Ortolff von Bayerland

Arzneibuch. Written in a rounded gothic semi-current hand: in double-column of 25-27 lines to a column. Large ornamental intial in red and black on fol. 3, other capitals and headings in red. Ff. 1, 2 Scribbling in black and red, religious ejaculations, verses, etc. in German and Latin. Fol. 3, col. 1 HIe hebt sich/an Ertzney/Maister Ortolfs/von wirtzpurk des/artztes geporn von/bayrlant.//Solomon spri/chet der e/wig got in/der prophecien/hat ertzeney/erchaffen/durch ir edelkait... 123v, col. 2 Vrtica nessel et cetera.//Finis adest vere scripptor/wlt precium habere.

Mid 15th Century

1 volume 123 ll. folio. 30 x 21 1/2 cm. Original sheepskin binding, coloured crimson, over wooden boards. Both clasps and bosses on sides wanting. Upper margins of first two leaves slightly defective: about an inch of the outer margin of the last leaf cut away.

Purchased at Lucerne (Dietrichstein Sale) 22/11/1933, Lot 514.

The text shows considerable variations from that of the first printed edition of 1477. According to Sudhoff 'Deutsche medizinische Inkunabeln', 1908, p. 29, the only other known MS. which gives the name of Ortolff's birthplace at Würzburg is Munich MS. germ 4205: but this information is also found in the second copy of the work in this Catalogue [MS. No. 588, Fol. 50v].

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).

On fol. 94 a former owner has written in the margin 'Probatum est Anno 1491 von Adams geburt': a similar note dated 1642 is found in the margin of fol. 93v. From the Dietrichstein Library.