Manuscript on sheepskin of Nicolaus de Byard (ca. 1250), Distinctiones, with alphabetical index
Description:
In Latin., Script: copied by several similar hands in small, highly abbreviated Northern Gothica Textualis Libraria (Semitextualis)., Decoration: initials in red and blue, some with ornamentations and extensions in red and blue tracery. Guide letters in the margins., and Binding: 19th century English blue leather with artificial cross grain over pasteboard. Gold-tooled inscriptions in the compartments of the spine. The damaged state of the final leaf of the manuscript shows that the original binding probably was chained at a staple fixed to the lower edge of the rear board.
Manuscript on parchment of Nicolaus de Lyra, Postillae on Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and I-IV Kings
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written by several scribes in gothic bookhand., 19 pen-and-ink drawings with washes in red, green, blue and pale yellow, some inserted into the text column, others up to half-page size dealing with the Tabernacle in the Desert and the Temple of Solomon: the drawings serve to clarify the written text by depicting differences in interpretations between Jewish and Catholic exegesis; contrasting drawings are usually juxtaposed and labelled with the respective source for each., Many fine flourished initials, red and blue divided, 9- to 3-line, with penwork designs in red, blue and/or purple; somewhat smaller less ambitious initials alternate red and blue with designs in the opposite color. The minor decoration appears inconsistently, with running headlines, rubrics, paragraph marks and underlining of Biblical texts, in various colors or totally absent., and Binding: Modern restoration? Limp vellum case with earlier title (mostly illegible) running lengthwise on spine and later title added at top of spine: "Fr. Nicolai de Lyra ord. min. Commentaria in Libro historico Sacrae Scripturae".
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Nicholas, of Lyra, ca. 1270-1349.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Scholasticism
Manuscript on parchment of Thomas Aquinas, Summa contra gentiles, ending abruptly
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written in neat gothic bookhand by a single scribe., Red and blue split initial, 10-line, at beginning of text (p. 11) with fine penwork flourishes within body and length of inner margin, in red, blue, and purple. Similar initials, 6- to 3-line, without penwork extensions, on pp. 68, 130, 284. Small initials, 5- to 2-line, alternating red with purple penwork and blue with red, throughout. Headings in red; running titles in red and blue; paragraph marks alternate red and blue., and Binding: Fifteenth century. Sewn on five double, tawed thongs laced into flush oak boards through tunnels in the edge and pegged with rectangular pegs. The back board is cracked and mended. The spine is square and lined with tawed skin. Plain, wound endbands sewn on twisted, tawed skin cores laced into the boards. Added embroidery is sewn through the cover and shows on the spine and the edge, with whip-stitching around the entire endband. Covered in kermes pink tawed skin with corner tongues. Two strap-and-pin fastenings, the pins on the lower board. Five foliate bosses on each board. A pin, straps and two bosses wanting. Original front pastedown: incomplete alphabetical index, 14th century, of subjects from amor through uita (no entries for x). Original back pastedown, also contemporary with main text: fragment of a theological text on the biblical prophets, on recto; unfinished diagram of the books of the Bible, divided into categories in mandata diuisio, in exempla diuisio, in ammonitiones diuisio, in reuelationes diuisio (with material from Old Testament only), on verso.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, 1225?-1274. and Dominicans.
Subject (Topic):
Manuscripts, Medieval, Philosophy, Scholasticism, and Theology
Manuscript on parchment of Gottofredo da Trani, Summa super titulis Decretalium. With medicinal recipes and a list of Roman emperors
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written in a rounded gothic bookhand, below top line; marginal annotations and finding aids by a contemporary hand in less formal script., 5 fine illuminated initials, 30- to 7-line, in blue or pink with white filigree on blue and red grounds framed in blue or red accentuated at the corners by gold dots. Infilled with intertwining or angular vines, some with biting head terminals, mauve or blue with white highlights and gold dots. Ascenders and descenders, red, mauve and blue terminating in spiralling serifs with biting animal heads or grotesques against cusped grounds. Two initials with vines issuing from upper and left corners, blue with white highlights ending in grotesques. 3- and 2-line calligraphic initials, red and blue with blue and red penwork. Plain initials alternating in red and blue. Headings in red; running titles (chapter numbers) alternating red and blue. Instructions to rubricator in lower margins., and Binding: Nineteenth century, France. Early sewing on five supports with 19th-century boards covered in parchment. Title on spine: "Gofredo de Trano/ Manuscrit".
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Goffredo, da Trani, d. 1245.
Subject (Topic):
Canon law, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Scholasticism
Manuscript on parchment containing 1) Nicolaus de Byard (ca. 1250), Tractatus de vitiis et virtutibus, often improperly titled Summa de abstinentia (themes treated in alphabetical order). 2) Readings for the liturgical year, referring to the chapters of Tractatus de vitiis et virtutibus, arranged as follows: the Vespers on Saturdays; Temporale and the feast of the Dedication of the church; Sanctorale ("De sanctis"), at the same time Common of the Saints
Description:
In Latin., Script: probably copied by one hand, writing a small, rapid Gothica Textualis/Semitextualis Libraria with numerous abbreviations., Headings and underlining in red. Alternately red and blue paragraph marks. Alternately red and blue 2-line half inset flourished initials, respectively with penwork at the opening of the chapters, with guide letters. 6-line littera duplex with penwork in the same colours on f. 1v., and Binding: spine with four raised bands. On the spine and partly on the covers, an 18th century paper title label with handwritten inscription "Ancien / Manuscrit / sur / Velin / Complet / et ********" (cfr. MSS 940 and 941).
