MS in Neo Sumerian on clay, Babylonia, 2000-1700 BC, 1 tablet, 9,8x9,8x2,5 cm, 3 columns, 22 lines in cuneiform script by a competent scribal student.

Context: A late interpretation of the Early Dynastic Fish List. By the same scribe as MS 3373.

Commentary: Lexical lists of fish are known from all periods, except the present Old Babylonian. The fish species on this tablet is, however, so far, not duplicated on any of these.

Published: Miguel Civil: The Lexical Texts in the Schøyen Collection, Cornell University Studies in Assyriology and Sumerology, vol. 12, Manuscripts in the Schøyen Collection, Cuneiform texts V. CDL Press, Bethesda, MD, 2010, text 6.2.2, pp. 189-190.

MS in late Assyrian on jasper, Assyria, 900-600 BC, 1 fish-formed bracelet of 10 pieces, 16,0x2,4 cm, 1 sign, meaning "fish", in Late Assyrian cuneiform on the fish-head, on the other pieces: a group of concentric circles in the middle, a cross and a narrow band of very close short vertical strokes, 2 holes for a cord or wire, tail-piece missing.

Context: MContext: MS 2088/2 is a very similar bracelet fish, but uninscribed.

Binding: Barking, Essex, 1996, grey cloth gilt folding case, by Aquarius.

MS in Chinese and Japanese on paper, Japan, ca. 1760, 5 vols., 26x19 cm, 11-12 columns, (20x15 cm), 8-17 characters per column in Chinese and Japanese book script, 309 half-page, 1 full-page highly finished paintings in full colours of fish, whales, shells, shrimps, squids, crabs, turtles, lobsters, etc.

Binding: Japan, ca. 1760, light brown paper boards, chitsu stitched on 4 stations (fukorutojibon).

Provenance: 1. Daimyo, Japan; 2. Naito family, Nobeoka, Miyazaki prefecture (-1980); 3. The Isseido Booksellers, Tokyo (1980-1999); 4. Colin Franklin, Culham, Oxford.

MS in Japanese on paper, Japan, 1804-1817, 24 ff. (complete), 20x27 cm, single column, (17x20 cm), captions in Japanese characters, 28 double page illustrations, 3 in colours.

Binding: Japan, 1804-1817, blue paper boards, chitsu stitched on 4 stations (fukorutojibon).

Provenance: 1. Philosophical Research Society, Los Angeles, California; 2. Sam Fogg cat. 19(1998):174.

Commentary: The illustrations include a balaena (bowhead whale), a humpback whale, a sperm whale, dolphins, parasite oysters living on whales, and a scene of Kajitori Bay.

MS in Old Babylonian on clay, Babylonia, ca. 1900-1700 BC, 1 tablet, 10,4x7,8x3,2 cm, 45 lines (originally 66) in cuneiform script.

Commentary: Medical texts of this category are well known from Neo Babylonian literature, while from the over 1000 year older, Old Babylonian period, few survive. Many of the Babylonian diagnoses and prognoses still hold true in modern medicine.

MS in Babylonian on clay, Uruk, ca. 300 BC, 1 tablet, 7,4x5,8x2,3 cm, 31 lines in cuneiform script by one of the leading Uruk scribes, Anu-Iksur or Iqisha.

Context: Other medical tablets are MSS 2670 and 3277. This tablet is written by a member of the well-known families of leading Uruk scribes, such as Anu-iksur or Iqisha. The excavations at Warka have produced whole archives of medical, magical and scholarly texts in identical script and format. The present tablet must come from one of those archives. All the other texts from this archive are now in international museums. Thus it must represent the work of one of Mesopotamia's leading medical practitioners of the late 4th c. BC.

Commentary: Part of the text is quite new, and part duplicates, restores and even clarifies a medical text from Assurbanipal's library.

The text has some very unusual contents, with both unusual words and interesting ideas. The first recipe treats a problem that appears on one side of the body with an action to the other side. This peculiar Mesopotamian concept first makes its appearance in a pre- Hammurabi medical text that treats toothache, and also in some later cuneiform cures for nose-bleeds, and may be interpreted as illustrating an underlying philosophy. The action in the present instant is the application of heat, which is not known in any other medical tablet, but which we now know, may have therapeutic benefit.

There is also an interesting procedural parallel with certain therapeutic recipes in Aramaic in the Babylonian Talmud. The vehicle prescribed here for applying the medicament varies according to the time of year; i.e. in summer it should be administered cold, in a kind of juice, but in the winter it must be steeped in hot water. Exactly the same point occurs in the Talmud, implying that this, and other curative procedures, have their roots in the more ancient Babylonian praxis.

