Manuscript on parchment (palimpsest) of 1) Francesco Barbaro, De re uxoria, with his dedicatory preface to Lorenzo di Giovanni de' Medici. 2) Leonardo Bruni, Oratio Heliogabali ad meretrices. 3) Plato, Crito, the first version of the Latin translation by Leonardo Bruni (1420s). 4) Xenophon, Apologia Socratis, translated into Latin by Leonardo Bruni. 5) The ps.-Virgilian Epistola Virgilii ad Maecenatem written by Pier Candido Decembrio as a young man in 1426; he had difficulty convincing his contemporaries that it was not genuine.
Description:
Binding: 19th-20th centuries, Germany (?). Case bound with leaves from a parchment manuscript (Breviary, France, 1250-1300). On the front pastedown: rubrics for the major feasts and their octaves occurring in late June (John the Baptist, 24 June) through mid-August (Assumption, 15 August), and the beginning of the lessons to be read within the octave of the feast of John the Baptist; on the back pastedown: end of the lessons for Hilarianus of Arezzo (7 August) and beginning of the second lesson for Cyriacus, Largus and Smaragdus (8 August)., Illuminated initial of poor quality, f. 1r, 7-line, gold (almost completely rubbed), with red penwork filigree and small stylized leaves, with some touches of gold. At the top of the page, beneath rubric, arms of the Rustichelli family (per pale, or, a lion rampant sable; or, 4 bars nebuly sable), surrounded by red penwork. Plain initials in red and blue. Headings in red. Some small initials touched with yellow. Off-set impression of eyeglasses on ff. 33v-34r., Purchased in 1957 from H. P. Kraus by L. C. Witten, who sold it in 1959 to Thomas E. Marston., and Script: Written in humanistic bookhand by a single scribe, above top line.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin literature, Medieval and modern, Literature, Medieval--Translations, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Manuscript on parchment of Boethius, De topicis differentiis.
Description:
Binding: Date? Limp vellum case with title, in ink, on spine: "Topica boetij"., One historiated initial, f. 1v, blue with white filigree and highlights against a square reddish brown ground with white filigree, showing Boethius as a monk in a blue robe seated on a chair and holding a scroll inscribed with his name, and a disciple, dressed in a red robe and holding a book inscribed with the opening words of the text proper, both figures against a grey ground with white filigree. Three illuminated initials, ff. 7v, 16v, 23r, 6- to 4-line (without ascenders or descenders), blue with white filigree against reddish brown ground with white filigree or reddish brown against blue ground with white filigree. The initials are filled with scrolling vines blue or reddish brown with white highlights, with stylized leaves, ending in dragons' heads against reddish brown or blue grounds. Descender, f. 16v, in form of a dragon, reddish brown against blue ground. Flourished initials, 2-line, and paragraph marks alternate red and blue., and Script: Written in compact gothic bookhand by a single scribe, below top line.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin literature, Medieval and modern, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Bruni, Leonardo, 1369-1444 Burlaeus, Gualterus, 1275-1345? Homer Vegio, Maffeo, 1406 or 7-1458
Published / Created:
[ca. 1450 or between 1450 and 1475]
Call Number:
Marston MS 91
Image Count:
370
Resource Type:
Archives or Manuscripts
Abstract:
Manuscript on paper (highly polished) of 1) Walter Burley, De vita et moribus philosophorum. 2) Mapheius Vegius, Declamatio seu disputatio inter solem, terram et aurum. 3) Selected speeches from Homer, Iliad IX (Oratio Ulixis, Responsio Achillis, Oratio Phoenicis) translated into Latin and with a preface by Leonardo Bruni.
