Description of the Leibniz Copy

Abstract

The Leibniz copy of the Descartes manuscript is in the Niedersächsische Landesbibliothek at Hanover.¹² It is written on a double folio sheet folded in two, making four folio pages measuring a little over 20 X 30 cm (8 X 12 in.). Page 1, which starts with the title, is completely filled with writing, from very close to the top to 1 cm from the bottom. Page 2 begins an entirely different topic without any warning mark or word, with the page not entirely full; it has two small figures inserted in the text and a number of closely packed small tables. Page 3 continues the subject of page 2 and the writing occupies less than 60% of the sheet; it ends with a large closely packed table (which is printed on a folding plate in the Oeuvres). Page 4 is blank. The handwriting is small and the lines are crowded; in many places it is quite difficult to make out letters or words. A photographic copy of the manuscript is reproduced pp. 11–21.