The Book Switch Theory

[asteckley]

And as for the physical evidence of the letter having been attached to MS408: I am not conviced at all.  In fact, looking at the image of f0v at the Beinecke site, I would say that (1) the spacing of the marks is a bit different from the spacing of the seals on the letter, (2) the line connecting the marks has an incompatible position and tilt, (3) the paper lining we see now is not the one which was there when Wilfrid got the book, and (4) the "stains" do not look like stains but like holes on that paper sheet, like shaved-off air bubbles, that expose the tan material (vellum?) under it.  

I have asked several times on this forum for someone to confirm or refute these questions, but got no answer.  Is that Siloé fac-simile good enough to resolve (3) and (4)?

But, Jorge , you did get an answer from me regarding some key things the Siloe facsimile can indicate, which I'll repeat:

That [Marci Letter] is folded very strangely, as Rich has written about. But it is also folded strangely for the purpose of slipping it into the front cover. And there are absolutely no wax residues that would line up with the VMS. To make the two wax marks on the letter make contact with the vaguely wax-like marks on inside the front of the VMS, one has to completely unfold the letter and then place it at an awkward angle in the VMS and the letter would then extend outside the edges of the VMS. I have queried Lisa as to whether there are openings between the layers of the cover, where the letter could be inserted and she confirmed that there is not.  The letter  was NEVER attached to the VMS. It would have to have been simply "placed" inside the cover of the VMS and it is big enough and thick enough that it would have been unlikely to stay put there with any confidence or reliability.