[Latin Vulgate] Gospels, with marginal commentary on Matthew chapters 1-9 from THOMAS AQUINAS, Catena aurea in Matthaeum (The Golden Chain on Matthew)
BOOK DESCRIPTION: TINY, LOVELY AND UNUSUAL. The four Gospels transformed into a humanist book for personal use and study. Dimensions 113 x 77 mm. In Latin, illuminated manuscript on parchment, Italy (Florence?), c. 1475-1500, 258 folios on very thin parchment of exceptionally fine quality, written in gray ink in a very fine humanistic script in single column on 21 lines, rubrics (including chapter numbers in capitals) in green or red inks, with four very fine 6-line illuminated initials. BINDING: bound in Paris c. 1800-1828 in red morocco, both covers gold tooled with a fine border with palmettes and a centerpiece, minor signs of wear on the leather but in overall excellent condition. TEXT: The four Gospels, copied throughout the Middle Ages in manuscripts made for liturgical use, are transformed in this manuscript into a humanist book for personal use and study. Its beautiful script, sometimes in goldleaf, and lovely illuminated initials are noteworthy. Intriguingly, this manuscript has traditionally been associated with one of the most influential men of the Renaissance Italy, Girolamo Savonarola, and its marginal commentary comes from Thomas Aquinas, whose writings Savonarola studied in detail. PROVENANCE: The beautiful humanistic script of this manuscript denotes that it was made in Italy, perhaps in Florence, in the last quarter of the fifteenth century; an inscription on the front flyleaf, "In usum.Savonarol .", is evidence of an association of our manuscript with Girolamo Savonarola, the famous Florentine preacher that dates to the late fifteenth- or sixteenth century; On the front pastedown, engraved ex-libris of I. R. Delmas with the Greek word ÎÎÎΧÎΤÎΡΠΣ (Exactly) amid books under a sundial; sold by Renaud-Giquello in Paris on 8 February 2006, lot 132. CONDITION: minor water damage in the inner margins of some leaves, minor signs of use, in overall excellent condition. [TM 1323]
More from Les Enluminures
Book of Hours (Use of Venice), In Latin, illuminated manuscript on parchment
a delightful example of an Italian Book of Hours MADE FOR A NUN in an inviting, small format. Dimensions 114 x 83 mm. 267 folios on parchment, missing two leaves, written in a rounded southern gothic book hand in thirteen long lines, nineteen illuminated initials with borders and three historiated initials with borders. BINDING: Bound in early (sixteenth- or seventeenth century?) brown leather, once with two clasps (both missing), rebacked, very fragile and partially separating at front join. ILLUSTRATION: With thanks to Federica Toniolo, we attribute the illumination here to the circle of the Master of the Commissione Donato, a Venetian illuminator active in the second quarter of the Quattrocento into the third quarter. Representing a late Gothic trend in Venetian manuscript illumination contemporary with the late work of Cristoforo Cortese, manuscripts in the circle display an interest in the natural world, soft modelling, a colorful palette, and energetic border illumination. TEXT: Dated by the scribe, this small devotional prayer book was owned by a nun from Venice. She appears kneeling in the border of the first decorated page, her coat of arms (not yet identified) in the lower margin. The study of the history of women in religion in the Middle Ages and the early modern period has flourished in the last decades, and manuscripts such as this one, with concrete evidence that it was made for a nun in Venice in 1442, play an important part of this story. PROVENANCE: Written and illuminated in 1442, very likely in Venice; Modern owner's signature in blue pen, inside front cover, "Sean Galvin," most likely the son the collector Sir John Galvin (1908-1994), Dublin, Ireland, also owner of the famous C dice M ºrua. CONDITION: normal evidence of use (dirt and some stains), but with wide margins and in overall good condition. Psalter
BOOK DESCRIPTION: refined devotional Psalter preserving a complete series of psalms in a fifteenth-century blind-stamped leather binding. Dimensions 201 x 143 mm. In Latin, illuminated manuscript on parchment, Italy (Padua), c. 1390-1410, ii + 96 folios on parchment, written in an Italian gothic bookhand in black ink, psalms numbered in an early hand, contemporary marginal additions, two- to three-lines initials in red or blue with red flourishes for each psalm, SIX ILLUMINATED INITIALS four- to five-lines in green or purple on blue grounds with white penwork, ONE ILLUMINATED INITIAL, twelve-lines, in purple, red, and green on gold and blue grounds. BINDING: Fifteenth-century binding of leather over wooden boards, tooled in blind with Italian knot tools. TEXT: This complete Psalter gathers the one hundred and