Manuscript on paper of Christophorus Columbus (Christopher C.,1451-1506), Epistola de insulis de novo repertis. Relation of his first voyage to America (1492-1493), addressed to Raphael Sanchez and translated into Latin by Leander de Cosco, dated 14 March 1493. Probably copied from the edition Paris, [Guy Marchant, after 29 April 1493], GKW 7175, variant (a). With Bartholomaeus Columbus (Bartholomew C., c. 1460-1514), Descrizione della navigazione nel Mondo Nuovo. The text is in the wrong order, being probably copied from an exemplar in four pages, of which pages 2 and 3 were inverted. The manuscript should be read in the following order: (1) p. 1, lines 1 to 20 asai; (2) p. 2, lines 6 lavorate to 28 vidono di; (3) p. 1, line 20 dismontar to p. 2, line 6 corazze; (4) p. 2, line 29 bambaso to the end. Copied by one hand in Gothica Hybrida Formata verging to the Semitextualis, with a typographic outlook (but totally different from the printing type used in the presumed exemplar).
Description:
At the top of the first page the autograph ownership inscription of Sigismondo Pandolfo de Malatesta (1498-1543?), son of Pandolfo Malatesta. From the Gritti family archives., Cite as: Christopher Columbus, Epistola de Insulis de Novo Repertis. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University., In Latin and Italian., Paragraph marks, flourished initials (5 ll. f. 1r, 3 ll. f. 5r) and Columbus coat of arms all in the same brown ink as the text. The arms closely resemble those found in the Genoa codex of his Book of Privileges., Unbound. Placed in a boardpaper portfolio and leather-backed boardpaper slip-case., and Watermark: cardinal's hat, var. Briquet 3409 ... (1519-1527?).
Subject (Geographic):
North America -- Description and travel--Early works to 1800
Subject (Name):
Columbus, Christopher and Cosco, Leandro di
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Italian literature -- 16th century, Manuscripts, Medieval -- Connecticut -- New Haven, and Navigation
Manuscript on paper of Jerome, Epistolae, etc., translated into Italian by Ser Nicolaus Berti Martini de Gentiluzis de Sanctogeminiano, a notary in Florence (ca. 1388-1468). With Ps.-Augustine, Epistula ad Cyrillum, concerning the death of St. Jerome.
Description:
Binding: ca. 1500, Florence. Sewn on three tawed skin, slit straps attached to oak boards, with brown and natural color endbands (later additions?) sewn on tawed skin cores laid in grooves on the outside of the boards. Covered in orange/brown sheepskin neatly blind-tooled with rope interlace in concentric frames. Spine: double fillets at head and tail and outlining the supports on the spine; fine diapering with double fillets in the panels. Four flower-shaped catches on the lower board, two wanting. Remains of vellum label (worm eaten) on the spine and pieces of string used as place marks. Off-set impressions of medieval liturgical manuscript on front and back pastedowns. Orange edges. Sticky from excessive oiling., One illuminated initial, f. 4r, 6-line, gold, filled with red and blue penwork in geometric patterns. The penwork extends the whole length of the text column to form a partial border, terminating in the upper and lower margins in a scroll of blue penwork with small flowers, heart-shaped leaves and red dots. Numerous penwork initials of good quality, 5- to 2-line, alternate in red and blue with purple and red penwork respectively, often extending into the margins. Headings in red. Majuscules and display script touched with yellow., Script: Written by a single scribe in a small upright gothic script with both notarial and humanistic influence, above top line., and Watermarks: similar to Piccard Schere III.710, Briquet Chapeau 3387; unidentified eagle.
