21-04-2024, 01:14 AM
The Jesuits had two hidden collections in a Villa in Castel Gandolfo, both originating from their confiscated llibrary, and both were considered by the state to rightfully belong to the state.
One collection was of historical Jesuit materials, including the Kircher correspondence. This consisted of well over 2000 volumes of which the Kircher correspondence are 12 or 14. This consisted of about 2000 letters.
The other was a collection of older books and manuscripts: classics, bibles, 12th - 15th century.
The latter they decided to sell to the Vatican because they needed money. The librarian of the Vatican could be trusted because he was himself a Jesuit. This had to be done in complete secrecy.
The Vatican could not offer a lot of money, and the Jesuit Strickland, who was involved, knew Voynich and knew that they could get a *lot* more money from him. But the risk was great so they let him only a few of the books.
Even the Vatican librarian (Ehrle) had to get into the Villa on a pretext, which shows how secret and well guarded this was.
The Jesuits' own historical books were not for sale.
Strickland and Voynich were striking a deal that would provide both sides with a lot of money.
There are log books of the people visiting this Villa. Strickland is mentioned in April 1912. Ehrle in June 1912.
Voynich isn't in there. (I was hoping he would be). Plenty of other names, exclusively Jesuits, with the exception of a historian writing a book about Bellarmino (a historical Jesuit).
So, no record that Voynich visited the place.
Even if he did, he was there for books that were for sale, and it is unlikely that he would have seen the other 2000-4000 items.
Even if he did (we are already down two levels of unlikelihood), why would he be targeting the Kircher correspondence.
Even if he did (3 levels) would he have time to pinpoint the three or four letters that he would need, in order to fake the Marci letter? It would take weeks to just browse the 2000 letters, let alone read them.
One letter he would need is the Barschius letter.
The second one is the earlier Kinner letter, that has one sentence mentioning that Marci sent Kircher a book for translation.
The third one is a late letter from Marci, in the same handwriting as 'our' Marci letter.
These three items are the only independent records of the Voynich MS linking it to Prague and Marci, beside the 1665 Marci letter.
They were included in a large collection of letters, that were part of a considerable collection of manuscripts, that were hidden and guarded for fear of confiscation.
This describes the likelihood that the Marci letter is a fake by Voynich.
Of course, I did not include the option that there is some complicity from the side of the Jesuits.
Not sure who wants to go there....
All of the above is documented. Nothing is based on speculation.
One collection was of historical Jesuit materials, including the Kircher correspondence. This consisted of well over 2000 volumes of which the Kircher correspondence are 12 or 14. This consisted of about 2000 letters.
The other was a collection of older books and manuscripts: classics, bibles, 12th - 15th century.
The latter they decided to sell to the Vatican because they needed money. The librarian of the Vatican could be trusted because he was himself a Jesuit. This had to be done in complete secrecy.
The Vatican could not offer a lot of money, and the Jesuit Strickland, who was involved, knew Voynich and knew that they could get a *lot* more money from him. But the risk was great so they let him only a few of the books.
Even the Vatican librarian (Ehrle) had to get into the Villa on a pretext, which shows how secret and well guarded this was.
The Jesuits' own historical books were not for sale.
Strickland and Voynich were striking a deal that would provide both sides with a lot of money.
There are log books of the people visiting this Villa. Strickland is mentioned in April 1912. Ehrle in June 1912.
Voynich isn't in there. (I was hoping he would be). Plenty of other names, exclusively Jesuits, with the exception of a historian writing a book about Bellarmino (a historical Jesuit).
So, no record that Voynich visited the place.
Even if he did, he was there for books that were for sale, and it is unlikely that he would have seen the other 2000-4000 items.
Even if he did (we are already down two levels of unlikelihood), why would he be targeting the Kircher correspondence.
Even if he did (3 levels) would he have time to pinpoint the three or four letters that he would need, in order to fake the Marci letter? It would take weeks to just browse the 2000 letters, let alone read them.
One letter he would need is the Barschius letter.
The second one is the earlier Kinner letter, that has one sentence mentioning that Marci sent Kircher a book for translation.
The third one is a late letter from Marci, in the same handwriting as 'our' Marci letter.
These three items are the only independent records of the Voynich MS linking it to Prague and Marci, beside the 1665 Marci letter.
They were included in a large collection of letters, that were part of a considerable collection of manuscripts, that were hidden and guarded for fear of confiscation.
This describes the likelihood that the Marci letter is a fake by Voynich.
Of course, I did not include the option that there is some complicity from the side of the Jesuits.
Not sure who wants to go there....
All of the above is documented. Nothing is based on speculation.