The Voynich Manuscript’s mysteries endure more than a century after its discovery
Though scientific research has revealed much about the manuscript’s material properties and trajectory, its meaning remains elusive.
In 1912, rare books dealer Wilfrid Voynich was rooting through dusty chests of manuscripts in Villa Mondragone, a Jesuit college just outside of Rome.
The Jesuits had decided to sell some of their centuries-old collection and had invited him to see if anything might be of
The Art Newspaper
August 25, 2022
© Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University
interest. As he explored, Voynich found, in his own words, an “ugly duckling”—a manuscript like no other. Turning the pages, his eyes fell on unusual illustrations and mysterious symbols that formed a unique and unreadable script. He immediately recognized its value. Voynich bought the manuscript, and it wasn’t long before it excited imaginations across the globe.
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