Scribbled over flyleaf

One of the most unique parts about this edition of Archidoxorum Aureoli Ph. is the trail of use and ownership it has in and around its pages. While this early printed edition is by no means flashy in its production, the animal skin cover has a number of scribbles drawn and etched into it, while the flyleaf contains a large number 41 along with more incomprehensible scribbles.

Ink splatter

There are also numerous annotations from a corrector who took issue with certain words and the printing of Paracelsus’ works. Annotations in light browning ink are consistent throughout the book, with accidental splotches of ink on a few pages.  The corrector also corrected pages numbers that were wrong and on a few occasions noted chapter numbers at the upper corners.

Possibly two annotator hands here

Interestingly, in addition to the corrector’s pen, there are annotations that are cut off at the edge of pages, suggesting that pages of the book had been cut at some point before binding. There are many pages that have rings and blotches of water damage the book has endured over the centuries.

It is also notable that there is a section where pages become exceptionally dirty and thin, as though this section of the book had been open or used the most, or perhaps in or exposed to an environment that cause this one section of pages to be far dirtier than the rest.