Manuscript on paper of 1) Cicero, De amicitia. 2) Cicero, Paradoxa Stoicorum
Description:
In Latin., Watermarks: similar in design to Piccard Schere III.918-19., Script: Written in poorly formed humanistic script with some gothic and cursive elements, perhaps by more than one scribe, above top line., Decoration, all of poor quality, executed by several contemporary hands. On f. 1r, black penwork initial with floral design in center, on square pale red-orange ground, outlined in black; large rectangular frame, in black, connects initial to unidentified arms (or a castle [tower?] proper surrounded by vine, in chief azure [with label of cadency of 4 points argent?] with charge [stars or crosses?] argent) in lower margin. On f. 26r, angular scroll, green with pale red and orange trim, unfurls to form the letter A, 5-line, with an arrow shot through the two shafts to serve as crossbar; green foliage sprouting above. Initials, 5- to 2-line, of similar scroll design for each paradoxon. Rubric on f. 1r in a different hand from those in rest of manuscript. Many elegant pointing hands with fancy cuffs in margins., and Binding: Nineteenth century, Italy. Quarter bound in vellum with blue, red, and yellow woodblock paste-paper sides. Traces of inscription on fore-edge (contemporary?) and on vellum strip.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Cicero, Marcus Tullius.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin essays, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Stoics
Manuscript on paper (medium weight, sturdy) of 1) Aristotle, De anima. Followed by a Latin translation of Aristotle's De anima, sometimes ascribed to William of Moerbeke. 2) Simplicius, In Aristotelis De anima libros Commentarius. 3) Paraphrasis of art. 1. 4) Plotinus, Enneades I.1-8.6 line 27. 5) Aristotle, De interpretatione
Description:
In Greek and Latin., Watermarks on f. ii similar to Briquet Main 10713; ff. 1-48 similar to Harlfinger Homme 21; f. 49 similar to Briquet Ancre 428; ff. 51-67 similar to Briquet Chapeau 3384; ff. 69-80 similar to Briquet Balance 2506; ff. 81-96 similar to Briquet Lettre R 8938., Script: The manuscript is divided into 4 parts, which do not correspond precisely with the divisions of the text. Part I (ff. 1r-50v): Written in small, neat Greek minuscule. The parallel Latin translation (ff. 1r-9v only) is in italic, about the same size as the Greek; probably added later, since it is written around some marginal rubrics for the Greek text. Part II (ff. 51r-67r): Written in a rather large Greek minuscule, with a thick pen which ran out of ink every few words; marginal and interlinear notes much smaller, but possibly by same hand. Part III (ff. 67v-80r): Greek minuscule very similar to that in Part I. Part IV (ff. 81r-96v): Same scribe as Part II; signed on f. 96v: George, son of Constantine., Part I: Space for a 5-line initial at the beginning of the Greek text was not filled; 2-line initials in red at beginning of sections; headings in red, also marks in margin for chapters. Part II: Spaces for initials, 7-line or larger, were not filled in, but two initials similar to those in Part IV were sketched in (ff. 51r and 56r). Part III: Spaces for 8-line initials not filled. Part IV: 7-line initials in black and orange-tinted red; stylized leaves and vines, with a bird on f. 83v. Diagrams in red traced over black., and Binding: Nineteenth century. Tan calf case deeply indented and gold- and blind-tooled. Similar to the bindings of MSS 255 and 256 and probably by the same binder. According to A. R. A. Hobson the binder may be Whitaker.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Aristotle.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Scholia
Manuscript on parchment (monastic, furry) of Josephus, De bello Judaico, translated into Latin by Hegesippus
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written by a single scribe in elegant French minuscule. Marginalia, including "Nota" marks, by several later hands., Good pen-drawn initial for Book 1 (f. 2v), 12-line, in brown, with vigorous foliage swirls, modelled with fine striations, against a bright, multicolored (green, blue, red, maroon) panelled ground; for the Prologue and Books 2-5 (ff. 2r, 37r, 52r, 67v, and 82v), 7- or 5-line initials, in red, blue, green, and light brown with delicate, stylized foliage (f. 2r: also with two stylized heads). On f. 77v, a marginal drawing in red ink of a man pointing to text with a note (13th century) in brown ink "Nota de iniquo Symone.". Rubrics throughout., and Binding: Eighteenth century. Edges gilt. Green goatskin gold-tooled, with a brick-red label.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Josephus, Flavius.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Jews, History, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on parchment of Josephus, De bello iudaico, translated into Latin by Rufinus
Alternative Title:
De bello Judaico
Description:
In Latin., Written in bold and elegant early gothic bookhand; some looped flourishes in upper margins contain red dots., Seven initials, 17- to 10-line, in red, filled with red swirling foliage on orange and green grounds, with touches of blue, against irregular grounds of blue and/or orange panels. 6- to 2-line initials, green and/or red with red or green foliate flourishes, set both outside and into text column; initials sometimes incorporate simple facial features. 1-line red initials for rubrics. Rubrics throughout; remains of notes to rubricator., and Binding: Nineteenth century. Brown goatskin, blind-tooled.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Josephus, Flavius.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Jews, History, Latin literature, Medieval and modern, and Manuscripts, Medieval
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 paper (watermarks: unidentified mountain) and parchment (inner and outer bifolios, of poor quality) of Boccaccio, De claris mulieribus; translated into Italian by Donato degli Albanzani
Description:
In Italian., Script: Written by three persons in round gothic script: Scribe 1, ff. 1r-33v (except f. 8, replaced in 16th century); Scribe 2, ff. 33v-36v; Scribe 3; ff. 37r-74r. In portions written by Scribes 1 and 2 some elaborate ascenders and descenders in upper and lower margins, touched with red., Initials, 3- to 2-line, in red or blue, sometimes with red penwork. Rubrics throughout. Initial added [date?], f. 2v, to replace one removed: blue, with leafy filler in green outline, and foliage extending down margin and across top and bottom of column, drawn in green, red, and blue., Initial removed from f. 2v; leaf was then reinforced with paper covering f. 2r, col. b (blank). Lower margins of ff. 1, 33 and 37 cut off., and Binding: 19th-20th centuries. Vellum spine and fore-edge strip with marbled paper sides. Label on spine: "Donne Illust. del Boccacc. MS".
