Physical description

Form:

Codex; quarto

Paper; 17th century.

Collation from Hugh de Quehen (see bibliography - I am replacing his numbers with roman numerals): [pi]1 i8(-i5) ii-viii16 ix16(ix8+[theta]1.2) x16(-x16).

Lucy Hutchinson (arguments, plus corrections and additions to the main text, and book 6): Formal italic.

Lucretius scribe (translation of Lucretius books 1-5): Formal italic. Seems to have worked under the supervision of Lucy Hutchinson.

The binding is black leather on board. There is decorative gold tooling on the board edges. Double gilt panelled ruling with gilt tooled corner pieces on upper and lower boards. Spine in 6 sections with decorative gilt tooling on 4 panels and gold lettering in 2 red panels. LVCRETIVS. MUS. BRIT. JURE EMPT. 19,333. Paper edged in gold.

[i-iii] + 1-99, [100], 100-147 + [iv-v]

Provenance

Owned by Arthur Annesley, Earl of Anglesey, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal and his descendants. Hugh de Quehen says: "At the Arley Castle sale of 1853 the British Museum bought Hutchinson's manuscript from the widow of Anglesey's last patrilineal descendant." See item 1, the note of purchase, and the bibliography.