Rare Manuscripts in Caffrey Conversation

Illuminated manuscripts have a natural appeal to Neal Caffrey. They're artistically significant. Their rarity makes them valuable treasures. In other words, they're catnip for the artistic thief. In canon, manuscripts figured in several episodes. Neal alluded to his forgery of the Papyrus Seven Scrolls in a discussion with Raquel. In the episode "Vital Signs" he let slip he'd used Carrier Pigeons in his theft of the Antioch Manuscripts. Then there was the forgery of the Vinland map, a Faulkner manuscript . . . it's a long list.

Up to now, in Caffrey Conversation, Mozzie has been more interested in rare books and manuscripts than Neal. In By the Book, he has his eye on a pristine first edition of Paradise Lost. In Caffrey Disclosure, he helps himself to Stan Masterson's valuable collection of memorabilia which includes a sheet of music signed by Mozart. Now, Mozzie is seeking an original Dante manuscript. There is no known example of Dante's handwriting, but Mozzie is convinced that somewhere in the world, the manuscript is waiting to be found.

Neal has so far only admitted to one crime involving manuscripts. He told Mozzie that while working for Klaus Mansfeld, he'd stolen the Barberino Manuscript, a 14th-century copy of Dante's Divine Comedy. Under Klaus's tutelage, Neal also mastered Egyptian papyrus forgery techniques. He's not revealed if any of his manuscript forgeries are in museums.

In Cloister of Secrets, Neal's resume expands. He is able to experience the thrill of a theft of a priceless Hildegard manuscript, The Book of Divine Works, without fear of arrest. The Play of Daniel as performed at the Cloisters is based on two thirteenth-century medieval manuscripts. A first edition Copernicus book from 1566 will figure later in the story.

Mozzie's quest for an original Dante, meanwhile, continues. It will be a topic for the following Caffrey Conversation story, Italian Masquerade.

If you'd like to learn more about the Hildegard manuscript, the text and illustrations are available on the website of The International Society of Hildegard von Bingen Studies

Related Posts:

• Family Treasures: books in Crossed Lines
• The Locked Vault: books in Arkham Files

Cloister of Secrets on Archive of Our Own
Cloister of Secrets on FanFiction



Play of Daniel





Cloister of Secrets on Archive of Our Own
Cloister of Secrets on FanFiction