Twice the scribe has written the signs he-pi in very small script, once on the obverse, and once on the reverse. The literal meaning of this expression is "it is broken", and it serves to indicate that the medical tablet from which he was copying these recipes was itself fragmentary or damaged in certain places, implying that it was, even then, a recovered text of some antiquity. This is a very revealing point. It is clear that in both instances there is a word or two missing in the received text. The first is some element of materia medica, so we cannot be sure what it was, but in the second case, it is quite evident that the missing words at the end of the recipe must have been "... he will get better." It must have been entirely obvious to the scribe himself. Nevertheless, his deep-seated reverence for traditional textual sources and the nature of his training meant that as a copyist, his responsibility was only to transmit the text as received, and not to add to it, or improve it, or even restore it.

There is no clearer sort of evidence available from the tablets themselves than this miniature scribal gloss to highlight this characteristic attitude in ancient Mesopotamian thinking. The scribes were rigorously trained to think in this way: the texts that came down from Antiquity were to be copied and preserved just as they were received. There was no room for individual input, or creative development.

MS in Greek on papyrus, Alexandria, Egypt, late 2nd-1st c. BC, 1 fragment of a scroll, 6x4 cm, single column, 15 lines in a small Greek uncial.

Context: The lower part of the column with II, 611-22 is in Princeton University, P. Princ. inv. AM 15960A.

Provenance: 1. Alexandrine Museum or Bibliotheca Alexandrina?, Egypt (late 2nd-1st c. BC); 2. Antiquity dealer, Cairo (1969); 3. Dr. Anton Fackelmann Sr., Wien, Austria, MS 44/3 (1969-1986); 4. Anton Fackelmann Jr., Steyr, Austria (1986-1998).

Commentary: The present papyrus is important because of its extent, its early date and superior text quality. It is the earliest papyrus of the entire Hippocratic corpus yet published. Only the citations from Prorrhetic I 1-2 and Epidemics VI 5:15 & 7:9 in Herculaneum papyrus 1012, offer an earlier version of text.

Published: M. Gronewald in: ZPE 28(1978) pp. 276-277; A.E. Hanson: SAMR 23(1995) pp. 26-27; and A:E: Hanson - T. Gagos: Well Articulated spaces: Hippocrates, Epidemics II 6, 7-22, in Specimina per il Corpus dei Papiri Greci de Medicina, Firenze 1997, pp. 117-140. Academia Toscana di Scienze e Lettere "La Colombaria": Corpus dei Papiri Filosofici Greci e Latini. Testi e lessico nei papiri di cultura greca e latina, parte I.2: Cultura e Filosofia, pp. 137-143, plates: Parte IV.2, p 158, Firenze, Olschki, 2008..

Exhibited: Bibelmuseum, Münster, since 1986.

See also MS 1817, Medical recipes, Luxembourg, 2nd half 8th c.

MS in Latin on vellum, Aachen, Germany, 1501, 82 ff. (complete), 18x12 cm, single column, (14x9 cm), 30 lines in a late Gothic book script by the scribe Theodoric Clocker, headings in red, 2-to 3-line initials in red throughout, 4 4-to 5-line initials in red.

Binding: Aachen, Germany, 1501, blind stamped brown calf, sewn on 5 cords, with booklabels made for Sammlung Ludwig by Pablo Picasso.

Provenance: 1. Monastery of the Canons Regular of St. John the Baptist, Aachen (1501-); 2. Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris; 3. H.P. Kraus, New York; 4. Sammlung Ludwig, Aachen and Köln; 5. J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu and Los Angeles, California, 83.MN.191; 6. Bruce Ferrini, Akron, Ohio.

Commentary: Guillelmus Textoris de Aquisgrano (Wilhelmus Tzewers) was a professor of theology at Erfurt. This text is his treatise on preparing the terminally ill for death. Theodoric Clocker was procurator of the Collegiate Church of St. John the Baptist, Aachen.

See also MS 2600, Weisheng jieyiao; containing traditional medical information and Daoist methods of meditation. China, 17th-18th c.

MS in Fayumic on papyrus, Fayum, Egypt, 10th c., 10 substantial partial ff., up to 18x20 cm, originally 30-32x24 cm, 70 smaller parts (from 5x5 to 10x10 cm mostly), and 35 fragments, 2 columns, originally ca. 20-22 lines in a beautiful square heavy Coptic uncial.