fifty psalms to be recited each week during the Divine Office in a fifteenth-century blind-stamped leather binding, adorned with knot tools typical of Italian bookbinding. The refined illuminated initials reflect developments of Paduan illumination at the beginning of the fifteenth century, displaying characteristic features, such as the soft undulation of the foliate extensions in light pink, green, and red, the gold bezants with sharp endings, and the delicate, swift decoration of the blue ground with white penwork. PROVENANCE: Based on stylistic evidence, the present manuscript was written and illuminated in Padua near the beginning of the fifteenth century; Marginal addition in a sixteenth- or seventeenth-century hand; Unidentified label, written "N.1286 / da.tax," in a nineteenth-century hand; Dawson's Bookshop, Los Angeles; sold to Marvin Colker in 1944; Marvin L. Colker (1927-2020), Professor of Classics at the University of Virginia and renowned paleographer, who catalogued the manuscripts at Trinity College Library, Dublin. His ex libris, "Sum ex libris Marci Leonardi, 19X44," is written on f. 1, while his shelfmark "MLC 4" appears in the lower inner corner of ff. 1 and 3 (see Faye and Bond, 1962, no. 4). CONDITION: occasional marginal damp staining, otherwise in very good condition. [TM 1290] JACOBUS DE VORAGINE, Sermones quadragesimales (Lenten sermons), including sermons from his De sanctis et festis (six), and De tempore (two), and from SERVASANCTUS DE FAVENTIA, Sermones de tempore et de sanctis (five)
a glimpse into daily life in the Middle Ages. Dimensions c. 200 c.150 mm. In Latin, manuscript on parchment, Southwestern Germany or Northeastern France (Alsace?), c.1300-1325, 140 folios on parchment missing at least one leaf, medieval foliation in Gothic textura Roman numerals in black ink, modern foliation in Arabic numerals in pencil, written below top line in at least five Gothica textualis hands in brown or black ink, in two columns of 36 lines. BINDING: bound, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century, in rose pink velvet over pasteboards. TEXT: One of the primary methods of educating ordinary lay people about theology and the faith; sermons can offer modern scholars a glimpse into daily life in the Middle Ages. Jacobus de Voragine, author of the Golden Legend, was one of the most influential authors of the thirteenth century. This is an early manuscript of his Lenten Sermons : with extensive signs of reader engagement, it is also a valuable witness to the reception of these popular sermons. PROVENANCE: Copied in Northeastern France, perhaps Alsace, or in the neighboring area in Germany, c.1300-1325; unidentified armorial bookplate, inside front cover, "EX LIBRIS M. LUGOL," possibly of Victor-Eug ne-Marcel Lugol (1899-1976), Comptroller General of the Navy, although the writer and translator Julien Lugol (1837-1894) has also been suggested; modern (20th- or 21st-century) bookseller or owner annotations in pencil; Brief modern description in German; Private Collection. CONDITION: occasional wrinkling and cockling, overall in very good condition. [TM 1285] Album Amicorum (Friendship Album), illustrated manuscript
BOOK DESCRIPTION: souvenirs from friends INCLUDING CHARMING watercolors of allegorical scenes and romantic pastoral landscapes of the Polish countryside. In German, and French (one entry), illustrated manuscript on paper. Dimensions: 106 x 170 mm., 132 folios, complete, NINE WATERCOLORS, ONE GOUACHE PAINTING, ONE PEN AND INK DRAWING, ONE HAND-COLORED LITHOGRAPH, ONE COPPER ENGRAVING. ORIGINAL BINDING of mottled calf over pasteboards, covers gold tooled with a narrow foliage band forming a frame and small floral corner pieces, gilded initials on front cover "S.M.E.v.S.," leather somewhat rubbed but overall in good condition, contemporary slipcase of marbled paper, very worn. TEXT: The album amicorum , or album of friends, is a booklet in which young aristocrats collected entries made by their friends and relatives. Those produced by women offer insightful glimpses into women's social networking. Sophie's album, collecting 85 souvenirs from friends and family of eminent German aristocrats, displays especially fine illustrations, mainly watercolors of charming allegorical scenes and romantic pastoral landscapes, inspired by local views in the Polish countryside, where the family lived. PROVENANCE: Sophie Beate Maximiliane von Seydlitz (1772-1853), abbess of the Czerna (Tschirnau) convent in Silesia ; collection of Konrad Schlossberger (1926-2022), a member of the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Architects. CONDITION: some minor stains, ff. 49, 57, 88, 89 loose from the sewing, in overall excellent condition. (TM 1276) Album amicorum of Marie Pacher
