Manuscript fragment on parchment of Heinrich Seuse's Buchlein der Ewigen Weisheit; this is among the earliest known copies of the work and is written in a transitional dialect between Swabian and Alemannic
Description:
In Middle High German., Script: written in gothic script (littera textualis)., and Decoration: 3-line initials at the beginning of chapters are in red; 1-line initials are in black highlighted with red; rubrics are written in red in the same script as the text; punctuated with the punctus and virgule.
Manuscript on paper and parchment, heavily illuminated (trimmed), of Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Written in Cologne/Lower Rhine (Ripuarian language area) for Augustinian use
Description:
In German and Latin., Watermarks: similar to Briquet Armoiries 1656., Script: Text written in varying bookhands, most with batarde influence; more formal scripts for some rubrics and portions of text on parchment., Two historiated initials, 12- and 10-line, on parchment bifolios, the letters gold and blue with brown and red penwork, the figures crudely drawn in pen and colored brown, blue and green, against bright red grounds with white highlights; brown and red calligraphic flourishes with red, green, blue and yellow dots extending along upper and side edges of written space. 12-, 10-, and 9-line initials (ff. 13r, 96r, 115r, 179r, 222r, 258r, 322v) gold (or red for ff. 258r, 322v) and blue, filled with brown floral penwork designs with calligraphic flourishes and dots, as above. Floral borders for each 12- through 9-line initial (except ff. 15r and 258r), red, blue, and green flowers with gold dot centers, connected by brown ink stems, arranged in rows or spirals; ff. 13r and 84v with a vase and bird in the margins. Two 9-line initials, ff. 274r and 298r, on parchment bifolios, in a markedly different style, green and blue respectively, with yellow and white highlights, against gold grounds, filled on f. 274r with a large flower, blue and red, on f. 298r with short sections of curling pink and green acanthus. Borders large blue or red flowers with gold dots and centers or short sections of blue and red acanthus on spiraling brown stems with small green teardrop leaves. Numerous 7- through 2-line initials, red and/or blue, with brown penwork and flourishes, as above. I-initials, up to 13-line, red or blue throughout. Some capital W's in text in blue or red. 2-line KL monograms, alternating red and blue. Some portions of the text, including proper names, underlined in red. Notes for rubricator in gutter, perpendicular to text., and Binding: Sixteenth century. Original sewing on four supports attached to wooden boards. Covered in dark brown calf with corner turn-in tongues. Blind-tooled with concentric borders, an X, roses and small flowers in the central panel, roses and rampant lions in the outer borders. Two clasp-and-catch fastenings, the catch on the upper board. Rebacked and the endbands probably added. Straps replaced. Covers lined with fragments of unidentified scientific text, in Latin (15th century).
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint, Augustinians., and Catholic Church
Subject (Topic):
Devotion to., Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, and Manuscripts, Medieval
In German., Watermarks: quatrefoil, var. Briquet 5576?; balance, var. Briquet 2454?., Script: Hand A copied ff. 1r-39r (quires I-IV, artt. 1-7) in Gothica Cursiva Libraria; Hand B copied ff. 41r-84v (art. 8) in Gothica Cursiva Currens; Hand C copied ff. 85r-89r (art. 9) in Gothica Cursiva Libraria., There is space for initials in artt. 8-9 but they have not been executed. In artt. 1-7 the decoration consists of red heightening of majuscules and red plain initials, 1-3 lines, with guide-letters. Headings in red., and Binding: Original undecorated brown pigskin over heavy unbevelled wooden boards, with two decorated brass clasps attached to the rear cover and five decorated brass bosses on each cover (the center bosses are circular; one corner boss on the front cover missing). Remnants of a 17th-century paper title label on the spine.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Rome (Italy)
Subject (Name):
Catholic Church
Subject (Topic):
Books of hours, Devotional literature, German, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Description and travel
Manuscript on paper (watermarks trimmed; unidentified) of various prayers
Description:
In German and Latin., Script: Text written in formal gothic by one scribe. Prayers added on the flyleaves, front and back, by several later hands in italic of the 17th century and later. 2- and 1-line initials in blue-grey or orange-tinted red. 1-line initials within the text, with red stroke. Extensive rubrication in orange-tinted red., and Binding: 16th-17th centuries. Sewn on three single, round, vegetable fiber cords laced into wooden boards. "Made" endbands glued on and extending onto the outer face of the boards. Red edges and numerous place marks of vellum or tawed skin on the fore-edge. The spine rounded and lined. Covered in dark brown calf with two brass catches on the upper board and brass clasps hinged to the lower. The lower board is detached and one clasp and some leather at head and tail of the spine are wanting.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Augustinians. and Catholic Church
Subject (Topic):
Manuscripts, Medieval, Monasticism and religious orders, and Prayers