Three-section orbs

[ReneZ]

And it seems there is a lot more reliable information about the provenance of the French manuscript.  In fact, let's not forget that the only VMS provenance we have (pre-Wilfrid) hinges entirely on a couple of phrases (from dubious Latin translations)  that refer to similarities far less specific than those seen in these two drawings.

Two things:
I do agree that pursuing the origins of this illustration is worthwhile. But I think I already said that.

When it comes to precedents for Voynich MS illustrations, there still is a highly reputed herbals expert who sees a relationship between the Voynich MS illustrations and the Tractatus de Herbis tradition, in particular (but not only) Sloane 4016.
Further correspondence have been pointed out, for example with the 'Balneis' tradition.

The comos illustration is not at all unique to the MS.

Finally, let's not forget the infamous figure (estimate) of 10% : the number of manuscripts that have survived.