BOOK DESCRIPTION: CHARMING FRIENDSHIP ALBUM MADE FOR AN ARISTOCRATIC WOMAN, WITH MOST ENTRIES BY WOMEN, in German, French, and Italian, illustrated manuscript on paper, Austria and Hungary, 1819-1839 (dated), dimensions 96 x 125 mm., 124 folios on paper, SEVEN WATERCOLORS, ONE PEN-AND-INK DRAWING, FIVE LITHOGRAPHS (four hand-colored), a few dried four-leaf clovers inserted between the leaves. BINDING: original binding of 1819, red morocco over pasteboards, both covers gold-tooled, gilt edges, some wear of leather on the hinges and corners, otherwise in good condition. TEXT AND ILLUSTRATION: The album amicorum , or album of friends, is a booklet in which young aristocrats collected entries made by their friends, relatives, and acquaintances whom they met during travels and studies. This album includes numerous poems offered by friends (mostly women), as well as watercolors, a drawing, and lithographs, signed with dates and current locations. Most album amicorum were made for men. The example described here, in contrast, was made by women for a woman, adding greatly to its interest. PROVENANCE: entries were made in 1819-1839 by the friends and family of Marie Pacher in Vienna (Austria), M dling (outskirts of Vienna) and Pressbourg (Pre burg, Hungary; today the capital of Slovakia, known by its Slovak name, Bratislava). Published in the "Repertorium Alborum Amicorum"; K nigstein: Reiss & Sohn (K nigstein/Ts.), Auktion 183: Wertvolle B ¼cher, Handschriften. Vom Mittelalter bis zur Moderne , 16.-17.5, 2017; private collection. CONDITION: some leaves almost detached from the binding, minor stains, in overall very good condition. Full description and images available [TM 1275] Relationi delli Principi de Italia (Accounts of the Rulers of Italy), in Italian, manuscript on paper
BOOK DESCRIPTION: UNPUBLISHED ITALIAN DIPLOMATIC MANUSCRIPT, in Italian, manuscript on paper, Italy, Tuscany(?), 1605. Dimensions 260 x 196 mm., 16 folios on paper, complete, written in Italian cursive script in brown ink in 24 long lines. BINDING: Modern binding, blue paper cover with typed title pasted on the front cover, Relatione [sic] delli Principi de Italia . TEXT: The roots of modern diplomacy with our embassies and their ambassadors come into focus in this modest paper pamphlet. It belongs to an understudied category of Early Modern documents that consist of records known as Relazioni that ambassadors compiled on their travels and residencies, a practice that began already in the fifteenth century. Most likely written by an Italian ambassador of the early 17th century, this set of unpublished diplomatic records offers a snapshot of the Italian political scene at the time of its creation and survives as an excellent reminder of the pervasive manuscript culture that existed after the popularization of print. PROVENANCE: Produced in 1605 based on internal evidence on f. 9, where the eldest son of Carlo Emanuele I, the principe of Savoy, is said to be eighteen years old. The fact that the text spends little time discussing Tuscany might be an argument for the localization of the manuscript there, since an ambassador would not concentrate on his own region; name added in pencil below the typed title pasted on the front cover, "Pla t "; owners' or booksellers' annotation inside of the back cover in pencil, "3535 ike"; private collection. CONDITION: small tears ff. 12, 13, 14, 16, otherwise good condition. Full description and images available. [TM 400] Administrative Records from the Chapter of the Cathà drale Saint-Trophime; in Latin, manuscript on paper
ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS PROVIDING INSIGHTS INTO THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF A CATHEDRAL COMMUNITY IN LATE FIFTEENTH AND EARLY SIXTEENTH CENTURY FRANCE. In Latin, manuscript on paper, France (Arles), late 15th-early 16th century (1476-1503). Dimensions c. 310-315 225-230 mm (but ff. 139-248: c. 300 215 mm.), 252 folios on paper, a dozen watermarks, missing eleven leaves, written in multiple hands including a Gothic semi-hybrida and several very current Gothic cursiva hands, some with Secretary features, in 48-50 long lines. BINDING: early stiff vellum binding, detached at left board to reveal three bands, with two undyed ties of woven linen ribbon threaded through each board. TEXT: this codex holds records of 'Arrentements,' a form of lease, of the Chapter of the Cath drale Saint-Trophime d'Arles covering c.1476-c.1503. Providing insights into the daily operations of a cathedral community in late fifteenth and early sixteenth century France, this treasure trove of administrative documents will be of interest to ecclesiastical and administrative historians as well as researchers focusing on early modern Arles, and southern France more broadly. We believe that these documents are unpublished. PROVENANCE: assembled over time in Arles, France, in the late 15th- through early 16th-century based on watermarks plus paleographical and textual evidence and texts dating from 1476-1503; added maniculae and annotations throughout in French and Latin,16th- through 20th-century hands; owners' and dealers' notes on pastedowns; private European Collection. CONDITION: first leaf detached, occasional water staining and ink blurring with some loss of text. Complete description and images available (TM 1239).- $12,500
