25-08-2020, 03:43 PM
The more recent (post-1870) history is work in progress, and it has been slowed down by the Covid restrictions.
The most important point is that I am very skeptical that the MS was ever in Villa Mondragone.
It was most probably in prince Alessandro Torlonia's Villa at Castelgandolfo, until shortly before it was agreed that an external book dealer could become involved.
The books that would be available to this dealer (Voynich) were, I think, moved out to a more neutral place.
I have a theory where that could be but the evidence is extremely thin.
Voynich seems never to have visited the Villa Mondragone, and he certainly never visited the place in Castelgandolfo.
The most important point is that I am very skeptical that the MS was ever in Villa Mondragone.
It was most probably in prince Alessandro Torlonia's Villa at Castelgandolfo, until shortly before it was agreed that an external book dealer could become involved.
The books that would be available to this dealer (Voynich) were, I think, moved out to a more neutral place.
I have a theory where that could be but the evidence is extremely thin.
Voynich seems never to have visited the Villa Mondragone, and he certainly never visited the place in Castelgandolfo.