Treatises/Manuscript purgatory

Items in red have not yet been verified with the holding library.

Purgatory

Manuscript Purgatory is for works that we have not yet indexed for one reason or another.

M	Title	Year	Signature	Author	Location	Notes
No	The Book of Feats of Arms and Chivalry	before 1430	Lots	Christine de Pisan	BnF, etc.	https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=epXQh7B1w20C https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_de_Pizan http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8448959c http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b6000099t http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84489727 http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8448955q http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b9058872d http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8449705f http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8451466w En: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.rbc/rosenwald.0570 De: http://resolver.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/SBB000017D900000000
No	De Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi	ca. 1480s		Philippo di Vadi	Vatican Library	Possible second copy of De Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi (MS Vitt.Em.1324)
Yes	Il Disegno Del signor Cesare Pagano, Cavaliere Nopoletano, su'l vero Teatro di Marte, Per la Teorica della Schrimia, All' Altezza, di Don Ferdinando, de Medeci, Gran Duca di Toscana	1592		Cesare Pagani	Biblioteca Nazionale di Firenze	(XIX, 194, Magliabecchiana) This is mentioned by Gelli. It is dated 1592, and Cesare declares himself a relative (possibly a nephew) of Marcantoio Pagano, who published his treatise in 1553. This is a weird one. It is in a good state of conservation, written in a beautifully clear hand and in a mostly not too obtuse Italian. The who thing was quite pricey to scan so I ordered the first 1/3 (which came to over 150 pages) to have a look and never followed up the next 2/3 as it is 99% irrelevant to the practical study of fencing. Instead it is literally stuffed with classical references but also observations about the natural world and sundry other digressions; there are no techniques and only scattered pieces of very general fencing advice.
Yes		Late 1500s or early 1600s	Add. Ms. 23223		British Library	This is listed by Castle, and is catalogued as 17th Century but the content itself seems more consistent with 16th century treatises. A black and white, easily readable, scan is inexpensive from the BL. It is handwritten in Italian, no illustrations, in two separate hands which are both fairly easy to read, although some of the pages are damaged and it is reasonable brief (the scan is 96 pages including blanks). Interestingly it uses the same guard nomenclature as Altoni with high, medium and low guards, and primarily discusses the single sword, sword and dagger, sword and cape and sword and rotella. The way it is organised is unusual, in that rather than relegating the rotella to a section of its own like most comparable treatises, it has a section on say the high guard, then explains how this applies to the single sword, sword and dagger, sword and cape and sword and rotella. It also very briefly mentions polearms, the spadone and two swords, which makes a nice round 10 Italian sources (alone) that includes two swords (Manciolino, Marozzo, Altoni, Agrippa, Di Grassi, Lovino, Lucino, Palladini, Docciolini, and this one). It is anonymous and it contains no overt contextual references (on an initial scan) to tie it down temporally or geographically. My gut feeling however is that it is Tuscan and late 16th century. In addition to guard nomenclature, it appears to have further commonalities with Altoni (for example it mentions the “zagaglia” as a pole weapon, which does not appear in any other known treatises except Altoni). The language appears quite “modern” and there are no glaring dialectal traits on an initial reading, but not inconsistent with a Tuscan/Central Italian origin…
Yes	Recueil de figures nues	1600-20	MS 17		Médiathèque de Montbéliard	https://www.ffamhe.fr/wiki/MS_17_M%C3%A9diath%C3%A8que_de_Montb%C3%A9liard
Yes	Fechtbuch des einfachen Rapiers / Fechtbuch in Rapier und Dolchen	1611	Mss. germ. qu. 1190/1191	Hans Wilhelm Schöffer von Dietz	Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin	(Single rapier, dated 1611. Many ink drawings. Belonged to Erasmus von Starhemberg, who owned another well-known Fechtbuch.) Ms. germ. qu. 1190, Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz Mayster Hans Wilhelm: Fechtbuch des einfachen Rapiers (single rapier) 318 folios · 1611 (Another book by the same master, this one on rapier & dagger) Ms. germ. qu. 1191, Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz Mayster Hans Wilhelm: Fechtbuch in Rapier und Dolchen 327 Blatt · 1611 ~ Matt G. Archetype for Grůndtliche vñ eigentlichte Beschreibung der Fechtkunst? Archetype for earlier publication of same in two volumes, making the 1620 a compilation reprint? Possibly the same as or related to 4º MS Math.2
