Manuscript on paper of Nicolaus Cusanus, De Beryllo. The Beinecke manuscript is the oldest witness to this text
Description:
In Latin., Watermarks: similar to Briquet Fleur 6651 (a. 1452, not 1552 as printed)., Script: Written in fere-humanistic script by one scribe., Two illuminated initials, one on f. 1v, 11-line, with the arms of Nicolaus Cusanus, mauve, green, blue, and gold acanthus with yellow and white highlights, against a square gold ground, edged with brown pen; foliate serifs with extensive penwork and gold dots fill outer margin. The second initial, f. 1r, 7-line, as above, with short penwork extensions and silver dots; body of the initial incorporates the lens (beryllus). Diagrams to complement text in margins., and Binding: 16th-17th centuries (?). Sewn on three small, tawed skin, slit strap supports laced into made boards. The head edge is spattered green. Covered in light brown goatskin with corner tongues. Four fastenings of suede-like ribbons. Blind-tooled with concentric frames, the center filled in with a floral design, dotted with ring punches. All but one of the fastenings wanting.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Nicholas, of Cusa, Cardinal, 1401-1464.
Subject (Topic):
Knowledge, Theory of., Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Philosophy, Medieval
Manuscript, on vellum, in a single hand, of Boethius, De consolatione philosophiae
Description:
In Latin., Probably copied in Tuscany., Signed, after the explicit: "Ego iulianus francisci de leuanto notarius scripsi.", Layout: single columns of 30 lines., Script: rounded gothic bookhand., Decoration: 5 illuminated initials on gold grounds; many smaller initials in red or blue penwork., and Binding: contemporary (?) beech boards with brown goatskin spine decorated with blind ropework; metal clasp and latch.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Boethius, -524.
Subject (Topic):
Manuscripts, Medieval, Consolation, and Dialogues, Latin
Manuscript on parchment (goatskin) of Antonio Beccadelli (Antonius Panormita, 1394-1471), De dictis et factis Alfonsi regis, Ital. translation. With Giovanni Gioviano Pontano (Iohannes Iovianus Pontanus, 1426-1503), De principe, Ital. translation
Description:
In Italian., Script: Written by one hand in a slightly shaky Southern Gothica Textualis Formata (Rotunda), the majuscules partly in Roman Capitals. Headings in clumsily executed Capitals with crossed letter I., Headings in red. 2- or 3-line plain initials alternately red and blue, with guide-letters. Larger initials with some flourishing at the beginning of each work., and Binding: Eighteenth century (?). White parchment over cardboard. On the spine the title is written "Panormit: de' Fatti d'Alfonso, e Pontano del Princip: MS." and at the bottom, partly worn off, the early shelf-mark "Cass. 1 58 an (?) x9".
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Italy
Subject (Name):
Beccadelli, Antonio, 1394-1471.
Subject (Topic):
Didactic literature, Italian literature, Literature, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Politics and government
Leaf of Cicero (106-43 B.C.), De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum (On the Ends of Good and Evil) II.27-28.
Description:
Script: Copied by a single hand in a rather uneven Humanistica Textualis marked by frequent fusions. and Decoration: None. The modern folio number(?), 36, is written in pencil on the recto.
Manuscript on paper of Aristotle, De interpretatione, translated into Latin by Ioannes Argyropylos, with his prefatory letter to Piero de' Medici. With Aristotle, Priora analytica, through Book 1.7.29b28
Description:
In Latin., Watermarks: unidentified flower in gutter., Script: Written in italic by a single scribe., Plain initials, 2- to 1-line, and headings, in red. Numerous tables and crescent diagrams within the text and margins, in black and red., and Binding: Nineteenth century. Red, spattered paper case.
Manuscript on paper of 1) Will of Guglielmo di Montiglio, councillor of Guglielmo X (VIII) Palaeologus, Margrave of Montferrato, 1464-1483, dated Casale Montferrato, 8 Febr. 1469. 2) Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini (afterwards Pope Pius II, 1458-1464), De miseriis curialium, a letter addressed to the German courtier Iohannes von Eich, written 1444
Description:
In Latin., Watermark: flower (?)., Art. 1 is copied in a rapid Humanistica Cursiva Libraria. Art. 2, by another hand, is in Humanistica Textualis Formata., Art. 1 is undecorated. Art. 2 opens with a 3-line plain initial in red and blue, followed by a line in Capitals. In the lower margin of f. 5r a coat of arms gules, with a head (?) azure and a heart-shield gold. Initial and coat of arms, of mediocre execution, are by the same hand., and Binding: Nineteenth century. De luxe binding by Chambolle-Duru. Brown morocco over pasteboard, the turn-ins gold-tooled; marbled endpapers. Spine with five raised bands and gold-tooled inscription: "AENEAS / SYLVIUS / DE / MISERIIS / CURIALIUM". Gilt edges.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Pius II, Pope, 1405-1464.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Letters, Papal, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Wills
Manuscript on parchment (fine, smooth) of 1) Prologue. 2) Moamin, De scientia venandi per aves, translated into Latin by Theodorus of Antioch. Although the prologue states that there are four treatises composed by Moamin, the fourth (Quartus naturam et medicamen qutrupedum [sic] cum quibus uenamur) is omitted in this manuscript. 3) Treatise of Dancus rex. 4) Treatise of Guillelmus falconarius. 5) Four anonymous descriptions of types of falcons. Produced probably for Ferdinand II of Aragon (arms on f. 1r).
Alternative Title:
Moamin
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written by a single scribe in elegant round humanistic script below top line., One miniature, f. 1r, five falcons sitting on a perch in a niche, with a 6-line initial, blue and light green, with green and blue acanthus, against gold, framed in red, with white dots; full border, pink and blue flowers on stems with pink, orange and green leaves and gold dots spiraling around a pink and gold bar; framed in gold and inhabited by birds, putti, four of the putti in lower margin supporting a coat-of-arms. 5-line initials, gold, filled with blue or crimson with flowers in white, on irregular grounds, crimson or blue with flowers in white, and hair-spray extensions with crimson and blue leaves, flowers and gold trefoil leaves or dots. 2-line initials, gold, filled with crimson or blue against irregular crimson or blue grounds with white filigree. Rubrics throughout., and Binding: Nineteenth century. Red goatskin, gold-tooled with "Cetreria" on spine. Gilt edges with lettering on fore-edge.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Topic):
Falconry, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Literature, Medieval, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on parchment of 1) Joannes de Sacro Bosco, De sphaera. 2) Unidentified Cosmographicae libellus. 3) Nicolas Oresme, Traite de la sphere, in a Latin translation apparently extant only in this manuscript
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written by one person in small fere-humanistic script bordering on cursive, verso., Simple decorative initials, 5- to 2-line, in red. Headings, paragraph marks, strokes on majuscules at beginning of sentences, and marginal notes, in red., Seventeen carefully executed astronomical drawings and two tables, in red, black, yellow and beige, accompany arts. 1 and 3., and Binding: 18th-19th centuries. Limp vellum case. "Tractatus spere" on tail edge.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Sacro Bosco, Joannes de, active 1230.
Subject (Topic):
Astronomy, Medieval, Cosmography, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on paper (highly polished) of Xenophon, De venatione, translated into Latin by Leonicenus Omnibonus and preceded by a dedicatory epistle to John Tiptoft
Description:
In Latin., Watermarks: similar in design to Briquet Oiseau 12127., Script: Written in a well formed italic by a single scribe., Spaces left for rubrics and initials., and Binding: Nineteenth century. Paper case with paste paper sides. Rebound in Yale Conservation Studio in 1982.