L. Rauwolf

[N._N.]

- This is not the sort of book Wideman could afford to buy. It was probably given (or left) to him

This is an interesting observation that would certainly limit the number of realistic candidates. I assume this is mostly based on the price that Rudolf paid in this case and others? Your point about the Paracelsus manuscripts seems convincing to me as well. However, Widemann may have marked up the Voynich manuscript significantly. I can see an indecipherable manuscript selling for less than one would expect based on the illustrations etc., which could place it within the price range that Widemann would have been willing and able to pay. It is not at all unusal for early modern scholars to spend disproportionate amounts of money on books and manuscripts compared to their salaries

The book market of the late 16th/early 17th century in the broadest sense, including rare prints, manuscripts etc. as well as all kinds of transfers that are not sales, is something I am really interested in and will research further if I have the time. My understanding is mostly based on the 18th century, where the volume of printed books, the role of libraries and several other factors just different, so while there is certainly a level of continuity, there are also large differences.