RFI: Codex Whatchamacallit

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Around 1986 or '87 I read a review of a book that was presented as a da Vinci-style compendium of the known world, with drawings, paintings and notes on the people, animals, plants, etc. The twist was that it was a completely made-up world, with fantastic creatures and landscapes, and all the notes were written in a completely made-up language. I saw a copy in a bookstore soon after and flipped through it — it was very cool, but I couldn't afford it at the time, and haven't seen it since.

I could have sworn that the name of the book was Codex Seraphinianum, but I haven't been able to google up any info. Does this description ring a bell for anyone?

the apex of nadirs (Rock Hardy), Friday, 29 October 2004 23:53 (twenty-one years ago)

shit, i left mine at home today, sorry..

darragh.mac (darragh.mac), Friday, 29 October 2004 23:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I know what you're talking about -- hold on here...bah, I have a book around somewhere that talks about it in turn, but I've misplaced it. Really grand text, though.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 29 October 2004 23:58 (twenty-one years ago)

leicester

gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 29 October 2004 23:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Codex Seraphinianus, illustrated by Luigi Serafini -- more info at http://www.io.com/~iareth/codindx.html. S'great, but pretty pricey.

Sean Thomas (sgthomas), Saturday, 30 October 2004 00:59 (twenty-one years ago)

That's it, Sean, thanks. Darn, I can't go $200+ for the newest edition, and there are a few for sale via Amazon for as much as $600. Yowch.

the apex of nadirs (Rock Hardy), Saturday, 30 October 2004 13:56 (twenty-one years ago)

two years pass...

rock hardy: if you're interested, i just posted some photos of images from serafini's other book on this thread

CODEX SERAPHINIANUS

my best friend has both the codex and the "piccola pulcinellopedia". amazing stuff.

Rubyredd, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 12:18 (eighteen years ago)

eleven months pass...

Somebody, no idea who, has posted a scan:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OW5SH8NM

Since the book has been out of print for years, I'm okay with posting that. A mod can disagree and remove the link if he likes. It's in .cbr format -- you'll need Simple Comic or FFView or whatever .cbr reader is available for Windows.

Rock Hardy, Saturday, 30 August 2008 04:46 (seventeen years ago)

that 'best friend' is actually my boyfriend now...

Rubyredd, Saturday, 30 August 2008 04:51 (seventeen years ago)

rock, you should have come to our place while you were in the bay area and you could have seen our copy of the codex!

Rubyredd, Saturday, 30 August 2008 04:52 (seventeen years ago)

it's still in print (for right now), but only in Italy. at 89 euros, "in print" certainly doesn't mean "cheap," though.

hopefully the mods will keep that link up...

ytth, Saturday, 30 August 2008 04:56 (seventeen years ago)

I put in an inter-library loan request and found out that there's a copy near here at the Ole Miss library -- studied it for a couple of weeks and I can get it again whenever. I wish there had been time on the trip for me to come visit, though!

Rock Hardy, Saturday, 30 August 2008 04:59 (seventeen years ago)

ytth=actual owner of the codex (i just pretend it's 'ours')

Rubyredd, Saturday, 30 August 2008 05:02 (seventeen years ago)

interesting thing about the codex is that each new edition has new pages in it. it's like serafini gets bored doing his architecture stuff and dashes off a few more pages of bizarreness and squiggly text every few years.

and it is "ours."

ytth, Saturday, 30 August 2008 05:03 (seventeen years ago)

this is now google-able evidence in the event of a divorce.

Rubyredd, Saturday, 30 August 2008 05:05 (seventeen years ago)

Noted. I will steal it when I am up there next. Oh wait.

Ned Raggett, Saturday, 30 August 2008 05:24 (seventeen years ago)

five years pass...

New edition coming at the end of the month:
http://dangerousminds.net/comments/codex_seraphinianus_a_new_edition_of_the_strangest_book_in_the_world

cops on horse (WilliamC), Sunday, 6 October 2013 14:01 (twelve years ago)


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