Feuer Buech, durch Eurem gelertten Kriegs verstenndigen mit grossem Vleis auss villen Probiertten Kunsten

From a manuscript in the collection of the University of Pennsylvania comes this lovely illustration of 16th century munitions, in this case rocket-powered cats!

Original description follows:

Title: Feuer Buech [manuscript].
Origin: [Germany], 1584.
Physical description: 235 leaves : paper, col. ill. ; 307 × 200 (220 × 122) mm. bound to 313 × 209 mm.
Language(s): German.
Summary: Treatise on munitions and explosive devices, with many illustrations of the various devices and their uses.
Subject: Chemistry - History. Explosives - Early works to 1800. Fireworks - Early works to 1800. Military art and science - Early works to 1800. Ordnance - Manufacture - History.
Form / Genre: Codices. Drawings. Manuscripts, German - 16th century. Manuscripts, Renaissance.
Notes: Ms. codex. Title from f. 1r. Alternate title, Feuerwerkbuch, used in Zacour-Hirsch Catalogue.
Collation: [i], [I, II]-[XIX, XX]³ ⁵, XXI², [XXII-XXIII]-[XXVIII-XXIX]⁵ ³, XXX⁴(-1), [i]; i.e., alternating quires of 3 and 5, except for quire XXI² and quire XXX⁴(-1). First and last leaf are endleaves.
Foliation: Paper, i + 235 + i; [1-235]; modern foliation in pencil, upper right recto. Catchwords used only when a rubric follows, and can be on any page, recto or verso, in lower right corner.
Layout: Written in 20-22 lines, frame ruled in red ink.
Script: Written in a cursive script.
Decoration: Thirty-four illustrations in color, two of which (ff. 159v and 160v) are pasted in, possibly cut from another manuscript (the paper is of a different quality, the color palette is different, and ascenders from another hand are visible at the bottom of the illustration on f. 159v). Extensive rubrication.
Watermark: Similar to Briquet 257 (Graz, 1582).
Binding: Limp vellum with three concentric botanical borders and stamp in center of upper cover with the arms of Freiherr von Clam. Sewn on five split bands with decorative endbands.
Origin: Written in Germany in 1584 (f. 1r). Incipit of title page (f. 1r): Feuer Buech, durch Eurem gelertten Kriegs verstenndigen mit grossem Vleis auss villen Probiertten Kunsten ... The illustrations in this manuscript are similar to those in Berlin, Staatsb. ms. germ. qu. 1188. In his study of the text, W. Hassenstein gives no date for the Berlin manuscript, although it appears to be 15th century (cf. Hassenstein, Das Feuerwerkbuch von 1420 (Munich, 1941), p. 121). Compare Hassenstein, Bild 33 with f. 174r of the present manuscript, and Hassenstein, Bild 34 with f. 185v.
Forms part of: Edgar F. Smith Memorial Collection.
Indexed / Referenced in: Described in Zacour, Norman P. and Hirsch, Rudolf. Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Libraries of the University of Pennsylvania to 1800 (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1965), p. 231 (Ms. E. F. Smith 2). Hassenstein, W. Das Feuerwerkbuch von 1420 (Munich, 1941).
Other Titles: Feuer Buech, durch Eurem gelertten Kriegs verstenndigen mit grossem Vleis auss villen Probiertten Kunsten. Feuerwerkbuch.
Cite as: UPenn Ms. Codex 109
Manuscript location: Rare Book & Manuscript Library University of Pennsylvania Ms. Codex 109

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