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VMs: Re: VMS Quires



[ New version, with definitions of "page", "panel", etc. and
alternative diagrams for f73/f74. ]

    > At one time there was a page on the net delineating the Voynich
    > quires. I don't remember if this was on Jim Reed's site or Jim
    > Gillogly's, but I am in desperate need of a copy of that page at
    > present. Does anyone have a mirror of this? Thanks.

Rene Zandbergen prepared a chart based on Jim Reeds's notes,
which can be be found in his mirror site:

  http://www.dcc.unicamp.br/~stolfi/voynich/mirror/reeds/docs/quires.txt

Below find my version of Rene's chart, modified and complemented with
information from the list, page images, and other sources. There may
be some differences of substance relative to Rene's chart, especially
with regard to the nesting of the pages that were cut away.

Be sure to use a fixed-width font, and disable any automatic 
line wrapping.

All the best,

--stolfi

======================================================================
Last edited on 2002-07-22 13:11:22 by stolfi

This chart shows how the sheets nest to form the quires of the VMS.

The original chart was prepared on Feb 1996 by Rene Zandbergen,
based on notes by Jim Reeds.  This is a slightly extended and 
modified version by J. Stolfi.

A "bifolio" (non-standard name) is a physical sheet of vellum, counted
before the binding and folding.

A "folio" is leaf of the book, i.e. each part of a bifolio delimited
by the binding fold. Thus a bifolio usually has two folios. Each folio
has two sides, recto (front, "r") and verso (back, "v"), assigned in
normal reading order, ignoring fold-outs.

A "panel" is each part of one side of a folio that is delimited by
folds (binding or otherwise). Thus a folio with two vertical folds,
besides the binding, will have six panels (three on each side). Panels
are numbered r1,r2,r3... and v1,v2,v3..., starting from the ones
nearest to the binding gutter (so v1 and r1 are opposite to each other
across the vellum). The big fold-out (f85+f86) is a bit special; see
the diagram.

A "page" is a logical page of the document, i.e. one or more adjacent
panels that contain an indivisible combination of text and/or figures.
By convention, the number of a page is that of its lowest-numbered
panel. For example, the Pisces diagram is page f70v2, comprising
panels f70v3 (left, half-width) and f70v2 (right).

Legend:
  
          --+  free edge of vellum
               
        --|--  fold that defines a page boundary
               
        --+--  fold that does not define a page boundary
               
            !  gutter fold, bound (letter indicates language)
               
            |  gutter fold, unbound
               
     -- B2 --  handwriting, according to Currier
   
    -- 054 --  folio number (= f54r + f54v)
   
  -- 102.2 --  folio and panel number in fold-outs (= f102r2 + f102v2)
  
         v
      -------  recto/verso labeling, when non-obvious
         r
       
  ·· (109) ··  conjectured lost folio

  --(089.3)--  fold-out panel that is logically part of adjacent page 
  
     [zodiac]  notes, e.g. exceptions to the general contents of quire

----------------------------------------------------------------------
[QUIRE 1=A] [I in the Beinecke catalog]
4 sheets, 8 folios, 16 pages, 16 panels.
Amost all 'herbal'.

        /-------------- A1 --- 001 -----+  [f1r: text]
        ! /------------ A1 --- 002 -----+   
        ! ! /---------- A1 --- 003 -----+   
        ! ! ! /-------- A1 --- 004 -----+   
        ! ! ! !
        A A A A                    
        ! ! ! !
        ! ! ! \-------- A1 --- 005 -----+   
        ! ! \---------- A1 --- 006 -----+   
        ! \------------ A1 --- 006 -----+   
        \-------------- A1 --- 008 -----+   
                                 
[QUIRE 2=B] [II in the Beinecke catalog]
4 sheets, 7 folios, 14 pages, 14 panels (+missing).
All 'herbal'.