Binding: Egypt, 10th c., fragments of papyrus cartonnage with a sewing thread and a piece of canvas, 19x5 cm, with parts of original black leather and dried glue still sticking to it, coming from the original cover.

Context: This MS is from a codex of considerably more than 26 ff. The collection of the renowned papyrologist Prof. Atiyah consisted of more than 677 papyri, mainly originating in Middle Egypt, including Oxyrhynchus and Fayum. The first part of 140 papyri (H.P. Kraus ca. 105(1961)), is now in Yale, Beinecke Library, while 242 Greek papyri is MS 244 and 295 Coptic papyri is MS 245 in The Schøyen Collection, see also MS 108.

Provenance: 1. Monastery of St. Kosmas, Egypt; 2. Aziz Suryal Atiyah, Utah (-ca. 1960); 3. H.P. Kraus Cat. 126(1971):108.

Commentary: The letters are comparable to the writing in the "Elogium of Pisentius" in the Vatican Library, dated to 918.

See also MS 192, Lives of 38 saints, Constantinople, 11th c.

See also MS 590/48, Official account of a miracle, Germany, 1332

MS in Ge'ez on vellum, Monastery of Däbrä Libanos, Shoa, Ethiopia, 1497-1508, 176 ff. (complete), 28x23 cm, 2 columns, (21x18 cm), 23 lines in Ethiopic Ge'ez book script by Fere Qeddus commissioned by Abbot Petros, 6 full-page ornamental headpieces (haräg) in full colours, framing the major text divisions.

Binding: Monastery of Däbrä Libanos, Shoa, Ethiopia, 1497-1508, plain wooden boards, chain stitches on 5 sewing stations.

Provenance: 1. Monastery of Däbrä Libanos, Shoa (ca. 1500-); 2. Wälättä Ab of Emmäyät Sheffen (18th c.); 3. Monastery of Däbrä Libanos, Shoa (18th c.); 4. A'edäwä Krestor, his wife Maryamiwit, and his son Qerellos (18th c.); 5. Sam Fogg Rare Books Ltd., London.

Commentary: Däbrä Libanos (Däbrä Asbo) lies about 100 km north of Addis Ababa and formed the nucleus of the evangelization of what is now central Ethiopia during the 13th and 14th c. It is the premier monastery of Ethiopia, and its abbot is ranked second in the hierarchy of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church after the Patriarch of Ethiopia. Täklä Haymanot (ca. 1215-1313) founded the community of Däbrä Libanos, and is Ehtiopia's most famous indigenous saint.

Texts 3-4: Filepp'os was the second abbot (1313-1341) of Däbrä Libanos (Däbrä Asbo). Text 9-12: Märha Krestos (1408-1497), also known as Yemrehannä Krestos, Yemreha Krestos, or Märhennä Krestos, was the 9th abbot of Däbrä Libanos. The present MS was commissioned by Abunä Petros who succeeded Märha Krestos. Colophon: This is the composition of Fere Qeddus, son of Märha Krestos, in which he wrote how our father Täklä Haymanot was conceived and how he was born, and how Abba Marqos the Bishop and Na'od the King transferred his bones in a golden casket. And secondly, he wrote of the Passion of our father Filepp'os, and also the Life of our father Märha Krestos, and how he performed miracles and wonders. This book Fere Qeddus gave to the tomb of our father Täklä Haymanot. Followed by a curse against anyone who steals or damages the MS.

Exhibited: L'Arche éthiopienne, art chrétien d'Éthiopie, Pavillon des Arts, Paris, 27 Sep. 2000 - 7 Janvier 2001 & Fundacio Caixa de Girona, Spain, 23 Jan. - 31 March 2001.

MS in Ge'ez on vellum, Ethiopia, 1754 (text 1), 1732, 155 ff. (complete), 38x32 cm, 2 columns, (27x26 cm), 20 lines in Ethiopic Gwelh by 2 scribes, opening lines and section headings in red, 44 quarter- to half-page and 3 full-page paintings.

Binding: Ethiopia, 18th c., tooled leather binding over wooden boards with brocade panels on the inside, chain stitches on 4 sewing stations.

Provenance: 1. Wäldä Yohannes & Fesseha Giyorgis (18th c.); 2. Fesseha S'eyon; 3. Wäldä Kiros and his wife Aqlésya; 4. Mälke'a Maryam & Amätä Egziabehér; 5. Sam Fogg Rare Books Ltd, London.

