Manuscript on parchment of Leonardo Bruni, De bello italico adversus gothos, in the Italian version by Ludovico Petroni made in 1456. Preceded by the letter of Leonardo Bruni to Giuliano Cardinal Cesarini (1398-1444).
Description:
In Italian., Script: Written by a single scribe in fere-gothic script, above top line., Partial border in inner margin of white vine-stem ornament, f. 1r, on blue, green and pink ground with white and blue dots. In lower border terminals extending in ink hair spray with green, pink and blue flowers and gold balls frame central medallion with a crude outline drawing of a head in profile (later addition?). Two decorated initials, 4- to 3-line, gold on blue, pink and green grounds with white vine-stem ornament. On f. 1r initial joined to partial border. Heading on f. 1r in red., and Binding: 18th-19th centuries, Italy. "Alla rustica" with grey-green paper added over the spine and part of the boards. Edges yellow.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Rome
Subject (Name):
Bruni, Leonardo, 1369-1444. and Cesarini, Giuliano, Cardinal, 1398-1444.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Italian literature, Literature, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and History
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 of Servius, De centum metris. With Brief notes on accents followed by Latin word list with Italian equivalents
Description:
In Latin., Watermarks: unidentified quadruped in gutter., Script: Written in humanistic cursive script with gothic features., and Binding: Nineteenth century. Vellum stays outside the quires. Paste-paper case in shades of deep purple.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Servius, active 4th century.
Subject (Topic):
Latin language, Grammar, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on parchment of Dialogue: "De cognitione habita apud demones," with an unidentified text
Description:
In Latin., Script: copied by one hand writing a late and imperfect Humanistica Textualis Formata. The closing formula and the alphabet at the end of the dialogue in Capitalis., The texts in Capitalis are stroked in red. Numerous 2-line initials: a Capitalis letter in gold on a bordeaux-coloured rectangular background heightened with silver penwork., and Binding: original Italian binding: brown leather over wooden boards, the covers blind-tooled with fillets and rope-work forming a cross inscribed in a frame. At the top of the spine a parchment label with the handwritten inscription s. XVII: “R / De cogni/tione / demo/nis / circa / Christum” (doubtful reading).
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Topic):
Dialogues, Latin (Medieval and modern) and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on parchment of Nonius Marcellus, De compendiosa doctrina
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written in a small upright humanistic cursive script by a single scribe who began copying the text with a single line of majuscules; written below top line., Folio 1r with partial border in upper and inner margins; white vine-stem ornament on blue, green and pink ground with grey and pale yellow dots, terminating in penwork with gold balls. At the left upper corner vine-stem ornament is inhabited by a red-winged putto being attacked by a bird. Historiated initial, 9-line, gold, against a blue, green and pink ground with white vine-stem ornament, and a medallion with the profile of a man, dressed in a red and green cap and red robes against blue ground. Numerous small initials, 4-line, gold on blue, pink and green or blue and pink rectangular grounds with white and pale yellow filigree., and Binding: Twentieth century, after 1926, England. Dark green pigskin, gold-tooled with the arms of C. H. St. John Hornby on the upper side; title on spine. Edges gilt.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Nonius Marcellus, active 4th century.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Theology
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 of Boethius, De consolatione philosophiae
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written in round gothic bookhand by one scribe., Historiated initial with partial border contains the portrait of Boethius (f. 14r); four illuminated initials of similar design and colors (dark red, red-orange, green, blue, gold) on ff. 6r, 12v, 22r, 29v (beginning of Books II-V). Small initials and paragraph marks in red throughout., and Binding: Date? Original sewing on two thick, slit leather straps, the endbands sewn on leather cores. Flush beech boards with straps laced through tunnels in the edge to channels slanted up to the outer face. The ends of the straps therefore protrude well above the face. Straps nailed and endband cores laid in V shaped grooves and nailed. The spine and about one quarter of the boards covered by brown calf with a nailed parchment strip at the edge, fragments only remaining. No adhesive on the spine. Channels for straps cut in the upper board. Holes for pins in the lower, but no marks of pin plates. This binding could be contemporary or 19th-20th century. It is interesting to note that the manuscript was bought because of the binding and not because of the text.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Boethius, -524.
Subject (Topic):
Consolation, Dialogues, Latin, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, and Manuscripts, Medieval
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
Manuscript on paper of 1) Antonio Beccadelli (Panormita), De dictis et factis Alphonsi V, with a letter of Pope Pius II and his commentary on the text. The text of Panormita alternates with the commentary of Pius II throughout. 2) Pope Pius II, In orationem pro suscipiendo in Turcos bello. 3) Antonio Beccadelli, Triumphus Alphonsi regis. 4) Pope Pius II, Oratio in triumphum Alphonsi. 5) Pope Pius II, Oratio ad Alphonsum Aragoniae
Description:
In Latin., Watermarks: unidentified Tete de boeuf, plainly visible but not located in Briquet or Piccard., Script: Written in small gothic bookhand by a single scribe; first word(s) of each major section of text written in majuscules., Red initial outlined in black ink, 3-line, on f. 1r. Plain red initials, with either decorative dots or knobs, 2- to 1-line, throughout. Headings in red., and Binding: Date? A pieced-together binding with a brown sheepskin spine and early wooden boards covered with suede-like skin. Traces of one fastening, the catch on the upper board. Worm holes in text block repaired. Residue of rectangular label on upper board.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Alfonso V, King of Aragon, 1396-1458. and Beccadelli, Antonio, 1394-1471.
Subject (Topic):
Manuscripts, Medieval and Speeches, addresses, etc., Latin (Medieval and modern)