Archival note by Jonathan Smith © 2023 University of Bergen. CC BY-NC 4.0

MS 157a is a hardback pocket notebook measuring 159 x 105 mm. Wittgenstein has included the date 4 June 1934 in the text. The binding consists of a red spine with covers of embossed black fabric on card with ‘Memo Book’ embossed in gold on the front cover, which also has a label affixed by the literary executors. There are 68 leaves measuring 158 x 98 mm each ruled with 20 lines as are the front and rear pastedowns. The volume is foliated ff. 1-70 including the rear pastedown. Two silhouettes of Francis Skinner kept loose in the volume have been inserted between pages 15v and 16r on guards.

The text is in German with a few coded remarks, written in pencil and pen using black ink. A (generally successful) attempt to obliterate the text on the bottom half of page 59v has resulted in bleed through on page 59r and slight staining to the bottom of pages 52r to 89v. There is some dog-earing.

This volume was passed by Rush Rhees to Trinity College Library on 25 Sep 1970.