Missing folios

[Jorge_Stolfi]

I have occasionally wondered if Moretus, when he sent the first letter to Kircher on Barschius' behalf, may have cut out two pages for his own study. These could have then been added to his scientific notebook(s).

I don't see much chance of Moretus having done that.

• Fall of 1638:  Baresch writes a letter to Kircher (still lost) that includes copies of some pages (also lost).  Some "clerical individual" A (not Moretus?) is shown the original and the copy. The letter is taken to Rome by Moretus.
  
• December 1938: Moretus writes to Kircher, but does not mention Baresch.
  
• Spring 1639: with no reply from Kircher, Baresch assumes that the first letter was lost and is about to "repeat the exercise" when he meets Moretus, who assures him that the first letter had been delivered.  Then Baresch writes only a "reminder" letter (which we have), including a copy of a few lines of the book (which must have been in a separate sheet, now lost) to refresh Kircher's memory. This letter is taken to Rome by the "clerical individual A" who would be able to attest that the copy sent with the first letter was faithful.
  

So there doesn't seem to be much chance for Moretus to have removed pages from Baresch's "My Precious" book.  Moretus probably was shown the book, but it seems unlikely that ever held it for any significant time.  In fact, there is no evidence that Moretus had much interest in it.

All the best, --stolfi