• [Alchemical roll] / [George Ripley].

Extent:
  • 1 roll (14 membrances) : parchment, illustrations ; 5370 x 525 mm.
Date:
  • 1575-1600
Language:
Abstract:
  • Illustrated alchemical roll incorporating Middle English verses attributed to Sir George Ripley.
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.
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.
Source acquisition:
  • Gift; Robert H. Taylor, Princeton Class of 1930, 1958.
Former owner:
  • Taylor, Robert H., 1908-1985
Contributor:
  • Princeton University. Library. Manuscript. Princeton MS. 93.
References:
  • Medieval & Renaissance manuscripts in the Princeton University Library, volume 2, pages 309-311.
Alternative:
  • Ripley scroll
View in catalog:
Attributed name:
  • Ripley, George, -1490?
Available online: