.2440 as corrected by the second hand and revised it from Angel.gr.111 as corrected by the second hand.
The geometrical figures are inset in the text and drawn with ruler and compasses in the same ink as the text. Headings, initials, and letters in the figures are in red. There are marginal notes and corrections in various hands.
Dates
- Creation: Mid 16th century.
Extent
0.00 Linear metres (165 folios (including 5 endpapers and 9 binder`s blanks).)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Collation: 1-11⁸, 12-14¹⁰, 15¹⁰ (-15⁸), 16-17¹⁰, 18⁴. (Signatures in arabic numerals in the left-hand upper margin of the first recto are comparatively modern and sometimes erroneous.) Catchwords at right angles to the text, in gatherings 1-10 below the right-hand corner of the text, in 11-17 in the right-hand lower margin. No ruling. 1 column. 30 lines. Text area: 220 x 125 millimetres in gatherings 1-11, 220 x 140 millimetres in gatherings 12-18.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Paper (watermarks in text: cf. Briquet 10545-10546 and 481-493, Italy, 16th century; in binder`s blanks cf. Briquet 5965, Rome, 1578-1580). Scottish binding of brown diced russia, tooled blind and in gilt, 1790-1810 (rebacked, 1950, by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh).
Custodial History
The manuscript belonged to Ismael Boulliau (Bullialdus), the astronomer (1605-1694). It was presented by the Duc (?) de St Port to Jean Jacques Dortous de Mairan in 1746 (folio 8) and bought from the latter by James Moor, Professor of Greek at Glasgow, in 1748 (mathematical notes in Moor`s hand, dated 1758, are on a sheet pasted to folio 3). It later belonged to Robert Simson, Professor of Mathematics at Glasgow. An 18th-century pressmark, 35.G, is on folio 8. It is number 9547 in Archibald Constable and Company`s catalogue for 1808 (there is a signature and cutting from the catalogue on folio 7). On folio 2 there is a note by William Traill, dated Edinburgh, 1811, on the provenance and text. Former pressmark: Otho 3.15. The manuscript was bought by the Advocates’ Library in 1808.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Presented, 1925, by the Faculty of Advocates to the nation on the foundation of the National Library of Scotland.
Existence and Location of Copies
Microfilm available: Mf.Sec.MSS.383.
Bibliography
Treweek, A P. `The Manuscript Tradition of the Collectio Mathematica’, in ‘Scriptorium’ xi, 1957.
This manuscript was used for the Latin translation by Federigo Commandino (Pesaro, 1588).
Genre / Form
- Title
- National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
- Author
- National Library of Scotland
- Date
- 27 01 2015
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Prepared Using Local Descriptive Rules
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk