VMs: When In Italy

["DANA SCOTT" <dscott520@xxxxxxx>]

The following quotes from the prelude of the "Rare People & Rare Books" by 
E. Millicent Sowerby (The Bookpress, Williamsburg, 1987) provide us with the 
means to estimate when Voynich discovered the VMS manuscript.
Millicent explains how she came to be employed by Wilfrid Voynich in London.

"Towards the end of my post-graduate year, in the spring of 1912, the 
wonderful series of coincidences began.", p.xxi

"...Miss Fegan did not forget me, but a few months later wrote to tell me 
that Wilfrid Voynich...was looking for a cataloguer of incunabula, an 
suggested that I should writ to him.", p.xxii

"Mr. Voynich's secretary, Miss L.B. Johnson...wrote to tell me that Mr. 
Voynich was in Europe at the time...", p.xxii

"It was on this visit to Europe that Mr. Voynich had bought a most marvelous 
collection of rare books and manuscripts, of which the Roger Bacon cypher is 
probably now the most famous...", p.xxii

So now we can surmise that Voynich was in Italy probably in the late spring 
or early summer. Obtaining copies the letters written by Miss Fegan and Miss 
L.B. Johnson (if possible) should help narrow the dates down a bit; however, 
it wasn't until December, 1912, that Voynich interviewed and hired 
Millicent. (ref. p.xxii and p.6)

Regards,
Dana Scott
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