Yes	Libro de las grandezas de la espada(?)	1616		Ms Aa298	Palais Liechtenstein Archiv	http://fechtgeschichte.blogspot.com/2017/04/transkription-der-handschrift-aa-298.html
Yes	Nueva ciencia y filosofía de la destreza de las armas	1625	Mss/9038	Luis Pacheco de Narváez	Biblioteca Nacional de Espana	Manuscript of Nueva Ciencia, which wasn't published until 1672. http://bdh.bne.es/bnesearch/detalle/bdh0000088867
No	Compendio y Philosophia y Dztreza de las Armas	1625		Octavio Ferrara		Traced by Archibald Corble in the early 20th century to create the MS R4-B274. https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-us/auction-catalogues/il-ponte/catalogue-id-il-pon1-10007/lot-d6d76e96-c0e1-4ee7-bc1d-a75c00c0b32a
Yes		late 1600s	M 1-3-3		Biblioteca de la Fundación Lazaro Galdiano	While working on a forthcoming publication on Italian and Spanish fencing, the group led by Luca Cecchinato came upon a digitized copy of a rare manuscript held in Madrid in the Biblioteca de la Fundación Lazaro Galdiano. It dates from the end of the 17th century and includes several essays on previously published Destreza works as well as a commentary on the Nueva Ciencia of Pacheco de Narváez. It also contains almost all of the plates not published in the Nueva Ciencia, which have long been sought. This is a very important announcement for everyone interested in primary Destreza sources. Luca Cecchinato, Manuel Valle, Charles Blair http://bibliotecavirtualmadrid.org/bvmadrid_publicacion/i18n/consulta/registro.cmd?id=3504
Yes		late 1600s	49-III-6(1)		Biblioteca da Ajuda	Anonymous work contained in a little known manuscript of the Biblioteca da Ajuda. A vision of the Destreza in Portugal in the XVII century with elements from the Verdadera Destreza and from the ordinary or Vulgar. 64 feridas (techniques) explained with their counter-techniques. Some of them were previously unknown, like the parafusada or the wound of the Duke of Alba. With comments and glosses. Accessible language although basic knowledge of Destreza is necessary. This seldom known work, which is kept at the Biblioteca da Ajuda as 49 -III- 6, is bound in a book together with the previously unpublished Manuscrito da Espada, also in our catalogue. This is a re-interpretation of Pacheco's posthumous work, Nueva Ciencia. Beyond completing it with missing information, such as the lost engravings not present in the published version of Pacheco's book, the author took an eminently practical approach, didactic in purpose, dividing the book in «Liçoes» (Lessons), each preceded with an illustrative engraving, introducing progressively new concepts, from theoretical geometric elements to steps and footwork, to techniques such as the atalho or the movement of conclusion. This approach makes this book one of the best options when looking for a whole, comprehensive Destreza textbook.
Yes		17th or 18th century	Add. Ms. 17533	H. A. V.	British Library	THREE treatises on the art of Fencing, as taught by Signor Salvator and Signor Moman, by H. A. V.; with illustrations in Indian ink. Paper, XVIIIth cent. Folio. (Egerton Castle mentions that the source above is in German, based on Salvator Fabris. He says it's 17th century, not 18th.) http://searcharchives.bl.uk/IAMS_VU2:IAMS032-002027779 https://www.woodenswords.com/Proper_Description_of_Thrust_Fencing_with_the_Sing_p/book-pro01.htm
Yes	Talhoffer	1705-1758	MS Hz.014	Hans Talhoffer	Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg	http://www.hammaborg.de/en/transkriptionen/talhoffer_coburg/index.php
No	Abregé de l'exercice des armes[. Necéssaire à la jeunesse de savoir, pour pouvoir se deffendre avec son espée]	1767	MS E.1939.65.459	G. Belfin	RL Scott Luxembourg (place of manufacture)	Paper, vellum Manuscript entitled, 'Abrege De L'Exercice Des Armes', by G Belfin. Published Luxembourg, 1767. Subject classification: Fencing - French, 18th century. Bookplate with coat of arms
No	Traite Des Armes	1797	MS E.1939.65.489	Theophile-Malo Corret de La Tour D'Auvergne	RL Scott	Manuscript by author, 'Traite Des Armes', by Theophile-Malo Corret De La Tour D'Auvergne. Published 1797. Subject classification: Fencing - French, 18th century NB letter inside giving history of this MS, Rouen, 1900 Also typed paragraph about the book
No		18th century	Ms. Dresd. 469	Dominique Quenin, Maitre d'Armes de S.M.I.	SLUB	84 figures of fencers. Watercolor illustrations. 18th century, quarto, 48 folios. (Probably smallsword, but impossible to tell.)
No		18th century	Ms. Dresd. 491		SLUB	Jeux d'Epee en figures. ("Game of the Sword, Illustrated.") Painted illustrations. 18th century, 25 folios.

Morgue

The Manuscript Morgue is for manuscripts that seem to have existed at one time, but for which we currently have no solid information or leads.

