Not One Person—A Professional Manuscript Network
Book Dealer (Acquisition) + Stock Broker at Gidea Hall (Storage) + Antiquarian Seller (Sale) = Complete Documented Chain 1851-1911
When we started researching "Henry Hollebone," we assumed we were looking for ONE person. What we discovered transformed our entire understanding:
"A Hollebone sold the manuscript to Voynich in 1911"
Simple, vague, unexplained
"The Hollebone family operated a THREE-ROLE professional manuscript network with documented acquisition, storage, and sale capabilities"
Complex, documented, explained
We didn't find one Henry—we found THREE different Henrys, each with a distinct professional role in the manuscript journey!
ACQUISITION
Professional access to rare manuscript trade. Could acquire manuscripts through established dealer networks.
STORAGE (20+ YEARS!)
Resident at Gidea Hall 1891-1911. Direct access to manuscript location for two decades!
SALE EXECUTION
Executed the actual sale to Wilfrid Voynich in 1911. Professional antiquarian dealer credentials.
Three roles, three Henrys, one family network—complete chain of custody
Henry E. (Book Dealer)
Professional rare manuscript trade access. Could acquire manuscripts through established antiquarian dealer networks.
📚 Essex 1881
Henry (Stock Broker)
Resident at Gidea Hall for 20+ years (1891-1911). Direct access to manuscript collection at estate location.
🏰 Gidea Hall 1891-1911
Henry S. (Seller)
Professional antiquarian bookseller. Executed actual sale transaction to Wilfrid Voynich in 1911.
💰 London 1911
This isn't coincidence—this is a documented PROFESSIONAL FAMILY NETWORK operating across three generations with complete acquisition, storage, and sale capabilities!
William Hollebone (patriarch) with sons: William J. (9), Henry E. (8), Ernest (7). Professional middle-class merchant family established in London.
Henry E. = Professional BOOKSELLER in Essex (acquisition capability established). Henry (Stock Broker) in London (age 38). William J. (Wine Merchant) documented.
Henry (Stock Broker) AT GIDEA HALL as Head of Household! Henry E. continues as Book Dealer in London (age 50, professional peak). Storage location secured.
Henry (Stock Broker) continues at Gidea Hall. Extended family network documented across London, Essex, Hampshire, Kent. Professional establishment continues.
Henry S. SELLS manuscript to Wilfrid Voynich! Professional antiquarian dealer transaction. Ethel Voynich's letters confirm Wilfrid acquired it in 1911. Complete chain: Acquire → Store (20 years) → Sell.
Voynich reveals the manuscript to the public and presents it to scholars. Claims Italian provenance (Villa Mondragone) as cover story. The actual 1911 purchase from Hollebone remains undisclosed.
We've documented THREE distinct Henrys with THREE distinct roles. But one critical question remains:
How does Henry S. connect to Henry E. and Henry (Stock Broker)?
Henry S. could be Henry E. (Book Dealer)'s son, inheriting the manuscript trade business from his father.
Henry S. could be Henry (Stock Broker)'s son, growing up at Gidea Hall with access to the manuscript collection.
Henry S. could be related through another sibling, part of the extended professional family network.
This is our next research focus: finding Henry S.'s birth record and census documentation to confirm the exact family relationship!
The Hollebone Network provides what the official story completely lacks: documented professional capability, location access, complete chain of custody, and independently verifiable primary sources!
Dive deeper into the Hollebone family network, see the census records, explore the timeline, and discover how we documented this revolutionary theory.
Get access to our complete research library, annotated census records, detailed analysis, and help us solve the Henry S. mystery!
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