- MS 1276 France, ca. 1315-1325
Semi-Quadrata Gothic book script
- MS 223 Belgium or Northern France?, early 14th c.
- MS 660 France, early 13th c.
- MS 1823 Italy, 1st half of 14th c.
- MS 723 Germany, 1436
- MS 209/05 England, mid 14th c.
- MS 678/1 Belgium, ca. 1490-1500
BIBLE: PSALMS 88:8 - 24; 95:9 - 96:9
MS in Latin on vellum, East Anglia?, England, late 13th c., 2 ff., 28x20 cm, single column, (23x15 cm), 18 lines in a formal Gothic book script of highest grade, 30 1- to 2-line decorated initials with extensive penwork, 1 full-length bar border, 14 line-fillers, all in red and blue.
Provenance: 1. Charlie Stocker, Cambridge (-1978); 2. Dr. George Salt, Cambridge, MS IX & X (1978-1991); 3. Sotheby's 17.12.1991:8b.
Commentary: In the highest grade of Gothic book script (Latin: Littera minuscula gothica textualis prescissa formata), the feet of the minims are sharply cut off horizontally.
MISSAL: MASS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, SANCTORAL, OCTAVE OF THE FOUR CROWNED MARTYRS (8 NOV.)
MS in Latin on vellum, Amiens (or Beauvais), France, 1300-1325, 2 ff., 29x20 cm, 2 columns, (20x14 cm), 21 lines in a formal Gothic book script of highest grade, square notation on a 4-line red staff with C clef, a 1-line decorated initial in blue, pink and orange with white highlighting, 14 2-line decorated initials in gold, blue and pink, some with single bar borders, with ivy leaf motif sprays, in pink, orange, blue and gold with white highlighting, 1 initial in the shape of a fish, illuminated with colours.
Context: This MS had 309 ff. when sold by Sotheby's in 1926. It was broken up by Otto F. Ege. Other leaves from same MS: 2 ff.: Rochester, Eastmann School of Music, Sibley Music Library; 1 f.: Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Otto Ege, Cleveland, Ohio: 50 Original Leaves from Medieval Manuscripts ca. 1950, no. 33 (Christie's 26.6.1997:16), leaf 15; 2 ff.: Boston, Public Library, MS 110 + 1538; 1 f.: Chicago, University Club; 1 f.: Virginia, Hollins College Library, no 11; 1 f.: Pennsylvania, Pitcairn Collection, Glecairn Museum; 1 f.: New York, Pierpont Morgan Library, MS M1021; 1 f.: Boston, Endowment for Biblical Research, MS Leaf 86; 1 f.: Sotheby's 25.11.1985:61; 1 f.: Maggs Bull. 11(1982):43; 2 ff.: Ferrini Cat. 1(1987):48-49; 1 f.: Duschnes Cat. 54:25; 1 f.: London, Christopher de Hamel Collection, MS 135; 1 f.: Harvard, Houghton Library pf. MS.Typ.405.
Provenance: Leaf 1: 1. Robert de Hangest, canon of Beauvais; 2. Beauvais Cathedral; 3. Henri Auguste Brölemann, Lyon (until 1854); 4. Arthur Brölemann, Lyon; 5. Etienne Mallet, Lyon (until 1926); 6. Sotheby's 4.5.1926:161; 7. Permain (from 1926); 8. Otto F. Ege, Cleveland, Ohio, 50 Leaves from Medieval MSS 1944/1945:10; 9. Ellin Mitchell, New York; 10. Bruce Ferrini, Akron, Ohio, March 1989; Leaf 2: 1 - 8 : As above; 9. Bernard Rosenthal Collection, I/226, San Francisco; 10. Bernard Quaritch Ltd., Cat. 1147(1991):60.
Commentary: High quality illumination by a group of artists who
worked in Amiens and produced the luxurious Psalter and Hours of Yolande de
Soissons, now New York, Pierpont Morgan Library, MS 729.
In the highest
grade of Gothic book script (Latin: Littera minuscula gothica textualis
prescissa formata), the feet of the minims are sharply cut off horizontally.
MISSAL: IN DIE ASSUMPTIONIS BEATE MARIE VIRGINIS
MS in Latin on vellum, Picardie, France, ca. 1315-1325, 1 f., 35x26 cm, 2 columns, (23x16 cm), 13 lines in a formal Gothic book script of high grade, 2 2-line illuminated initials, 1 large historiated initial, 6x5 cm, of the assumption of the Virgin with full borders in gold and colours, very closely resembling a missal in den Haague, commissioned by Abbot Johannes de Marchello for the Premonstratensian monastery of St. John in Amiens in 1323 by the scribe Garnarus de Morolio, illuminated by Petrus de Riamboucourt.