Commentary: Zär'a Buruk was a late 17th c. Ethiopian monk who founded a religious party, an offshoot of the followers of Ewost'atéwos, which became, along with the latter and the Täklä Haymanot party, the third of the great religious factions of early 18th c. Ethiopia. There are not many collections of the Miracles of Zär'a Buruk known outside Ethiopia. Colophon at the end of text 1 stating that the text was completed: 24th year of Iyasu on Thursday, the ninth day of Nähasé (14 August 1754). Text 2 has an opening formula stating that the writing started: the second year and second month of the reign of our king Iyasu, called Berhan Sägäd on the twelfth day of the month of Tahsas on the feast of St. Michael (19 December 1732).

MS in Irish Gaelic (text 1) and English (text 2) on paper, Cork, Ireland, April 1893, 62 ff. incl. 33 blanks (complete), 21x16 cm, single column, (16x11 cm) 19-20 lines in a fine Irish minuscule (text 1) and English cursive (text 2 and introduction), by Pádraic Stúndún (Patrick Stanton), penwork initials, lined borders, 3 decorated borders, 1 in sepia and red, signed 4 times by the scribe.

Binding: Cork, Ireland, ca. 1893, brown cloth, sewn on 4 cords.

Context: Patrick Stanton made 20 other such copies for Fr P. Hurle, Inchigeela, including 2 copies in Killiney, Franciscan Library, MSS A 42 and A 44, and 2 copies in National Library of Ireland, MSS G385 and G417. There are 3 copies of this text by Patrick Stanton in The Schøyen Collection: MS 1735/1 (Feb. 1893), MS 1658/3 (April 1893), and MS 1735/2 (March 1895). Patrick Stanton was the scribe of MSS 1658/1-3 and 1735/1-2. At least 11 other MSS from his hand survive in Dublin, Cork and Fermoy in Ireland.

Provenance: 1. Library of St. Peter's Phibsboro, Dublin; 2. Dan Nolan, Tralee, Cork (-1989); 3. Mealy's 19.5.1993:50; 4. Cathach Books, Dublin.

Commentary: From the introduction: The following Life of Saint Finbarr was obtained by the Rev. P. Hurley, P.P. of Inchigeela, photographed by him from a vellum manuscript, the Lives of the Irish Saints, in the Burgundian Library at Brussels. The MS was written by Bro. Michael O'Clery, Chief of the Four Masters, who states that he wrote it in the Friars' Convent at Cork in June 1629, and that he took it from a vellum book, the property of Daniel Dinneen.

MS in English on paper, England, ca. 1589-1600, 203 ff. (complete), 31x21 cm, single column, (27x16 cm), up to 42 lines in English secretary documentary script, ca. 500 coats of arms tricked in and painted in water colours of high quality by a herald.

Binding: England, early 19th c., pigskin and marbled boards, sewn on 4 cords.

Provenance: 1. Sir George Nayler, Garter King of Arms; 2. Thorpe, London, 57 (1836); 3. Sir Thomas Phillipps, Cheltenham, Ph 8808 (1836-1872); 4. Katharine, John, Thomas & Alan Fenwick, Cheltenham, (1872-1946); 5. Robinson Bros., London (1946-1978); 6. Kraus cat. 157(1980):157.

Commentary: Text 1 is the original treatise. All 3 texts are unpublished.

MS in English and French (text 4) on paper, England, ca. 1580-1613, 2 vols., 252+147 ff., 19x13 cm, single column, (ca. 18x12 cm), 30-38 lines in English cursive documentary script, decorated opening letters, hundreds shields and crests tricked in pen and ink, 20 full-page coloured coats of arms, 4 pp. of handcoloured coat of arms in several hands.

Binding: Cheltenham, England, ca. 1868-1872, light yellow-brown Middle Hill boards, sewn on 3 cords.

Provenance: 1. William Camden, Clarenceux King of Arms (1613);  2. Sir Thomas Phillipps, Cheltenham, Ph 20908 & Ph 20909  (1868-1872);  3. Katharine, John, Thomas & Alan Fenwick, Cheltenham, (1872-1946);  4. Robinson Bros., London (1946-1978);  5. Kraus cat. 157(1980):150 & 189.

MS in Latin (texts 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 15-17) and English on paper, England, ca. 1575-1635, 180 ff., 29x18 cm, single column, (26x15 cm), up to 50 lines in English cursive secretary book script by Francis Thynne, additions by Sir Richard St. George.

