THE ELLESMERE BIBLE
MS | 692 |
MS Short Title |
THE ELLESMERE BIBLE |
Text |
BIBLE WITH ST. HIERONYMUS PROLOGUES |
Description |
MS in Latin on vellum, England, ca. 1220-1240, 520 ff. (complete), 24x17 cm, 2 columns, (17x11 cm), 49 lines in a skilled, clear rotunda Gothic book script of medium quality, 14th c. notes, headings in red, large, 2-to 4-line, decorated initials throughout in red and blue with extensive and unusually varied pen flourishes, by a skilled and sometimes quite exuberant artist. |
Binding |
England, ca. 1240, deerskin over stout beech boards, sewn on 5 split tawed thongs, made as a chemise binding with the leather extending well beyond the covers to practically encase the volume. Complete on top edges including the tab on top of the spine, only a small portion remains along the lower edge, the 2 catches on the upper cover are preserved. 10 brass bosses, 5 on each cover, probably 15th c. |
Provenance |
1. English owners (marginal annotations 13th & 14th c.); 2. Convent, Köln (1586); 3. Possibly: Visconti, Milano (1752); 4. Possibly: Richard Heber, Oxford, London (1773-1833?); 5. Earl of Ellesmere, Bridgewater Library, London (1833?-1897); 6. Quaritch, London (1898); 7. Possibly: Michael Tomkinson, London (until 1922); 8. Quaritch London (1922?-1926); 9. Possibly: Sir John Cockerell (from 1926); 10. Maggs or Quaritch, London (1950-ies); 11. Frank de Bellis, San Francisco (1950-ies - 1989); 12. Mrs. Serena de Bellis, San Francisco (1989-1990); 13. Bernard Rosenthal, San Francisco. |
Commentary |
Colophon: "Gregori festo perfecit tempore mesto ultimum nunc librum. Vivat ne vadat in imum (infernum). Amen". i.e.: This last book has now been completed on the feast of St. Gregory on a cheerless day. May he (i.e. the scribe) live, lest he go to hell. Amen. Chemise bindings are very rare, for another one see MS 673. |
Exhibited |
Conference of European National Librarians, Oslo. Sept.ember 1994. |
See also |
MS 673 Missal with trimmed chemise binding, England, 1405-1410. |
Place of origin | England |
Dates | ca 1220 - 1240 AD |