No text, but a visual code

[Antonio García Jiménez]

What I don't understand is how the Yale Univesity, owner of the VM, does not do everything possible so that this book can be investigated by the greatest specialists. It is not about investigating the script, something that may never be known, but the illustrations, which are images that have a meaning consistent with their time.

In the world there must be at least a dozen experts in medieval iconology and iconography, a dozen Panofskys. Why doesn't Yale University ask them for their opinion?

This university would thus make its motto credible: Lux et Veritas

[Koen G]

I don't know what Yale's reasons are. In general though, it is not necessarily the task of a library to fund and organize investigation into its holdings. By having digitizer the MS, allowed for the Siloe facsimiles and so on, they did enormously boost its exposure. Now anyone interested can see it.

One possible reason, though again I cannot speak for the Beinecke, is that the world's most mysterious manuscript will lose its appeal once it is solved. I guarantee that the public interest in the MS will fade away once it is known what it's about. The truth will be much less exciting than everything people can project upon it right now.

[-JKP-]

What I don't understand is how the Yale Univesity, owner of the VM, does not do everything possible so that this book can be investigated by the greatest specialists...
...

By being on the Web, it is available to the greatest specialists, but solving the VMS is not necessarily a specialist activity.

[Aga Tentakulus]

Why would Yale do that ?
A number of specialists have already tried to do so. Many have burnt their fingers in the process. Most will not even consider it, it could cost their reputation.
There is one view on which the specialists agree, to the extent that they disagree.
The whole thing would also make nonsense official.

[Antonio García Jiménez]

I do believe that Yale University could do more for a book that potentially has so much interest for the history of Western civilization. 

The research in the VM has so far focused too much on the script and less on the iconography, and I think that in this regard there could be a much greater degree of consensus.

And I believe that the truth can be equal or more exciting that the mystery

[ReneZ]

The Beinecke library has one of the largest (if not THE largest) collection of medieval manuscripts in the USA. I am sure that it is the largest in some important category. (Unfortunately, I couldn't quickly find the web page with the information).

The Voynich MS is already getting far more attention than it really deserves, by an incredible margin. I am not sure how many other manuscripts in the collection have been radio-carbon dated, had their parchment tested for species, or have had their inks and pigments tested. Let alone all these things combined.

[bi3mw]

I also think that the Beinecke library cannot be blamed for not contributing enough to the solution of the puzzle. The basic attitude to consider currently only non-invasive examination methods can be criticized, but in the end it must be accepted.

Should the VMS be solved one day, then it is quite possible that it will lose some of its attractiveness for some. However, I do not think that the Beinecke library would therefore refrain from any feasible measures. This also includes the permission of the inspection of the VMS by "specialists" ( with the necessary restrictions ).

[ReneZ]

The Beinecke library has one of the largest (if not THE largest) collection of medieval manuscripts in the USA. I am sure that it is the largest in some important category. (Unfortunately, I couldn't quickly find the web page with the information).

Fortunately, I found it again.

The category was: pre-1600 codices.
The information can be seen here:

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[Koen G]

I am guessing "in the USA" is an important distinction there

[ReneZ]

In the USA and Canada....
One obviously has to keep in mind that every single item had to be imported. Compare that with the luxury in Europe where every single medium-sized city will have its own treasures...

(Note that the Beinecke also holds the very first MS every imported into the US).