Binding: England,, ca. 1608-1635, limp vellum, sewn on 4 thongs. On spine in ink "A.30 Miscellania Francisci Thinn", gilt centre armorial stamp on both covers "Sigillum Ricardi Sancti Georgii".

Provenance: 1. Francis Thynne, Blanch Lyon Pursuivant, Lancaster Herald (1545?-1608);  2. Sir Richard St. George, A.30 (ca. 1555-1635);  3. Sir Henry St. George and his 3 sons;  4. Thomas Osborne, auctioneer, 27.11.1738 & 26.2.1738/9;  5. Boone, London, No. 561 (1852);  6. Sir Thomas Phillipps, Cheltenham, Ph 13171 (1852-1872);  7. Katharine, John, Thomas & Alan Fenwick, Cheltenham, (1872-1946);  8. Robinson Bros. cat. 82:620 (1946-1978);  9. Kraus cat. 157(1980):227.

Commentary: Many of St George's manuscripts and working papers remain in the College of Arms, in the Lansdowne and Additional collections at the British Library, at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, Trinity College, Dublin, and The Schøyen Collection MSS 553, 1233, 1234, 1236, 1290, and 1626/1-2.

MS in English on vellum, England, 1627, 1 roll of 8 membranes (complete), 76x530 cm, in Roman and Italic book script, large, 70x55 cm, ornamental heading within illuminated borders, 68 coats of arms, 5 large miniatures in colours of Byron family tombs.

Binding: England, 19th c., cloth box.

Provenance: 1. John Byron, Baron, England (1627-1652); 2. Admiral John Byron, England (1723-1786); 3. Poet George Byron, Baron (1788-1824); 4. Sir Thomas Phillipps, Cheltenham, Ph 24987 (-1872); 5. Katharine, John, Thomas & Alan Fenwick, Cheltenham, (1872-1946); 6. Robinson Bros., London (1946-1978); 7. Kraus cat. 157(1980):168.

Commentary: It was the aspiration to the peerage of John, first Baron Byron (1599-1652), that motivated the preparation of this sumptuous MS. The poet, Lord Byron, was exceedingly proud of his title and descent. He certainly studied this roll with care, when he succeeded to the title in 1798.

MS in English on vellum, England, 1678, 154 ff. (complete), 39x31 cm, single column, (37x27 cm), 30-35 lines in sloping cursive and round roman scripts, headings and running titles in large capitals, decorated title-page listing Skelton's honours in imitation of printed type in architectural framing incorporating the arms of Charles II and the authors, 480 emblazoned coats of arms of superb quality, painted in gold, silver and colours with gold coronets.

Binding: England, 1678, red velvet over thick wooden boards, gilt edges, sewn on 5 cords, silver clasps and catches.

Context: The text is either autograph or compiled under the author's supervision. 2 other MSS with similar texts by Skelton are known, sold in the Rosebery sale, Sotheby's 26.06.1933: 1127A & B, the latter sold again by Christie's 9.12.1987.

Provenance: 1. Sir Bevill Skelton, England (1678-1692); 2. James Graham of Stoneybres House, Lanarkshire (19th c.); 3. Robert McTear, Glasgow cat. 27.03.1925: 299; 4. John Forrester (1925); 5. George Napier (1925-1954); 6. Napier sale 12.04.1954:88; 7. Frances Edwards (1954); 8. Bill Wreden, Palo Alto; 9. W.R. Fletcher, London (1963); 10. J.R. Abbey, London, JA 7215 (1963-1989); 11. Sotheby's 19.06.1989:3048; 12. Sam Fogg cat. 12(1989):29.

Commentary: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Bevill Skelton (d. 1692), Envoy to Vienna and Holland under Charles II, Envoy to Versailles and Lieutenant of the Tower of London under James II, Page of Honour to Charles II at the Restoration. He was a favoured supporter of the Crown, held numerous important diplomatic posts, though rather unsuccessfully, and accompanied James II into exile.

MS in Latin on bronze, Roma, 101, 2 tabellas, I: 3x4 cm, and II: 13,4x16,5 cm, single column, 6+13 lines remaining in Latin capitals, 2 holes through each tablet for a wire that originally bound the two tablets together, secured with the seals of the 7 witnesses.

Binding: Barking, Essex, 1995, red cloth gilt folding case, by Aquarius.

Context: There are 3 praetorian diplomas (MSS 1801, 1870, 2051/7) in The Schøyen Collection, further 11 auxiliary diplomas (MSS 1836, 1899, 2051/1-6, 2051/8, 2052, 2086), and 3 fleet diplomas (MSS 698, 1921, 2032).

