providencepubliclibrary reblogged

LJS 478 - [Astronomical anthology]

This manuscript is a collection of astronomical treatises:

Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad al-Bīrūnī’s Kitāb fī istīʻāb al-wujūh al-mumkina fī ṣanʻat al-asṭurlāb (On the construction of the astrolabe);
two treatises on “crab and drum” astrolabes now attributed to the 10th-century astronomer Nasṭūlus (or Basṭūlus);
a treatise on an instrument for finding the direction of Mecca;
a treatise on the ecliptic;
a treatise on the compass.

It was written in Persia or Anatolia, in A.H. 625 (1228 CE).

Click here to read more about it, or here for the facsimile!

#pplref #astronomy #manuscripts

providencepubliclibrary reblogged

heaveninawildflower

upennmanuscripts

LJS 423 - Dos discursos de la cifra

This is where to start to become the next 007 secret agent. This manuscript contains two works on ciphers: the first is the theory, and describes ciphers based on subjects such as arithmetic, non-Roman alphabets (Greek, Hebrew) and writing systems (Egyptian, Chinese, Japanese, the writing of Indians of New Spain), among others. The second is a technical description of 24 different methods of enciphering and deciphering, using numerous tables, volvelles, movable sleeves, and grilles. It was written by a cryptographer in the service of Martin de Cordova, viceroy of Navarre.

If you want to start your training, see here. Read here additional information!

#pplref #manuscripts #cryptography

providencepubliclibrary reblogged

detroitlib

me1pomene

”Les Fleurs du Mal” with the author’s notes

#pplref #national poetry month #poetry month #baudelaire #manuscripts

providencepubliclibrary

First Draft of History? Or Maybe the Second?

I recently decided to take a look at one of the Benedict Arnold letters in our Updike Autograph Collection, and came across a curious situation. Here’s an image of the letter:

and the verso:

The letter is dated May 19th, 1775, just a month after the battles of Lexington and Concord, and it describes Benedict Arnold’s successful raid on Fort St. Jean in Quebec, where Arnold had captured a ship…

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#18th century #American Revolution #manuscripts