Description:
Binding: Nineteenth century, England. Straight-grained brown leather, gold tooled. Edges gilt. Bound by F. & T. Aitken. Title on spine: "Diogenis Laertii Philosophorum Vita et Dicta. Codex MS. Saec. XV"., Purchased from L. C. Witten in 1955 by Thomas E. Marston., Script: Written by a single scribe in humanistic cursive script with gothic features, above top line., The decoration consists of an elaborately illuminated page (f. 1r) in a style influenced by the "Master of the Vitae Imperatorum" who was active in Milan in the second quarter of the 15th century. Included in the full border of curling inkspray with heart-shaped and trefoil leaves in green, flowers in blue, red, pink and mauve, a strawberry, and gold balls is a standing figure of a naked boy holding a scroll inscribed with the motto "Seul e la fin." At the corners four quatrefoil medallions bordered in gold with portraits of philosophers against blue grounds with gold filigree. In lower border unidentified arms (quarterly, 1 and 4 or a millrind gules, 2 and 3 or a lion azure; with a bishop's mitre and crozier); in upper border a scroll with same motto as above. One historiated initial, f. 1r, 7-line, formed of acanthus leaves, mauve and red on gold ground, containing a portrait of the author against blue ground with gold filigree. One illuminated initial, 6-line, in mauve on gold ground with stylized foliage in green and blue with yellow highlights. In the text blank spaces for headings and initials., and Watermarks: unidentified crown over five-pointed star in upper margin, trimmed.
Subject (Topic):
Biography--Middle Ages, 500-1500, Dialogues, Latin (Medieval and modern), Epic poetry, Greek, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Literature, Medieval--Translations, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library, and Philosophy, Ancient
Jerome, Saint, d. 419 or 20 Rufinus, of Aquileia, 345-410
Published / Created:
[ca. 1430-40]
Call Number:
Marston MS 198
Image Count:
232
Resource Type:
Archives or Manuscripts
Abstract:
Manuscript on paper of 1) Jerome, Dialogus contra Pelagianos, Books I-III. 2) Rufinus Tyrannius, Apologia contra Hieronymum. 3) Jerome, Apologia contra Rufinum, Books I-II. 4) Jerome, Ad Algasium liber quaestionum undecim (Letter 121). 5) Anonymous, Disputatio de ratione anime. 6) Origen (?), translated into Latin by Jerome. 7) Jerome, Ad Hebydiam de quaestionibus duodecim (Letter 120). 8) Jerome, Ad Algasium liber questionum undecim (Letter 121), ending abruptly in the tenth questio. 9) Epistola ad Demetriadem de virginitate et vitae perfectione. 10) Jerome, Epistola CVIII ad Eustochium virginem, on St. Paula. 11) Jerome, Epistola CXLII ad Augustinum.
Description:
Binding: 19th-20th centuries. Rigid vellum case with the title in ink on the spine: "Dialogi Pelagii et Attici"., One 4-line illuminated initial, f. 1r, shaded pink with red and green acanthus leaves on dark blue with white filigree against a gold ground edged thickly in black. In the upper left corner a red, blue and gold flower with spiralling acanthus in the upper and inner margins, forming a partial border, green, blue, red, brown, the spirals filled with gold or blue with white filigree. Large gold dots with four black spikes. Numerous pen and ink initials, 5- to 1-line, alternating in red and blue with purple or red penwork. Headings in red. Instructions to the rubricator at lower edge, f. 1r., Purchased in 1958 from C. A. Stonehill by Thomas E. Marston., Script: Written by two scribes. Scribe 1 (ff. 1r-76v) in a fere-humanistic hand with features of round humanistic; Scribe 2 (ff. 76v-109v) in a more angular fere-humanistic hand., and Watermarks: similar to Briquet Monts 11895 and 11702; unadorned anvil similar to Harlfinger Enclume 5; unidentified letter (D?) similar in general design to Harlfinger Lettre 14.
Subject (Name):
Jerome,--Saint,--d. 419 or 20
Subject (Topic):
Apologetics--Early works to 1800, Celibacy, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Manuscript on parchment of Alexander of Villa Dei, Doctrinale.
Description:
Binding: Nineteenth century, England. Light brown leather, gold-tooled. Gilt edges. Rebacked. Title on spine: "Alexander de Villa Dei Doctrinale. MS: In Memb". Bound for Henry Drury by C. Lewis in 1820., One historiated initial, f. 1r, 6-line, pink, red, and green with white filigree on gold ground thinly edged in black, with a half-length portrait of a teacher in red robes and a red cap holding a book, against a blue ground with white filigree. In the lower margin arms of the Pesaro family of Venice (per pale indented or and azure), framed by scrolling acanthus, green, red, blue, and pink. Plain initials and paragraph marks both alternate blue and red. Headings in red., and Script: Written in round gothic bookhand by a single scribe, below top line.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin language--Grammar, Latin poetry, Medieval and modern, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Manuscript on paper of 1) Note on the reign of the first Doge of Venice, Pauluccio Anafesto (697-717). 2) History of Venice from its legendary foundation to 695. 3) Alphabetical list of Venetian noble families, with their coats of arms and notes on their history. 4) History of the Doges of Venice up to Francesco Venier, elected 1554, d. 1556, with their coats of arms.