Subject (Name):
Jerome,--Saint,--d. 419 or 20
Subject (Topic):
Christian legends, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin letters, Literature, Medieval--Translations, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Manuscript on parchment of Aristotle, Ethica. An anonymous Tuscan translation made for Nuno de Guzman from the Latin translation of Leonardo Bruni
Description:
In Italian., Script: Text written in a well formed humanistic bookhand by a single scribe; the rubrics, in majuscules, by another scribe who used excessive punctuation., The decoration is by Gioacchino de' Gigantibus. A gold initial, 5-line, on f. 1r embedded in white vine ornament, extending into sides, top, and lower margin, filled in with green, red, and blue, with small section at regular intervals filled with gold; a green bird near the initial; in lower margin, an empty laurel wreath supported by putti filled later with a coat of arms (unidentified) in pen, now effaced; a few gold dots with hair-spray in brown ink. Other initials, gold, 5- to 4-line, on ff. 7r, 93v, 106v, 126r, 161v, in same manner, but with gold infilling., Significant stains in margins of first few leaves., and Binding: Eighteenth century. Edges gilt. Green calf with tan, gold-tooled label.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Aristotle.
Subject (Topic):
Ethics, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Italian literature, Literature, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Philosophy, Ancient
Manuscript on parchment of an anonymous Latin grammar, with some Italian translations
Description:
In Latin, with some Italian., Written by a single scribe in careful humanistic cursive, above top line., Folio 1r illuminated by Francesco d'Antonio del Chierico. Full border, partially rubbed, of white vine-stem ornament curling around a thin gold bar against blue, green and pink ground. In outer border, a medallion, framed in gold, with profile of a young man against blue ground. In lower border a wreathed medallion, framed by two circles of gold with partially erased arms. Medallion supported by six green and red winged putti. The entire border inhabited by a large number of putti playing among the vine stem, various birds and three does. Illuminated initial, 3-line, joined to the border, gold against blue, green and pink ground with white vine-stem ornament inhabited by a seated putto. One small illuminated initial, f. 1v, 2-line, gold against blue and pink ground with white filigree (partly rubbed). Plain initials alternate in red and blue. Guide letters for initials., and Binding: Nineteenth century, Italy (?). Semi-limp vellum case.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin language, Grammar, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on parchment of 1) Curtius Rufus, Historia Alexandri Magni, translated into Italian and supplemented with material from Plutarch by Pier Candido Decembrio. 2) Pier Candido Decembrio, Comparazione di Cesare e d'Alessandro Magno.
Description:
Binding: 15th-16th centuries, Italy. Sewn on four tawed skin, slit straps laid in channels on the outside of wooden boards and pegged. Gilt edges. Covered in brown goatskin with corner tongues, and blind-tooled with a ropework star inside painted (red) and blind-tooled circles inside a floral border, all with metallic annular dots. There are traces of four leaf-shaped fastenings, the catches on the lower board, the upper one cut in for fabric straps attached with star-headed nails. Rebacked twice., One illuminated intial, 6-line, gold against blue, green and pink ground with white vine-stem ornament, extending into inner margin to form a partial border; terminating at top and bottom in pen inkspray with buds in green and pink and gold balls with hair-line extensions. Plain initials, 3- to 2-line, in blue, mark text divisions; headings in pale red., Purchased from Lathrop C. Harper in 1949 by Thomas E. Marston., and Script: Written by a single scribe in a slightly rounded humanistic bookhand with many cursive elements, below top line.
Subject (Name):
Caesar, Julius, Decembrio, Pier Candido,--1399-1477, Plutarch, and Rufus, Curtius
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Italian literature--15th century, Literature, Medieval--Translations, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Manuscript on paper (lightly burnished) of Poggio Bracciolini, Historia Florentina, translated into Italian by his son Jacopo. With Prefatory letter of Jacopo di Poggio to Federico da Montefeltro
Description:
In Italian., Watermarks: similar to Briquet Chapeau 3387., Script: Written in sloping humanistic bookhand with cursive elements., Illuminated initial in gold, f. 1r, 10-line, infilled and surrounded by flowers in rose and blue (yellow centers), rayed gold discs, winding green stems and leaves, and hair-line decoration. Gold initial, f. 3r, 6-line, on ground composed of blue, green, and rose panels, all decorated with gold scroll designs. Headings in red rustic capitals., and Binding: Nineteenth century. Diced brown calf spine, blind- and gold-tooled, with Strozzi arms and "Poggio istoria tradotta da Iacopo suo figlio" and "M. S. Cartaceo del S. XV". Blue and white decorated paper sides.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Florence (Italy)
Subject (Name):
Bracciolini, Poggio, 1380-1459.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Italian literature, Manuscripts, Medieval, and History
Manuscript on paper of Agostino Cesareo (Rome, 16th century), L'arte del navigare
Description:
In Italian., Script: Written by one scribe in careful Humanistica Cursive., Coloured and uncoloured diagrams, illustrations and maps., Many pages are spoiled by the acidity of the ink., and Binding: Original limp vellum. On the front cover the inscription "L'arte de ***"; on the rear cover contemporary calculations.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Cesareo, Agostino.
