What was the reasoning of these experts to say that MS Beinecke 408 was "clearly modelled after medieval herbal MSs"? Why not an example of an earlier tradition of which all other examples are lost? The "lost tradition" part is really not so extraordinary, taking into account the massive amount of works that have been lost and the extreme coincidence by which one or two copies of others have survived. Many works are only known to us because of one surviving copy, and we know, for example by mention in other texts, that many others are completely lost.
It's plants with text. To say that it is clearly modelled after the medieval tradition is like saying that tigers are modelled after lions. Who can tell, without years of study and the proper methods, which came first and what is the relationship between both?
IImagine a world where only lions are known, no tigers. Torasella and Touwaide are lion experts. They know lions inside and outside and can pick out the smell of lion droppings miles away.
One day, explorer W. Voynich discovers a tiger. He tried to sell it to the highest bidder, passing it off as a beast of legend. Even though it is clear that the animal looks different than a lion, there are certainly similarities and the opinion of lion experts T&T is sought. They proclaim: "the tiger is clearly a descendant of the lion".
Only in Voynich studies.
It's plants with text. To say that it is clearly modelled after the medieval tradition is like saying that tigers are modelled after lions. Who can tell, without years of study and the proper methods, which came first and what is the relationship between both?
IImagine a world where only lions are known, no tigers. Torasella and Touwaide are lion experts. They know lions inside and outside and can pick out the smell of lion droppings miles away.
One day, explorer W. Voynich discovers a tiger. He tried to sell it to the highest bidder, passing it off as a beast of legend. Even though it is clear that the animal looks different than a lion, there are certainly similarities and the opinion of lion experts T&T is sought. They proclaim: "the tiger is clearly a descendant of the lion".
Only in Voynich studies.