Re: VMs: Re: VOYNICH CATALOGUES

[Nick Pelling <incoming@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi everyone,

At 09:56 30/05/2004 -0700, you wrote:
> 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.

I'd be surprised if WMV's cat-and-mouse device was intended to be "proper" 
heraldry: more "soi-amusant" than "soi-disant" (much like the Latin puns of 
the art forger in one Inspector Morse story). Still, I would not be 
surprised if it had been inspired by a picture he had previously seen in an 
old book... perhaps this is what Jean-Yves has found!

> 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)

My guess is that any heraldry-like motif cited in Ovason is more likely to 
be 16th Century than 10th Century... but we shall see! :-)

Cheers, .....Nick Pelling..... 


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