Gad Freudenthal <gad.freudenthal@yale.edu> asks for help in searching for
the following alchemical manuscript:
The ms was sold on auction by the Anderson Galleries, New York, on
April 5, 1938, in the sale of the Cortlandt F. Bishop Library. In the
catalogue of that sale, Pt. 1, p. 9, no. 42, the ms in question is
described as follows:
.
ALCHEMY. Manuscript. [On first page] Ce liuvre contient vng petit
traicte de Alkimie tourne de langue hebraique en langue francoyse.
Manuscript written on 86 leaves of vellum, measuring 7 5/8 by 4 13/16
inches, in bold roman script; ... the first page illuminated in colors
and liquid gold, displays within a gold border the Arms of Anne de
Montmorency, Constable of France (1492-1567), flanked by two swords of
honor; one illuminated initial and a finial octavo. French circa 1540.
A detailed manuscript note on the front fly-leaf, signed BJP (Baron
Jérôme Pichon, famous French bibliophile, former owner of this volume),
reads (translated): "this volume belonged to Anne de Montmorency,
Constable of France, and was by him presented to Francis I, after
causing it to be bound with, on one side, the arms of the said prince,
and on the other with a mention of the gift. ..."
From the library of Baron Jérôme Pichon, with distinctive bookplate.