Provenance: 1. Sotheby's 29.11.1990:17.
Commentary: A good example of the 2nd highest grade of Gothic book script of the highest quality. The Latin designation is more precise than the English:"Littera minuscula gothica textualis quadrata formata". The feet of the minims end like downwards pointing spearheads.
Semi-Quadrata Gothic book script
BIBLE WITH ST. HIERONYMUS PROLOGUES AND HEBREW NAMES
MS in Latin on vellum, Belgium or Northern France?, early 14th c., 102 ff. (- ca. 380), 41x27 cm, 2 columns, (29x19 cm), 50 lines in a formal Gothic book script of medium grade, headings in red, running-titles and chapter numbers in blue and red, 230 illuminated initials, 222 bar borders with sprays ending in ivy leaf motifs in pink, blue and orange with white highlighting and gold decoration, 2 historiated initials, 5 11- to 12-line miniatures in pink on blue ground or blue on pink ground within a gold border.
Context: 210 ff. from the same MS: Otto Ege, Cleveland, Ohio: 50 Original Leaves from Medieval Manuscripts ca. 1950, no. 33 (Christie's 26.6.1997:16), leaf 14; Sotheby's 11.12.1984:39, to Maggs. Maggs Eur. Bull. 13(1986):52, and Cat. 1059:41-49; Sotheby's 25.4.1983:83; Sotheby's New York 9.4.1980:227; Kenneth Rendell, Newton, Mass Cat. 146(1979):67; Ferrini Cat. 1(1987):25-27.
Provenance: 1. Mirmellus Arnandi, lawyer and judge (until 1450); 2. Dominican Convent (from 1450); 3. Otto F. Ege, Cleveland, Ohio, M.49 (-1951(?)); 4. Sotheby's 11.12.1984:39; 5. 24 ff.: Bruce Ferrini, Akron, Ohio; 2 ff.: Sam Fogg, London; 14 ff.: Maggs Bros., London; 48 ff.: David S. Woluch, Akron, Ohio; 1 f.: Christie's 16.12.1991:2; 4 ff.: Sotheby's 22.6.1993:19; 1f.: Paul Hartcourt, London; 1f.: Maggs, London,; 1f.: Maggs, London; 2 ff.: Sotheby's 1.12.1998:13; 4 ff.: Maggs, London.
Commentary: The historiated initials has been compared with that of the artist of the Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson Q.b.6. In the 3rd grade of Gothic book script. (Latin: Littera minuscula gothica textualis semiquadrata formata.) Some feet of the minims end like spearheads, others are just rounded off. It was a tragedy in art history that this grand and rare lectern Bible was broken up by speculators. It has been restored towards its former greatness as far as possible. Anathema on whoever dare to break it up again!
- BIBLE: DEUTERONOMY 32:47 - 34:12
- BIBLE: JOSHUA, WITH ST. HIERONYMUS PROLOGUE
MS in Latin on vellum, France, early 13th c., 1 f., 44x31 cm, 2 columns, (32x21 cm), 39 lines in an early rotunda Gothic book script of medium quality, headings in alternating red and blue, 2 2-line initials in alternating red and blue with contrasting penwork flourishing, large 10-line illuminated initial with human-headed dragons in "Channel style" in colours with burnished gold.
Context: 2 more leaves from the same Bible in Mark Lansburgh Collection, one of them from Witten cat. 12(1980):41.
Provenance: 1. Mark Lansburgh, Phoenix/Santa Barbara, California; 2. Sam Fogg, London and Bruce Ferrini, Akron, Ohio; 3. John Feldman, Colorado; 4. Sam Fogg Rare Books Ltd., London. Commentary: In the 4th grade of Gothic book script (Latin: Littera minuscula gothica textualis rotunda media). The feet of the minims are just rounded off.
TREATISE ON VIRTUES AND VICES, OFFERING NATURAL SIMILITUDES, CITING ARISTOTLE, SENECA, CICERO, AND VALERIUS MAXIMUS
MS in Latin on vellum, Italy, 1st half of 14th c., 2 ff., 25x18 cm, 2 columns, (18x11 cm), 46 lines in a hybrid Gothic book script of medium quality, titles in red, 3-to 4-line initials in red or blue with contrasting penwork.
