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Handwritten horoscope for unnamed male subject

 Collection — Box: BW-7
Identifier: MS-0729

Scope and Contents

Derived from the dealer description:

The item is a detailed manuscript horoscope for an unnamed male subject, beginning with: "According to the time of your birth is Juno the Planet who rules your life." The birth chart and the descriptive forecast was written in New York, New York in the United States in August 1851. It is a lengthy and detailed horoscope, describing the subject's personality, his general destiny from his 25th year through his 70th (including some words on his yet unknown wife--"her form is even and handsome she is not very short, and of middle size of a woman, her manners are mild and her conversation agreable, she will be a good wife for you, but she is of a little quick temper and very labourous"--and his future children) and hints on what each month holds for him (including some financial cautions for the month of August: "be Careful to put you [sic] money aside for you are spendious on these days . . ."). The astrologer's writing suggests a non-native English speaker wrote the manuscript.

The astrology chart drawn is inspired by the North Indian birth chart of the historical Vedic religion.

Dates

  • Creation: 1851 August

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

Collection is open for use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical / Historical

A horoscope is an astrological chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, astrological aspects, and sensitive angles at the time of an event, such as the moment of a person's birth. It is used as a method of divination regarding events relating to the point in time it represents, and it forms the basis of the horoscopic traditions of astrology.

No scientific studies have shown support for the accuracy of horoscopes, and the methods used to make interpretations are generally considered pseudo-scientific. Further, some psychological tests have shown that it is possible to construct personality descriptions and foretelling generic enough to satisfy most members of a large audience simultaneously.

Extent

0.167 Cubic Feet (1 legal size folder)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

A horoscope is an astrological chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, astrological aspects, and sensitive angles at the time of an event, such as the moment of a person's birth. It is used as a method of divination regarding events relating to the point in time it represents, and it forms the basis of the horoscopic traditions of astrology.

The item is a detailed manuscript horoscope for an unnamed male subject. The birth chart and the descriptive forecast was written in New York, New York in August 1851. It is a lengthy and detailed horoscope, describing the subject's personality, his general destiny from his 25th year through his 70th and hints on what each month holds for him. The astrologer's writing suggests a non-native English speaker wrote the manuscript. The chart drawn appears to be inspired by the North Indian birth chart of the historical Vedic religion.

Custodial History

This item was previously located at The George Peabody Library.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This item was purchased in 2012 from Garrett Scott, Bookseller.

Processing Information

This collection was processed in October 2015 by Annie Tang.

Title
Handwritten horoscope for unnamed male subject
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
The Sheridan Libraries
Special Collections
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore MD 21218 USA