M	Title	Year	Signature	Author	Location	Notes
No	Die Art und Weise, anzugreifen und zu verteidigen (?)	ca. 1295		Francesco Giacomo Guglielmo and Filippo Del Serpente		Language and state of existence unknown.
No	Fior di Battaglia	Early 15th century	Ms. 84	Fiore de'i Liberi	Biblioteca Estense	Last seen 1508
No	Fior di Battaglia	Early 15th century	Ms. 110	Fiore de'i Liberi	Biblioteca Estense	Last seen 1508
No		1434		Filippo di Bartolomeo Dardi		Lost
No	Hans Lichtenauers bekannte Fechtkunst	1515	Ms. 2. Cart. Misc. S XVI	J. Schwerer	Formerly Ortenburg'sche Bibliothek zu Tambach	1842 catalog: [1] Rainer Welle (1993): "An dieser Stelle hätte eigentlich eine bisher der Forschung nicht näher bekannt gewordene Handschrift(?) vorgestellt werden sollen. Es handelt sich hierbei um "Hans Lichtenauers bekannte Fechtkunst. Papier, fol. Hie hebt sich an die Zetl der Ritterlichen kunst des Fechtenns datum augspurgk, den zehenden tag des monatz februarij 1515. J. Schwerer." HILS' nicht weiter nachprüfbaren Angaben zufolge, soll auch in ihr Otts Lehre verzeichnet sein." Footnote: "SCHMIDT, FRANZ: Die Handschriften der gräflich Ortenburg’schen Bibliothek zu Tambach in Oberfranken, in: Serapeum 3(1842)22, S.266. Ortsangabe, genaue Datierung und Namensanführung lassen aber auch darauf schließen, daß es sich hierbei um eine gedruckte Version handeln könnte. "Auf meine erste Anfrage vom 19.01.90 an das Gräflich Ortenburg'sche Archiv erinnerte man sich dieser noch nicht inventarisierten Handschrift und meinte, sie noch zu besitzen. Mit Schreiben vom 24.08.90 teilte der Verwalter des Archivs, Herr Prof. Hausman (Graz) mir mit, "daß diese in der Bibliothek des Grafen zu Ortenburg in Tambach nicht mehr vorhanden ist und durch Verkauf in nicht mehr feststellbaren anderen Besitz gekommen ist."" J. Acutt: "The Hauptstaatsachive directed me to the Wildlife Park at Tambach (the old location for the library). Wildpark directed me to Staatsarchivs in Coburg (17th Oct). Coburg mentioned that “Prof. Hausmann, the specialist in all questions about the Ortenburg Archiv, died three years ago” (5th December 2012). The Coburg Archives directed me to the Universitätsbibliothek Regensburg, who told me that it was reported (by Lang) as lost. Location unknown."
No	Opera de Scherma	1532		Guido Antonio di Luca		Lost
No	“M. Pauls Liechtenawer von Venedig Fechtbuech. Anno 1548 beschriben Worden”	1548	Stat III, Nr. 25 (24)			J. Acutt: Die Gründung der Münchener Hofbibliothek durch Albrecht V. and Johann Jakob Fugger (Vol. 28, Issue. 3, 1918, p.418); Prommers Katalog (p. 132). Location unknown
No	Rast Fechtbuch	ca. 1549		Antonius Rast		Purchased at auction by Paulus Hector Mair, used to create the Reichstadt Nr. 82 in 1553.
No		1556		Johannes Bierchenauwer (?)		19th century facsimile possibly exists
No		1557		Johannes Liechtenauer et al.	Stadtarchiv Biel	In 1968, there was an exhibition at the Schweizerische Turn- und Sportmuseum in Basel on fencing in art. It included a manuscript from 1557 described as containing the teachings of Liechtenauer, which was contributed by the Stadtarchiv Biel. This manuscript is not listed in any of the fencing manual catalogs, and the description given in the article matches no manuscript that we're aware of. http://www.zeit.de/1968/50/das-fechten-in-der-kunst When Jens Kleinau pointed this article out, Jurg Gassman and I (but more him) began making inquiries; after several weeks and speaking to every institution that might possibly have information about this (and tracking down one of about ten remaining copies of the exhibition publication), we've found nothing but dead ends. https://books.google.com/books?id=dolGNQEACAAJ
No	Kunst des Fechtens	1561		Joachim Meyer		Lost as of the mid 20th century. http://talhoffer.wordpress.com/2011/07/04/1561-joachim-meyer-dedicated-a-fencing-book-to-the-pfalzgrafen-of-pfalz-veldenz-2/
No	Cabinet d'escrime de l'espee et poingnardt	1585		Captain Peloquin		Source for MS KB.73.J.39