Context: MSS 1816-1832 comprises the entire palaeography collection of the palaeographer Prof. Dr. Bernhard Bischoff (1906-1993). 65 ff. and fragments spanning 800-1600, and 40 uncatalogued early printed ff. and fragments.
Provenance: 1. Stephan Beissel, Jesuit scholar (-1915); 2. Robert Wölfle, München (-1958); 3. Bernhard Bischoff, München (1958-1993); 4. Robert Wölfle, München (1993-1994); 5. Bernard Rosenthal, Berkeley, California.
Commentary: The text can also be a treatise on the Seven Deadly
Sins, and is unidentified. Creatures described are the peacock, bat, crab,
basilisk, mad dog, bear, and toad.
The exempla, or moral stories, are
about Alexander the Great and Emperor Theodosius. The famous story, associated
with Aeschylos, about an eagle killing a poet by dropping a tortoise on the
poet's bald head, is included.
The lowest grade of Gothic book script.
(Latin: Littera minuscula gothica textualis hybrida media.)
SERMONS ON GOSPEL TEXTS, STARTING WITH MARK 16:1
MS in Latin on paper, Erfurt, Germany, 7 November 1436, 4 ff., 21x15 cm, 2 columns, (18x12 cm), 39-42 lines in a German cursive book script, by Mauricius, preacher, 13-line initial with red and brown penwork filling extending the length of the margin.
Binding: Germany, 15th c.(?), in a wrapper from a ruled, blank medieval vellum leaf, stitched.
Provenance: 1. Preacher Mauricius, Thüringenwald? (1436); 2. Carthusian Monastery of Mons Sancti Salvatoris, Erfurt (1436-1803); 3. Erik von Scherling, Rotulus II 3/4(1932):1461; 4. Bernard Rosenthal Collection, San Francisco, I/? (until 1987); 5. Bernard Quaritch Ltd., cat. 1147(1991):99.
Commentary: Colophon recording that "- the MS was completed by Mauricius preacher of the upper church in the mountains of "thnt" (perhaps Thüringerwald), on the day of St. Willebrord (7 November) 1436".
GREGORIUS 9: LIBER EXTRA 10:5.33 - , COMMENTARY
MS in Latin on vellum, England, mid 14th c., 2 ff., 38x28 cm, 2 columns, (31x19 cm), 68 lines in a compressed Anglicana cursive book script of medium quality, chapter headings in red, 18 initials in alternate red and blue.
Context: For other ff. from Liber extra, see MSS 209/19 and 209/38.
Provenance: 1. Bernard Rosenthal, San Francisco.
1. RECORDS OF THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR, CONVOCATION DES TROIS ETATS (1356)
2. PETITION TO QUEEN JEANNE BY THE PEOPLE OF ROUEN ASKING FOR PEACE BETWEEN FRANCE AND ENGLAND (CA. 1360)
MS in French on vellum, Brugge, Belgium, ca. 1490-1500, 44 ff. (complete), 21x15 cm, single column, (13x9 cm), 19 lines in a skilful lettre bâtarde, initials in red or blue with fleurissons in black or red, 1 large, 8-line, illuminated initial in leafy design enclosing a spray of naturalistic blue flower on a liquid gold panel ground with gothic tracery, full border of daisies, sweet peas and other flowers with gold acanthus leaves and a bird on a grey-mauve ground, 1 large, 7-line historiated initial, showing the Archbishop of Rouen kneeling before the Duke of Normandy with full border, in style of the Master of Edward IV.
Binding: Scotland, 17th c., calf over card boards, sewn on 4 bands, red edges, Newcastle arms gilt on front cover, with MS 678/2 as flyleaf.
Provenance: 1. William Adamson, bailie, Edinburgh (1526); 2. Horsley, prisoner in Edinburgh (ca. 1550); 3. Thomas Fairfax, Leeds Castle, Kent (1612-1671); 4. Christie's 10.1.1831:?; 5. Henry Pelham, 4th duke of Newcastle (1831-1851); 6. Sotheby´s 16.2.1938:1297; 7. Maggs Bros., London (1938-1941); 8. James P.R. Lyell, London (1941-1949); 9. Bernard Quaritch Ltd., Cat. 699(1952):49; 10. Sotheby´s 19.6.1990:96.