        /-------------- A1 --- 009 -----+   
        ! /------------ A1 --- 010 -----+   
        ! ! /---------- A1 --- 011 -----+   
        ! ! ! /--...... ?  .. (012).....
        ! ! ! !
        A A A A                    
        ! ! ! !
        ! ! ! \-------- A1 --- 013 -----+   
        ! ! \---------- A1 --- 014 -----+   
        ! \------------ A1 --- 015 -----+   
        \-------------- A1 --- 016 -----+  
                                 
[QUIRE 3=C] [III in the Beinecke catalog]
4 sheets, 8 folios, 16 pages, 16 panels.
All 'herbal'.

        /-------------- A1 --- 017 -----+   
        ! /------------ A1 --- 018 -----+   
        ! ! /---------- A1 --- 019 -----+   
        ! ! ! /-------- A1 --- 020 -----+   
        ! ! ! !
        A A A A                    
        ! ! ! !
        ! ! ! \-------- A1 --- 021 -----+   
        ! ! \---------- A1 --- 022 -----+   
        ! \------------ A1 --- 023 -----+   
        \-------------- A1 --- 024 -----+  
                                 
[QUIRE 4=D] [IV in the Beinecke catalog]
4 sheets, 8 folios, 16 pages, 16 panels
All 'herbal'.

        /-------------- A1 --- 025 -----+   
        ! /------------ B2 --- 026 -----+   
        ! ! /---------- A1 --- 027 -----+   
        ! ! ! /-------- A1 --- 028 -----+   
        ! ! ! !
        A B A A                    
        ! ! ! !
        ! ! ! \-------- A1 --- 029 -----+   
        ! ! \---------- A1 --- 030 -----+   
        ! \------------ B2 --- 031 -----+   
        \-------------- A1 --- 032 -----+  
                                 
[QUIRE 5=E] [V in the Beinecke catalog]
4 sheets, 8 folios, 16 pages, 16 panels.
All 'herbal'.

        /-------------- B2 --- 033 -----+   
        ! /------------ B2 --- 034 -----+   
        ! ! /---------- A1 --- 035 -----+   
        ! ! ! /-------- A1 --- 036 -----+   
        ! ! ! !
        B B A A                    
        ! ! ! !
        ! ! ! \-------- A1 --- 037 -----+   
        ! ! \---------- A1 --- 038 -----+   
        ! \------------ B2 --- 039 -----+   
        \-------------- B2 --- 040 -----+   
                                 
[QUIRE 6=F] [VI in the Beinecke catalog]
4 sheets, 8 folios, 16 pages, 16 panels.
All 'herbal'.

        /-------------- B2 --- 041 -----+   
        ! /------------ A1 --- 042 -----+   
        ! ! /---------- B2 --- 043 -----+   
        ! ! ! /-------- A1 --- 044 -----+   
        ! ! ! !
        B A B A                    
        ! ! ! !
        ! ! ! \-------- A1 --- 045 -----+   
        ! ! \---------- B2 --- 046 -----+   
        ! \------------ A1 --- 047 -----+   
        \-------------- B2 --- 048 -----+   
                                 
[QUIRE 7=G] [VII in the Beinecke catalog]
4 sheets, 8 folios, 16 pages, 16 panels.
Almost all 'herbal'.

        /-------------- A1 --- 049 -----+  [f49v: text]
        ! /------------ B2 --- 050 -----+   
        ! ! /---------- A1 --- 051 -----+   
        ! ! ! /-------- A1 --- 052 -----+   
        ! ! ! !
        A B A A                    
        ! ! ! !
        ! ! ! \-------- A1 --- 053 -----+   
        ! ! \---------- A1 --- 054 -----+   
        ! \------------ B2 --- 055 -----+   
        \-------------- A1 --- 056 -----+   
                                 
[QUIRE 8=H] [VIII in the Beinecke catalog]                           
2 sheets, 4 folios, 8 pages, 8 panels  (+missing).
Mixed contents.

      /---------------- B2 --- 057 -----+  [f57r 'herbal B', f57v 'cosmo']
      ! /-------------- A? --- 058 -----+  ['stars']
      ! ! /------······ ? ··· (059) ····
      ! ! ! /----······ ? ··· (060) ····
      ! ! ! ! /--······ ? ··· (061) ····
      ! ! ! ! !
      B A ! ! !                    
      ! ! ! ! !
      ! ! ! ! \--······ ? ··· (062) ····  
      ! ! ! \----······ ? ··· (063) ····   
      ! ! \------······ ? ··· (064) ····   
      ! \-------------- ? ---- 065 -----+  [text]
      \---------------- B? --- 066 -----+  ['herbal']

[QUIRE 9=I] [IX in the Beinecke catalog]
1 sheet, 2 folios, 10 pages, 12 panels.
All 'astro/cosmo'.

