The letter of Ethel Voynich (1930)

WILFRID M. VOYNICH,
33 WEST 42ND STREET,
NEW YORK.

LONDON:- 175, PICCADILLY, W.1

Telephone: Longacre 9019

The Cipher MS. was bought [inserted: with other MSS] by W.M. Voynich,
in or about 1911. It was the property of the
Vatican, and was (in a castle ?) at Frascati.
The intermediary through whom he ap-
proached the Vatican authorities was
the English Jesuit Father Joseph (?)
Strickland, who had, I believe, some con-
nection with Malta. Father Strickland,
who has since died, knew that the sale of
certain MSS. had been decided upon, if a
buyer could be found whose discretion
could be trusted. Whether this [inserted: secrecy] was because
of the strained relations with the Quirinal
I do not know. Father Strickland gave
his personal assureance that W.M.V. could
be trusted, and on that assurance he was

[2]

allowed to buy, afer giving a promise
of secresy [sic]. He told me at the time, in confi-
dence, feeling that someone should
know, in case of his death. For the same
reason I am leaving this statement in the
safe, in case of my death.

E.L. Voynich.

July 19. 1930.

[envelope cover]

Opened by A.M. Nill
Aug. 9, 1960

Concerning the Cipher MS.
Not to be opened till
after my death, and then
only by A.M. Nill or one
other responsible person in place of
her.