British Library, Harley MS 3686

Introduction

15th century Venetian hand written copy of Ptolemy's Geographia Harley MS 3686 is an early 15th century Venetian hand written re creation of Claudius Ptolemy’s Geographia.15th century Venetian hand written copy of Ptolemy's Geographia Harley MS 3686 is an early 15th century Venetian hand written re creation of Claudius Ptolemy’s Geographia.

It is part of the Harleian Collection at the British Library.It is part of the Harleian Collection at the British Library.

Description

Original 2nd century versions of Geographia typically did not survive to the High Middle Ages; early Renaissance cartographers were working from copies of copies.Original 2nd century versions of Geographia typically did not survive to the High Middle Ages; early Renaissance cartographers were working from copies of copies.

Examination of the codex indicates the scribe of Harley MS 3686 was transcribing from an all Latin copy.Examination of the codex indicates the scribe of Harley MS 3686 was transcribing from an all Latin copy.

This codex is based on one of the few reprints that included the map sheets.This codex is based on one of the few reprints that included the map sheets.

Many other codices merely copied Book 1, which was text only.Many other codices merely copied Book 1, which was text only.

Other scholarly sources indicate that it is near impossible to accurately create the maps from purely the text Ptolemy wrote describing how to produce the maps.Other scholarly sources indicate that it is near impossible to accurately create the maps from purely the text Ptolemy wrote describing how to produce the maps.

Geographically focused codices with maps often garner broad interest while those codices without maps typically only interest historians of mathematics and cartography.Geographically focused codices with maps often garner broad interest while those codices without maps typically only interest historians of mathematics and cartography.

Despite this supposed broad appeal, very little else is easily available about MS 3686.Despite this supposed broad appeal, very little else is easily available about MS 3686.

The codex currently resides in the British Library but there have been very few scholarly examinations of it.The codex currently resides in the British Library but there have been very few scholarly examinations of it.

Even the most well known surveys of Ptolemaic mapping, Nordenskiöld's Facsimile Atlas and Jesuit Priest Joseph Fisher's Claudii Ptolemaei Geographiae Codex Urbinas Graecus, do not include MS 3686.Even the most well known surveys of Ptolemaic mapping, Nordenskiöld's Facsimile Atlas and Jesuit Priest Joseph Fisher's Claudii Ptolemaei Geographiae Codex Urbinas Graecus, do not include MS 3686.

Although lacking in a printing press or knowledge of the Western Hemisphere, the early 15th century Europe had an economy providing navigational charts to mariners and scholarly reading material to persons with disposable income (but neither was in the vernacular language).Although lacking in a printing press or knowledge of the Western Hemisphere, the early 15th century Europe had an economy providing navigational charts to mariners and scholarly reading material to persons with disposable income (but neither was in the vernacular language).

Provenance

How this codex made its way from Venice to England is unclear but was probably due to the Mediterranean Sea North Sea maritime trade of the 15th and 16th centuries.How this codex made its way from Venice to England is unclear but was probably due to the Mediterranean Sea North Sea maritime trade of the 15th and 16th centuries.

Robert Burscough owned the manuscript some time prior to his death.Robert Burscough owned the manuscript some time prior to his death.

MS 3686 was sold by Burscough's widow in May 1715 to Robert Harley when it became part of his Harley's private collection.MS 3686 was sold by Burscough's widow in May 1715 to Robert Harley when it became part of his Harley's private collection.

The collection in total passed through various members of the Harley family before being sold to the British Government by Margaret Bentinck, Duchess of Portland in 1753.The collection in total passed through various members of the Harley family before being sold to the British Government by Margaret Bentinck, Duchess of Portland in 1753.