What's the evidence that the colors were added later?

[Jorge_Stolfi]

What does it tell us, really, that we didn't know before? Many manuscripts have color added or replaced later in life. It's not unusual or suspicious at all.

I see nothing suspicious on the colors being a late addition.  But this issue is very important because the answer will determine whether the colors are meaningful information about the content, or just distracting noise.

(My mother had a copy of You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., which shows detailed pen-point drawings of ornamental elements from all ages from the pre-history to ~1800.  One day, when I was maybe 3 or 4, I got hold of scissors and paint, and ... you can imagine the rest.

Mamma was ecstatic, actually, She already knew that her boy would become another Raphael or Michelangelo, and this was just a confirmation of that certainty.

But Papà was furious, because that book was an expensive present he had brought for her from Milan or Venice when they were still dating...

So whenever the topic is the paints in the VMS, sorry, but I cannot avoid thinking of that episode... )

All the best, --stolfi