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
Description:
In Latin and Italian., Watermark: cardinal's hat, var. Briquet 3409 ... (1519-1527?)., Script: 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)., 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., and Binding: Unbound. Placed in a boardpaper portfolio and leather-backed boardpaper slip-case.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and North America
Subject (Name):
Columbus, Christopher.
Subject (Topic):
Italian literature, Manuscripts, Medieval, Navigation, and Description and travel
Manuscript on paper (various watermarks), composed in four parts, of 1) Pomponius Mela, De chorographia libri tres, ending abruptly in III.107. 2) Vibius Sequester, De fluminibus, fontibus, lacubus, nemoribus, paludibus, montibus, gentibus. 3) Unidentified text(s) on the names of the Roman provinces and their regions (ff. 47v-48v) and the names of the cities in the provinces (ff. 48v-50r). 4) Dares Phrygius, De excidio troiae historia, ending abruptly and missing f. 54. Arts. 5-9, a series of exordia, appear to be school exercises in Latin prose composition, all poorly written and heavily corrected. They follow approximately the text of Justinus' Epitoma, but are much abbreviated; the Latin is often incomprehensible without a prior knowledge of the historical narrative. 10) Short unidentified passages on Epirus
Description:
In Latin., Script: Part I (ff. 1-38): Written by multiple scribes in humanistic cursive script, above top line. Part II (ff. 41-50): Written by several scribes in humanistic cursive, above top line. Part III (ff. 51-76): Written by several scribes in varying styles of humanistic cursive, above top line. Part IV (ff. 72-76): Written by a single (?) scribe in humanistic cursive script., Part I: Plain red initials, 5- to 1-line. Epigraphic heading on f. 1r; other headings in humanistic bookhand, in red. Part II: Epigraphic headings and plain initials, 3- to 1-line, in black. Part III: Epigraphic heading, f. 51r, and plain intials in black. Part IV: Heading on f. 72r in red., The patterns of stains suggest that the parts were originally separate booklets., and Binding: Eighteenth century, Italy. Paper case, once white.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., Rome (Italy), and Troy (Extinct city)
Subject (Name):
Mela, Pomponius.
Subject (Topic):
Cosmography, Education, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Description and travel
