Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

[Computus collection]
Italy, possibly Piacenza, 1018-1032
MS M.925 fol. 38r

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Two columns of thirteen hands depicting reckoning gestures.
First column:
Hand 1 -- Left hand raised. Little finger bent toward middle of palm, signifying 1.
Hand 2 -- Left hand raised. Ring finger and little finger bent toward middle of palm, signifying 2.
Hand 3 -- Left hand raised. Middle finger, ring finger and little finger bent toward middle of palm, signifying 3.
Hand 4 -- Left hand raised. Thumb, index and little fingers raised. Middle two fingers bent toward middle of palm, signifying 4.
Hand 5 -- Left hand raised. Middle finger bent toward middle of palm, signifying 5.
Hand 6 -- Left hand raised. Ring finger bent toward middle of palm, signifying 6.
Hand 7 -- Left hand raised. Ring finger bent toward base of palm, signifying 7.
Second column:
Hand 8 -- Left hand raised. Ring finger and little finger bent toward base of palm, signifying 8.
Hand 9 -- Left hand raised. Middle finger, ring finger and little finger bent toward base of palm, signifying 9.
Hand 10 -- Left hand raised. Index finger bent and touching first joint of thumb, signifying 10.
Hand 11 -- Left hand raised. Thumb and index finger touching, signifying 20.
Hand 12 -- Left hand raised. Index finger bent and touching tip of thumb, signifying 30.
Hand 13 -- Left hand raised. Thumb crossing underside of index finger, signifying 40.