Provenance: 1. Marcus Antonius Esumnus, Serbia? (101 until his death); 2. Found at Ranovac, Serbia (ca. 1986); 3. Antiquity dealer, München (ca. 1990); 4. Sotheby's 7.7.1994:437.

Commentary: The present diploma gives Marcus Antonius Esumnus an honourable discharge from the army of Emperor Trajan, Roman citizenship for himself and his descendants, and the right of legal marriage. The present MS contains the unusual information, of both year, place and the exemplar copied. The exemplar, the bronze tablet set in the wall on Forum Romanum, in fact, still survives in fragments.

Published: Margaret M. Roxan: Roman Military Diplomas, 1985-1993, (III), no. 143.

MS in Latin on bronze, Roma, 1 July 126, tabella I, 14,5x12,1 cm, single column, 26+15 lines in Latin capitals, 2 holes through the tablet for a wire that originally bound the two tablets together, secured with the seals of the 7 witnesses.

Binding: Barking, Essex, 1995, red cloth gilt folding case, by Aquarius.

Context: There are 3 praetorian diplomas (MSS 1801, 1870, 2051/7) in The Schøyen Collection, further 11 auxiliary diplomas (MSS 1836, 1899, 2051/1-6, 2051/8, 2052, 2086), and 3 fleet diplomas (MSS 698, 1921, 2032).

Provenance: 1. Ulpius Valens (126 until his death); 2. Found in Bulgaria or Hungary; 3. Axel Weber, Köln; 4. Bernard Quaritch Ltd., London.

Commentary: The present diploma gives Ulpius Valens an honourable discharge from the army of Emperor Hadrian, Roman citizenship for himself and his descendants, and the right of legal marriage. The present MS contains the unusual information, of both date, place and the exemplar copied. The exemplar, the bronze tablet set in the wall on Forum Romanum, in fact, still survives in fragments.

Published: R. Frei-Stolba and M.A. Speidel, eds.: Römische Inschriften - Neufunde, Neulesungen und Neuinterpretationen. Festschrieft für Hans Lieb, 2.: Werner Eck & Margaret M. Roxan: Two new Military Diplomas, pp. 55-79. Margaret M. Roxan & Paul Holder: Roman Military Diplomas, IV. Institute of Classical studies. London, 2003. no 236, pp. 463-464.

See also MS 698, Fleet diploma of Antoninus Pius, Roma, 139

MS in Latin on bronze, Roma, 1 Aug. 143, 2 tabellas (complete), 16x13 cm, 2 columns, 17+30 lines in Latin capitals, with triple framing lines on the outer face of both tablets, 2 holes through each tablet for a wire that originally bound the two tablets together, secured with the seals of the 7 witnesses.

Binding: Barking, Essex, 1994, red cloth gilt folding case, by Aquarius.

Context: There are 3 praetorian diplomas (MSS 1801, 1870, 2051/7) in The Schøyen Collection, further 11 auxiliary diplomas (MSS 1836, 1899, 2051/1-6, 2051/8, 2052, 2086), and 3 fleet diplomas (MSS 698, 1921, 2032). 6 of the 7 witnesses on the present diploma also signed 698.

Provenance: 1. L. Petronio Eptaezeni f. Eptaetrali, Nicopolis ad Bessia (143 until his death); 2. Found in Bulgaria; 3. Axel Weber, Köln (1992); 4. Bernard Quaritch Ltd., London.

Commentary: The present diploma gives L. Petronio Eptaezeni f. Eptaetrali an honourable discharge from the navy of Emperor Antoninus Pius, Roman citizenship for himself and his descendants, and the right of legal marriage. The present MS contains the unusual information, of both year, place and the exemplar copied. The exemplar, the bronze tablet set in the wall on Forum Romanum, in fact, still survives in fragments.

Published: R. Frei-Stolba and M.A. Speidel, eds.: Römische Inschriften - Neufunde, Neulesungen und Neuinterpretationen. Festschrieft für Hans Lieb, 2.: Werner Eck & Margaret M. Roxan: Two new Military Diplomas, pp. 79-99. Margaret M. Roxan & Paul Holder: Roman Military Diplomas, IV. Institute of Classical studies. London, 2003. no 264, pp. 505-506.

See also MS 2052, Auxiliary diploma of Marcus Aurelius, Roma, 178

See also MS 1870, Praetorian diploma of Philip the Arab, Roma, 246