Subject (Topic):
Astronomy, Cosmography, Navigation, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Italian literature, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on paper (watermarks buried in gutter) of Gregorio (or Leonardo?) Dati, La Sfera. This rhyming treatise (ottava rima) is divided into two parts: 1) a treatise on astronomy; 2) rules for navigation and the determination of the position of the sea
Description:
In Italian., Script: Written by one person in neat mercantile script., One 4-line initial, f. lr., gold capital with white-vine foliage against a blue, pink and green ground, connected to a 3/4 white-vine border with brown penwork and gold dots; a coat of arms in wreath at center of lower margin. Two 3-line initials, ff. 7r and 14v, gold, against pink and green grounds with yellow and white filigree. Folios 1r-14v illustrated in margins with astronomical and geographical diagrams, all of them circular, tinted drawings in brown pen with red, yellow, blue and green washes. Folios 15r-24v decorated with unframed maps and illustrations drawn in brown pen, and tinted green, brown and red. Most illustrations unlabeled., Some leaves repaired; the manuscript shows signs of heavy use., and Binding: 16th-17th centuries. Resewn on three vegetable fiber supports. Rounded spine. Covered in black/brown sheepskin over wooden boards with corner tongues. Blind-tooled with five line fillets forming diamonds. There are traces of four bosses on each board and two clasp-and-catch fastenings, the catches on the lower board. Fastenings and bosses are wanting. Concentric circles are scratched in the center of the lower board. Rebacked.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Dati, Gregorio, 1362-1436.
Subject (Topic):
Astronomy, Medieval, Italian poetry, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, Early maps, and Navigation
Manuscript on paper of 1) Jacopone da Todi (c. 1236-1306), Laude. 2) Poem in quatrains, each beginning with the name "Yhesu" (attributed to Jacopone da Todi). 3) Jacopone da Todi (attributed), Tractatus utilissimus. 4) On the five steps of spiritual illumination. 5) Hymn on the name of Jesus attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (Bernardus Claraevallensis, 1090-1153). 6) Bonaventura (1221-1274), Rhythmus de operationibus Iesu Christi, an addition to his Lignum vitae. 7) On the name of Jesus. 8) Lauda on the love of Jesus, attributed to Bianco da Siena (ca. 1350, d. between 1400 and 1450). 9) Lauda on the Virgin, attributed to Gianotto Sachetti
Description:
In Italian and Latin., Script: In spite of the very uneven script, probably copied by one hand hesitating between Southern Gothica Textualis and Semitextualis Libraria/Formata., Headings in red, often missing. Initials with guide-letters: 1-line plain initials alternately red and blue; 2-line flourished initials in red with purple penwork and blue with red penwork; those on the first pages are 3- or 4-line. On f. 1r 11-line historiated initial on gold background containing a profile portrait of Jacopone da Todi with nimbus and holding medallion with the "Jesus"-monogram; the initial has floral extensions in the inner margin. In the lower margin a coat of arms (made illegible by means of black paint) in a wreath., and Binding: Ancient limp parchment. At the top of the spine in 17th-century handwriting: "Imni di F. Jacopone. M.S. D.27" ; at the bottom the shelfmark "T 1 15".
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Jacopone, da Todi, 1230-1306. and Franciscans.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Italian poetry, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Religious poetry, Italian