              /-------- ? ---- 067.1 ---|--- 067.2 ---+
              !
              !
              !
              \-------- ? ---- 068.1 ---|--- 068.2 ---|--- 068.3 ---+-(068.4)-+

[QUIRE 10=J] [X in the Beinecke catalog]
1 sheet, 2 folios, 6 pages, 8 panels.
Mostly 'astro/cosmo', start of 'zodiac'.

              /-------- ? ---- 069 -----+   ['astro']
              !
              !
              !       ['astro']             [f70r3+2: 'astro']
              \-------- ? ---- 070.1 ---|--- 070.2 ---+-(070.3)-+ 
                      [Aries 1]             [f70v3+2: Pisces] 

[QUIRE 11=K] [XI in the Beinecke catalog]
1 sheet, 2 folios, 8 pages, 8 panels.
All 'zodiac'.

                       [Aries 2]
              /-------- ? ---- 071 -----+
              !        [Taurus 1]
              !    
              !        [Taurus 2]          [Gemini]      [Cancer]
              \-------- ? ---- 072.1 ---|--- 072.2 ---|--- 072.3 ---+
                       [Libra]             [Virgo]       [Leo]

[QUIRE 12=L] [XII in the Beinecke catalog]
1 sheet, 1 folio, 2 pages, 2 panels (+missing).
All 'zodiac'.

  [ Details of binding not observed very carefully. The diagram below
  follows the description given in the Beinecke catalog: it assumes
  that f74 is the missing partner of f73, and that the bistub between
  them was added later, to reinforce the binding.

                    [Scorpio]
            /---------- ? ---- 073 -----+
            !       [Sagittarius]
            !
            ! /--······ ? ··· (???) ····
            ! !     
            ! !     
            ! \--······ ? ··· (???) ····    
            !
            !
            \-········· ? ··· (074) ····
  
  Rene proposed an alternative theory: f73 had no partner, and the
  bistub is what is left of two originally conjugate folios, one of
  them being the missing f74.  

                    [Scorpio]
            /---------- ? ---- 073 -----+
            !       [Sagittarius]
            !
            \-········· ? ··· (???) ····
                    
                    
            /----······ ? ··· (???) ····    
            !
            !
            \----······ ? ··· (074) ····
  
  Both alternatives have their problems... ]

                    [Scorpio]
            /---------- ? ---- 073 -----+
            !       [Sagittarius]
            !
            ! /--······ ? ··· (???) ····
            ! !     
            ! !     
            ! \--······ ? ··· (???) ····    
            !
            !
            \-········· ? ··· (074) ····

[QUIRE 13=M] [XIII in the Beinecke catalog]
5 sheets, 10 folios, 20 pages, 20 panels.
All 'biological'.

      /---------------- B2 --- 075 -----+
      ! /-------------- B2 --- 076 -----+   
      ! ! /------------ B2 --- 077 -----+   
      ! ! ! /---------- B2 --- 078 -----+  
      ! ! ! ! /-------- B2 --- 079 -----+   
      ! ! ! ! !
      B B B B B                    
      ! ! ! ! !
      ! ! ! ! \-------- B2 --- 080 -----+   
      ! ! ! \---------- B2 --- 081 -----+   
      ! ! \------------ B2 --- 082 -----+   
      ! \-------------- B2 --- 083 -----+   
      \---------------- B2 --- 084 -----+

[QUIRE 14=N] [XIV in the Beinecke catalog]
1 sheet, 4 folios (for numbering purposes), 7 pages, 12 panels.
Mixed contents, including the 12-panel fold-out.

