• Ripley Alchemical Scroll, ca. 1590

Curatorial Notes:

• The papyrus scroll (or roll) was the most common physical configuration for ancient books. In the late Roman Empire, the codex became the predominant book format, but parchment rolls continued to play a role in medieval written culture, usually configured to be read from top to bottom. Scrolls were useful for illustrated texts emphasizing continuity and sequential display, such as universal or genealogical chronicles, pedagogical wall charts, and biblical histories. They were also used for illustrated step-by-step manuals, including recipes for cooking, medicinal preparations, and ritual magic. The designer of the Ripley Scroll would have been familiar with illustrated rolls of varying dimensions and descriptions, which were a visible part of written culture in England and Continental Europe.

Format:

• Manuscript
• Book

Type:

• Poetry

Language:

• English

Text language:

• Middle English and Latin;

Publisher:

• [England?], [between 1575 and 1600]

Date:

• 1575-1600

Extent:

• 1 roll (14 membrances) : parchment, illustrations ; 5370 x 525 mm.

Abstract:

• Illustrated alchemical roll incorporating Middle English verses attributed to Sir George Ripley.

View in catalog:

• https://catalog.princeton.edu/catalog/99114732053506421

Subject:

• Alchemy—Pictorial works—Early works to 1800
• Alchemy—Early works to 1800
• Manuscripts, English (Middle)—England
• Manuscripts, English (Middle)—New Jersey—Princeton
• Parchment (Paper)
• illuminated manuscripts
• Poetry

Attributed name:

• Ripley, George, -1490?

Bookseller:

• H.P. Kraus (Firm)
• Laurence Witten (Firm)

Donor:

• Taylor, Robert H., 1908-1985

Contributor:

• Princeton University. Library. Manuscript. Princeton MS. 93.

Description:

• Incipit: "Est Lapis Hoccvltvs Secreto Fonte Sepultvs Variat Lapidem Qvi Fermentvm Conta (!) Colorat. Yow most make water of þe erthe, of erthe þe eyer & eyer of þe firer & fier of þe erthe ..."
• Explicit: "... and make them all but on soo here ys the philosoffor Stone."
• Ms. roll.
• Collation: Parchment ; 1 roll.
• Layout: Roll was cut apart and mounted as five panels, each consisting of a number of membranes.
• Script: Written in Roman square capitals for text in banderoles. A single scribe was responsible for writing most of the verses, headings, and captions in scripts with similarities to Textualis semi-quadrata and Humanistica cancellaresca.
• Decoration: The roll is elaborately illustrated throughout with ink-and-wash drawings in brown, red, and green. The illustration of Princeton MS. 93 is similar to that in most Ripley rolls, probably based on an earlier model. See the entry in Medieval & Renaissance manuscripts in the Princeton University Library, volume 1, pages 310-311 for detailed descriptions of the illustrations.

References:

• Medieval & Renaissance manuscripts in the Princeton University Library, volume 2, pages 309-311.

Provenance:

• Early and intermediate provenance unknown. Purchased in London by H.P. Kraus in 1957. He sold it to the antiquarian dealer Lawrence Witten, who in turn sold it to Robert H. Taylor, Class of 1930. His gift to the Princeton University Library, 1958.

Identifier:

• ark:/88435/vd66w366g

Available online:

• Digital content
• {"http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/vd66w366g"=>"https://figgy.princeton.edu/concern/scanned_resources/903045e4-79ff-4cca-9a5f-6bc47681cb08/manifest"}