I spent hours watching videos about this mysterious book and have to admit that I'm now obsessed and flummoxed... both by it's history and possible authors. The only real thing we know with any certainty is that it was written on vellum somewhere between 1404 and 1435, according to carbon dating (the accuracy of which is entirely another matter).
There is no shortage of theories as to its possible authors. One is Roger Bacon, 13th century English scientist, mathematician and philosopher. Another is Leonardo Da Vinci although he was born 50 some years after the vellum was manufactured. Some say that it is a hoax created by Voynich himself although the carbon dating seems to exonerate him. It was allegedly found in a trunk of rare books (Voynich was a rare book dealer) obtained from a monastery at the Villa Mondragone, Italy.
It's written in a language nobody can decipher, although many have tried including William Friedman, the man who broke the infamous Purple Code of the Japanese during WWII. The manuscript contains writings and illustrations on botany, astronomy and astrology, judging by the illustrations. There is even one investigator who suggests that the works came from aliens from elsewhere in the galaxy. Whatever the source, the manuscript is fascinating and I, of course, have a theory. There are indications that Leonardo Da Vinci may have been involved... even if this is not so, he got his "mirror writing" technique from somewhere. It's possible that to avoid the Inquisition (which was raging at the time of the manuscript), it may not only be in code- translatable in old Latin- but written backwards and even upside down.
I selected the two best videos about the manuscripts... I hope you enjoy and if you figure it out, please let me know!