Description:
Binding: Date? Pasteboard., In Italian., Painted coats of arms, those in art. 3 in decorative cartouches. Large decorative painted initials for each family name., Script: Copied by two hands. A (ff.IIr and 1r-84v): Gothica Cursiva Libraria/Currens; B (ff. 85r-170r): Humanistica Cursiva Currens., and The top and the lower corners of the final leaves badly damaged by moist, with loss of some text.
Subject (Geographic):
Venice (Italy)--History
Subject (Topic):
Heraldry, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library, and Nobility--Italy
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
Aurispa, Giovanni, ca. 1376-1459 Bruni, Leonardo, 1369-1444 Griffolini, Francesco, 1418-1483 Phalaris, Tyrant of Agrigentum, 6th cent. B.C Plutarch Tibullus
Published / Created:
[between 1450 and 1475]
Call Number:
Marston MS 100
Image Count:
224
Resource Type:
Archives or Manuscripts
Abstract:
Manuscript on paper of 1) Phalaris, Epistolae, translated into Latin by Francesco Griffolini of Arezzo and dedicated to Malatesta Novella of Cesena. 2) Unidentified couplet. 3) Ps.-Brutus, Epistolae, translated by Rinuccio Aretino and dedicated to Pope Nicholas V. 4) Ps.-Plutarch, Epistola ad Traianum. 5) Ps.-Philip of Macedon, Epistola ad Aristotelem. 6) Plutarch, Pyrrhus (extract), Lat. tr. of Leonardo Bruni. 7) Ps.-Caesar, Epistola ad Ciceronem. Arts. 8-11 are excerpts from an 11th- or early 12th-century supplement to Curtius Rufus, Historia Alexandri Magni. 12) Ps.-Phalaris, Epistula ad Demotelem, Lat. tr. Giovanni Aurispa. 13) Tibullus (attributed), Priapea I.
Description:
Binding: Date? Italy (?). Sewn through pieces of vellum. Limp vellum case with title in ink on spine: "Phalaridis Epistole". Badly worm eaten., Purchased from C. A. Stonehill in 1955 by Thomas E. Marston., Script: Arts. 1 and 3-12 written in humanistic cursive by a single scribe, above top line; arts. 2 and 13 added in a more flamboyant style of humanistic cursive., Two illuminated initials, 4-line, gold against blue, green and dark red grounds with white vine-stem ornament and white dots. From the corners issue penwork inkspray with leaves, green with yellow or gold highlights, and blue or red blossoms, extending into margins to form partial border. Plain initials alternate in blue and red. Headings in pale red., and Watermarks: similar in design to Briquet Fleur 6597, 6601.
Subject (Name):
Phalaris,--Tyrant of Agrigentum,--6th cent. B.C
Subject (Topic):
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 Vegetius, Epitome rei militaris.
Description:
Binding: Eighteenth century, England or France. Bound in olive green goatskin gold-tooled with a "broken cable" border and decorated edges. Probably bound by Richard Wier (active in London and Toulouse to ca. 1792). Decorated edges. Title on spine: "Vegetius De Viris Il"., Purchased from C. A. Stonehill in 1953 by Thomas E. Marston., Script: Written in small gothic bookhand by a single scribe., and Three illuminated initials, 3-line, at the beginning of the Prologue (f. 1v), Bk. 3 (f. 29v), Bk. 4 (f. 58r), blue or mauve with white filigree against gold ground thinly edged in black. Initials filled with stylized leaves, blue and mauve with white filigree. Black inkspray with spiky gold leaves and small blossoms in pink or blue extend into the margins to form partial borders. Numerous small initials, 2-line, gold, on mauve and blue ground with white filigree. Running headlines in red and blue; headings in red. Paragraph marks alternate red and blue. Initials stroked with pale yellow.
Subject (Name):
Vegetius Renatus, Flavius
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin literature, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library, and Military art and science--Early works to 1800