VMs: Re: VOYNICH CATALOGUES

["DANA SCOTT" <dscott520@xxxxxxx>]

Hello Jean-Yves,

There are a number of concerns which should probably need to be considered, 
before going too far down this path of investigation.  First of all, I do 
not recall having seen any reference or document of proof that would verify 
that Wilfrid Voynich's family had legal rights to heraldry.  I do recall 
mention that there was a claim to heraldry, but this I believe is still 
somewhat suspect (I may be proved wrong in this assessment).  Next, it has 
been mentioned that Voynich's father was a Petty Officer, though I consider 
this is a rather weak point relating to his entitlement to heraldry.  Then 
there is the problem of his arrival in London, following his imprisonment in 
Siberia, by which point he would have no doubt have been stripped of all 
legal documents relating to heraldry (though he might have been able to 
obtain a copy post facto).  Another case in point is that Voynich upon his 
arrival in London, while apparently highly intelligent and rather flamboyant
among personal relations, preferred to maintain a very low profile, with
good reason, since it appears that were shadowy figures who kept a close eye 
on him.  Now we get to the supposed depiction of 'heraldry' seen in his 
catalogues.  Catalogue 27 is the first confirmed appearance that I am aware 
of the 'heraldry' containing "cat and mouse". It is not seen in catalogue 
24.  Voynich himself was apparently a rather shadowy agent (not verified) in 
the cloak and dagger (cat and mouse) game. So who are the cat and mouse? 
Russian Tzar versus revolutionaries in Europe.  Wouldn't it be interesting 
if Voynich's antiquarian bookstores also served as clandestine fronts for 
certain nefarious activities?  It may be that Voynich wanted to include a 
hint of 'heraldry' in his catalogues to enhance his position and status 
among those in high places (both political and financial), though this is 
pure conjecture on my part.  One last point to consider is that Voynich was 
familiar with Alchabitius, with listed references in catalogue 2 (1003) and 
3 (1563). A footnote in the 1003 entry states "Alchabitius, a corruption of 
'Abd Al' Aziz Jbn'Uthmian [Al Kabisi.]" (p.258)


Regards,
Dana Scott


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "jean-yves artero" <jyartero@xxxxxxxx>
To: <vms-list@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, May 30, 2004 5:21 AM
Subject: VMs: VOYNICH CATALOGUES


> Attn Rafal T. Prinke and Dana Scott especially
>
> Hello dear all,
>
> I am at the moment interested in the fact that there could be a link
> between Voynich and Alchabitius and/or Nostradamus.
>
> My point is that when you consider V. s heraldry as it appears say in the
> front cover of his catalogs it ( cat and mouse ) very much looks like a
> woodcut which is to be found in David Ovason s book which is entitled The
> Nostradamus code.
>
> My edition is the one of Arrow Books Ltd 1998. On page 610 in the Pictures
> section you have a fig.20 which very much looks like V. s heraldry with
> following comment:
>
> "Woodcut from the title page of the 'Alchabitius' text, a version of which
> was discovered about 1985 by Guy Parguez beraing the names, in manuscript,
> of both Nostradamus and his son César. The French scholar, Michael
> Chomarat, has offered a brief but useful study of the Nostradamus copy,
> and of Alchabitian literature, in the July 1986 edition of Cahiers Michel
> Nostradamus, p.51 and 54ff."
>
> I have to add that Ovason is very much advocating for N. s use of the
> 'Green Language' and that but this is not important Chomarat s first name
> is of course in French Michel.
>
> My question is following: could there be a link between V.s catalogs and
> this woodcut?
>
> Cheers,
>
> J.A.
>
>
>
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