                   r
       /--------------- B3 --- 085.1 ---+    [f85r1: text]
       !           v
       !           v
       !    /---------- B? --- 085.2 ---+    [f85r2: 'cosmo']
       !    |      r
       B    B 
       !    |      v
       !    \---------- B? --- 086.4 ---|--- 086.6 ---+  [f86v4: 'cosmo', f86v6: text]
       !           r
       !           r
       \--------------- B3 --- 086.3 ---|--- 086.5 ---+  [f86v3, f86v5: text]
                   v
                 
    [ Note the apparently reversed r/v labeling of the inner
    "bifolio", which is actually the top half of the fold-out. The
    nine-rosette diagram is the side containing f85v2, f86r4, f86r6
    (top) and f85v1, f86r3, f86r5 (bottom). ]

[QUIRE 15=O] [XV in the Beinecke catalog]
2 sheets, 4 folios, 12 pages, 14 panels.
Mixed 'herbal' and 'pharma'.

            /---------- A4 --- 087 -----+    [herbal]
            !
            ! /-------- A4 --- 088 -----+    [pharma]
            ! !
            A A
            ! !
            ! \-------- A? --- 089.1 ---|--- 089.2 ---+-(089.3)-+   [pharma]
            !
            \---------- A? --- 090.1 ---|--- 090.2 ---+             [herbal]

[QUIRE 16=P] [part of XVI in the Beinecke catalog]
0 sheets, 0 folios, 0 pages, 0 panels (+missing).
Unknown contents.

  [ The Beinecke catalog entry for the VMS says that folios f91 thru f97 
  are a single quire, with sheets f91+f98, f92+f97, etc. However, this
  claim may be incorrect, because there is a gathering mark "19"
  at the Southeast corner of f102v1, and a partially effaced one
  in f96v. ]

              /--······ ? ··· (091) ····
              !            
              ?            
              !            
              \--······ ? ··· (092) ····

[QUIRE 17=Q] [part of XVI in the Beinecke catalog]
2 sheets, 4 folios, 10 pages, 10 panels.
All 'herbal'.

            /---------- A4 --- 093 -----+
            !
            ! /-------- B5 --- 094 -----+   
            ! !
            A B
            ! !
            ! \-------- B5 --- 095.1 ---|--- 095.2 ---+  
            !
            \---------- A4 --- 096 -----+               

  [ Beinecke also says that there are two stubs between f94 and f95.
    Not checked. ]

[QUIRE 18=R] [part of XVI in the Beinecke catalog]
0 sheets, 0 folios, 0 pages, 0 panels (+missing).
Unknown contents.

              /--······ ? ··· (097) ····
              !    
              ?            
              !    
              \--······ ? ··· (098) ····

[QUIRE 19=S] [XVII in the Beinecke catalog]
2 sheets, 4 folios, 10 pages, 14 panels.
All 'pharma'.

          /---------- A4?--- 099 -----+
          !
          ! /-------- A4?--- 100 -----+   
          ! !
          A A
          ! !
          ! \-------- A4?--- 101.1 ---+---(101.2)---+   
          !
          \---------- A? --- 102.1 ---|--- 102.2 ---+-(102.3)-+

[QUIRE 20=T] [XVIII in the Beinecke catalog]
6 sheets, 12 folios, 24 pages, 24 panels (+missing).
Mostly 'stars'.

  /-------------------- BX --- 103 -----+
  ! /------------------ BX --- 104 -----+  
  ! ! /---------------- BY --- 105 -----+  
  ! ! ! /-------------- BX --- 106 -----+   
  ! ! ! ! /------------ B ---- 107 -----+  
  ! ! ! ! ! /---------- B ---- 108 -----+   
  ! ! ! ! ! ! /--······ ? ··· (109) ····
  ! ! ! ! ! ! !
  B B B B B B ?                    
  ! ! ! ! ! ! !
  ! ! ! ! ! ! \--······ ? ··· (110) ····
  ! ! ! ! ! \---------- B ---- 111 -----+   
  ! ! ! ! \------------ B ---- 112 -----+   
  ! ! ! \-------------- B ---- 113 -----+   
  ! ! \---------------- B ---- 114 -----+   
  ! \------------------ B ---- 115 -----+   
  \-------------------- B ---- 116 -----+    [f116v: 'michiton' text]


======================================================================