(23-07-2025, 01:31 PM)ReneZ Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.As mentioned earlier in this thread, insect bites (while the calf was still alive) could create weak spots that turned into holes during the parchment preparation process.
It is more than just bites... The You are not allowed to view links.
Register or
Login to view., for example, burrows through the hide on the way in, wanders through the animal's flesh while growing to over 1 cm long and 6 mm wide, and then burrows out through the hide again.
(23-07-2025, 01:05 PM)Aga Tentakulus Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.One thing is the mammary glands (udders). But don't cattle also have nipples?
Yes bulls and rams have nipples. But they are just 2 or 4, located between the hind legs (where cows and sheep have udders). Not likely to damage the vellum.
(22-07-2025, 02:12 PM)dashstofsk Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Has there ever been some discussion about the hole on pages f72v1 and f72r1? It seems that the drawings had to be made to avoid the hole, which can only mean that it was there before the pages were written.
For me, the VMS has quite unusual many of those vellum flaws (I made a count earlier and came to quite a quota).
Even more, most of these holes existed obviously
before using the pages, some were recovered with twill or something. Writers avoided the damaged parts.
I did not find so many damages in other manuscripts; this might be a hint that the VMS "played 3rd league, at best" by material and crafting/writing/painting, and users aka readers.
--> this book was never meant for the tables of kings & queens, the shelves of best-educated scholars or the lab of high scientists.
This may show a direction for it's practical use, text&content, wording and quality.