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Boccaccio, Giovanni, 1313-1375.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin literature, Medieval and modern, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on parchment of Boethius, De consolatione philosophiae. With Excerpts from the commentary of Nicolas Trevet (in margins) on Boethius, Book I.1.1 - II.5.34.
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written by two scribes in an ornate and elegant gothic bookhand. 1) ff. 1v-154v; 2) ff. 155r-210v. The marginal commentary is in a neat informal batarde (ink paler than that used for text)., Plain initial, 3-line, in blue at beginning of text; other initials, 2-line, in red throughout text to mark the beginning of poetry and prose sections. Title page (f. 1v): alternating lines of blue and gold., Grease stain in margins at end of codex; bottom of f. 81 trimmed., and Binding: Nineteenth century. Brown sheepskin, blind-tooled. Repaired.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Boethius, -524. and Trivet, Nicholas, 1258?-1328.
Subject (Topic):
Consolation, Dialogues, Latin, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Scholia
Manuscript on parchment of 1) Dares Phrygius, De excidio Troiae historia, in the Latin translation ascribed to Cornelius Nepos, followed by the lists of those killed by the heroes on both sides. 2) Geoffrey of Monmouth (Galfredus Monemutensis, d. 1154), Historia regum Britanniae. 3) De origine Normannorum, a short history of Normandy up to Henry I, King of England and Duke of Normandy (d. 1135). The main part of this text derives from Hugh of Saint-Victor (Hugo de Sancto Victore, d. 1141), Excerptiones allegoricae, X, 10 (PL 177.284) and is followed by a short list of Dukes of Normandy. 4) Three unidentified poems on the miracles of St. Benedict, followed by rhymed liturgical prayers to be said in the presence of the relics of the saint, and another poem on St. Benedict. This manuscript, which from the beginning contained all four texts described above, was copied in a Benedictine abbey
Description:
In Latin., Script: Carefully copied by one hand in Northern Gothica Textualis Libraria., Headings and running titles in red, many now poorly legible. Heightening of majuscules in red. Large decorated Romanesque initials, red or green, at the head of artt. 1 and 2; 2- or 3-line plain initials alternately in red and blue and 1-line initials in the same colours in the middle of the text in art. 2; on f. 91r, at the beginning of Book XI, there is a 3-line flourished initial in blue with red penwork, which may be added later. 3-line red plain initial at the beginning of art. 3. 2-line initials in art. 4, of the same kind as in artt. 1-2., and Binding: Eighteenth century. Sprinkled calf over cardboard; the covers have gilt edges.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., Great Britain, Normandy (France), and Troy (Extinct city)
Subject (Name):
Dares, Phrygius. and Benedictines.
Subject (Topic):
Devotional literature, Latin (Medieval and modern), Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin literature, Medieval and modern, Literature, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and History
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 of Petrarch, De remediis utriusque fortunae
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written by a single scribe in beautiful batarde script characterized by calligraphic flourishes (some stroked with yellow) in upper and lower margins., 4-line initial on f. 1r, blue with white highlights, on a gold ground, with a coat of arms (effaced) against burgundy ground with gold floral sprays; short floral border, pink and blue flowers on green stem, infilled with gold dots with black hair-spray. 6-line initials on ff. 84r and 87r green with yellow highlights, on gold ground, with a love-knot connecting E (brown with gold highlights) and N (blue) against silver ground, borders as above. 2-line initials at beginning of chapters, gold with black penwork and flourishes; 1-line initials (R for Racio, and G, S, D, M, for the other interlocutors) blue or gold, with red or black penwork., On ff. 1r and 8r three quarters of the page was ruled, but left blank, presumably for miniatures., and Binding: Nineteenth century. Red velvet case, much worn.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Petrarca, Francesco, 1304-1374.
Subject (Topic):
Conduct of life, Dialogues, Latin (Medieval and modern), Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, and Manuscripts, Medieval