Precedents for the odd VMS zodiac figures??

["Bradley E. SCHAEFER" <schaefer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi;
	I just received this email in response to my Sky & Telescope
article.  The writer mentions two specific books from the late 1400's that
each have one of the weird zodiacal drawings that apparently match the VMS
version.  I am unclear as to whether Profnim@xxxxxxx is the writer's email
address or just part of the forwarding from S&T.  Could someone tell me
whether they have seen these possible precedents??
Cheers,
Brad
schaefer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2000 07:52:52 -0500
From: "by way of Jill D. Considine <jconsidine@xxxxxxxxxx>" <Profnim@xxxxxxx>
To: schaefer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: re: Bradley Schaefer.../Voynich manuscript.....

Hi Bradley, i read your article and thought i'd post a response....you asked 
for info about a precendent zodiac displaying particular qualities...i don't 
think you'll find another exactly like the voynich.....similarities can be 
found in German and French zodiacs....and by the very nature of the voynich, 
i think you should assume that this version is a personalised work by a 
scholar who was well travelled/read and has made his own version according to 
taste...to see similar versions, check out "Martyrologium der Heiligen nach 
dem Kalender"(strasbourg 1484) for a zodiac that has a lobster for 
cancer...and "Cy est le Compost et Kalendrier des Bergers"(Paris 1499) for 
one that has a lizard for scorpio....

all up, i don't think your concern should be with finding an exact 
match...(with so much work having been done on the subject already, it would 
have come to light by now)

you should concentrate on finding the cipher(crib)....

ps: the repetitive writing reminds me of old schemhamphoras...but might just 
be "day descriptions".....also the banding design in the large image on page 
42 reminds me of the "sky band" writing style of the Maya....the small image 
of the sun on the same page is a description of the 4 quarters of light as 
one cycle of time/energy...(see appended illustration)

best wishes from Barney

profnim@xxxxxxxxxx