+- The Voynich Ninja (https://www.voynich.ninja)
+-- Forum: Voynich Research (https://www.voynich.ninja/forum-27.html)
+--- Forum: Marginalia (https://www.voynich.ninja/forum-45.html)
+--- Thread: [Competition] Best folio number parallels. (/thread-6148.html)
[Competition] Best folio number parallels. - Koen G - 02-10-2026
Several months ago, I was browsing a random manuscript, and suddenly something struck me: the numbers looked a lot like those used for the VM folio numbers. (That is, the ones written top right on every recto, NOT the quire numbers).
I didn't do anything with this yet, since I have no idea how it compares to other manuscripts. Probably this style of writing numbers is extremely common. But how common exactly? Are some features rare or typical for a certain time/region?
Now I just had an idea: why not make a friendly competition out of it? Everyone can recognize numerals in manuscripts, so it doesn't require special skills, just some patience and investigation. My own submission is far from perfect and can be beaten. (I told Marco about it when I found it, so there is a witness to my having selected a manuscript ;))
I prepared a reference image of the VM foliation, taking into account variations for each number. Notice especially the two types of "3", one of which has a remarkable spike on top and a flatter top stroke.
I also prepared a spreadsheet, you could use your own copy of it to compare the VM foliation to other numbers you find. See here: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
Rules
- A submitted series of numerals must be from the same manuscript.
- Try to find a full series, at least 1 -> 9.
- When you want to submit a series, just PM me, or post it here in [spoiler] tags. My reason for keeping submissions secret would be to avoid a premature focus on a single time and place.
- If you happen to find a better series later, you can submit that as well - more data points.
- Try to compose an image or share your numbers in a copy of the spreadsheet, so that I don't have to hunt through your manuscript to gather numbers from various folios.
- Manuscripts will remain a secret until the end, but I will sometimes provide a "leaderboard" based on my subjective feeling. After a while we will come up with a good way to rate.
- PLEASE find something that's better than mine - it would look silly if I win my own competition!
- At the end, I will add everything to the public spreadsheet.
- The winner gets to pick a special color for their row in the spreadsheet as a reward ;)
Of course, the goal of this is to collectively learn more about the context of these numerals. Feel free to discuss everything in this thread:
- strategies for finding numerals
- which variations are easy to find, which numbers are harder to match
- specific properties of numbers we should pay attention to
- ...
RE: [Competition] Best folio number parallels. - R. Sale - 02-10-2026
RE: [Competition] Best folio number parallels. - Aga Tentakulus - 03-10-2026
RE: [Competition] Best folio number parallels. - Koen G - 03-10-2026
RE: [Competition] Best folio number parallels. - ololololo - 03-10-2026
RE: [Competition] Best folio number parallels. - Koen G - 03-10-2026
RE: [Competition] Best folio number parallels. - Aga Tentakulus - 03-10-2026
RE: [Competition] Best folio number parallels. - Koen G - 04-10-2026
RE: [Competition] Best folio number parallels. - Aga Tentakulus - 04-10-2026
RE: [Competition] Best folio number parallels. - Koen G - 04-10-2026