Historisches Archiv der Stadt Köln, W 258A
(De animalibus)
Codicology
Produced: | Germany, After 1261 |
Current Location: | Historisches Archiv der Stadt Köln, Cologne, Germany |
Manuscript Type: | Encyclopedia |
Language: | Latin |
Folios: | 426 |
Author: | Albertus Magnus |
Illustrated: | No |
Scribe: | Albertus Magnus |
Media: | Parchment |
Dimensions: | Height: 21 cm Width: 15 cm |
Description
The De animalibus by Albertus Magnus.
This manuscript is thought to be an autograph copy in Albert's own hand; there is a note from a later date (sixteenth century) on the second flyleaf that states "Libri de animalibus propria manu Alberti Magni ante trecentos annos conscripti" (Books about animals written by Albert the Great's own hand three hundred years ago). Other evidence suggests this is true (see below). While the handwriting is all by one person, the varying colors of the ink suggest it was produced in stages, The text is very difficult to read, with no breaks (other than a paragraph mark) between chapters or even between books.
This is the manuscript designated C by Stadler.
The individual animals are described in Book 22-26:
Alternate shelfmark: W* 8° 258a.
From Scanlan, page 15]
On the recto and verso sides of each page is an average of 38 to 51 lines of script. Though inscribed by one writer, the varied colors of ink employed in different sections indicates that the manuscript was composed over a period of time, perhaps as long as several years. There seems little doubt that this was among the books which Albert bequeathed to the library of the 'studium generale' at Cologne before his death. As late as 1483 an inventory of the books in this Dominican cloister included a volume on the nature's of animals in Albert's own hand ('de manu sua').
The main reasons for the assertion that this is Albert's autograph copy are as follows:
Additional Descriptions
Editions and Facsimiles
Printed editions
Stadler, 1916-20
Scanlan (trans.), 1987
Digital facsimiles