- $12,500
Mass Lectionary with Readings from the Epistles, In Latin, decorated manuscript on parchment
In Latin, decorated manuscript on parchment, Northern Italy (Brescia), c.1461-1484. Dimensions 260 x 186 mm, lacking the last leaf of text, otherwise complete, horizontal catchwords mostly in swirling cartouches with wash and penwork, ruled in gray ink (justification 174 x 127 mm.), written in black ink in an Italian rotunda on 21 lines. BINDING: In its ORIGINAL BINDING with wooden boards, traces of tooling with an interlacing pattern on the back board, leather on binding removed, clasps and catches missing, worm holes and wear, but in overall good condition, TEXT: This is a very fine display copy of an Epistolary: a rare type of lectionary that includes the texts for the second reading during Mass, the Epistles. This example represents a significant source for the history of the Dominican convent dedicated to Saint Florian, most likely St. Fiorano ai Ronchi in Brescia, Italy. PROVENANCE: The manuscript was made for use in a Dominican convent dedicated to St. Florian, almost certainly S. Fiorano ai Ronchi in Brescia, Italy. It can be dated after 1461, the canonization of St. Catherine of Siena, included in our manuscript; belonged to the library of the famous Italian writer and landscape architect Count Ercole de Silva (1756-1840); his stamp is found in the lower margin of f. 1; his collection was sold in Paris in 1869; Hartung & Hartung, auction 58, lot no. 4 (1989); modern booksellers' markings in pencil inside the front pastedown: "118" and "58/113/2." CONDITION: Lacking the last leaf with loss of text, black ink of text slightly faded on f. 1 and some other leaves but text legible throughout, f. 121 loose from the top sewing, minor stains, tiny worm holes on the first and last leaves, overall excellent condition. Complete descriptions and images available (TM 1250).- $28,000
- $28,000
Printed Book of Hours (use of Rome); In Latin and French, printed and illuminated on parchment
CHARMING TINY PRINTED BOOK OF HOURS WITH EXPERTLY ILLUMINATED METALCUTS IN AN UNUSUAL OBLONG FORMAT, In Latin and French, printed and illuminated on parchment in Paris, c. 1536. Dimensions 143 x 76 mm., 90 folios, complete, 32 lines printed in Roman font in black ink (justification 118 x 47 mm), single-, double-, and triple-line initials in gold paint on alternating red and blue grounds, 14 metal-cuts, hand-illuminated in full color with gold borders. BINDING: Nineteenth-century brown leather with gilt-ruled frame, gold-tooled spine, worn with losses at joints and edges, small scratches and abrasions to the covers. TEXT AND ILLUSTRATION: Printed Books of Hours, like this rare example, consciously imitated illuminated manuscripts. In this particularly appealing volume by the Hardouyn Workshop, fourteen metalcuts are so vibrantly and expertly painted that they are practically indistinguishable from illuminated miniatures. This is a very rare imprint, not in Lacombe (1907) or Brunet (1860â"1865); very likely Moreau-Renouard, 1972â"2004, vol. 5, p. 105, no. 194, BP 16 108201, Bohatta, 1924, no. 1177 (listed in these sources is a single copy sold by L. Rosenthal, Munich, Cat. XXII, no. 4032, no date, 188?). PROVENANCE: Printed in Paris by Germain Hardouyn in the sixteenth century, likely c. 1536 (includes an almanac for the years 1536â"1548); likely sold in Munich by Rosenthal in the 1880s, as listed in the Rosenthal Catalogue XXII, no. 4032; belonged to Noel F. Barwell (1879â"[1953]?), his armorial bookplate on the front pastedown. CONDITION: Some folios with wear, discoloration, and minor damage from handling, f. 42 with loss of paint, faded ink to lower corner; increased wear to last quire, with creasing to parchment from f. 79 onward, f. 90 slightly offset. Full description and images available (BOH 223/TM 1271).- $35,000
- $35,000
Carta Executoria de HidalguÃa (Patent of Nobility) of Juan de Nurueña y Alava; in Spanish, illuminated manuscript on parchment
SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY ILLUMINATED DOCUMENT FOR A SPANISH NOBLE FAMILY. In Spanish, illuminated manuscript on parchment, Spain (Valladolid), May 8, 1622. Dimensions 310 x 220 mm., 87 folios complete, some leaf and quire signatures, prickings visible, written in a humanist bookhand in 28 long lines, headings in gold capitals on grounds of blue and dark red, TWO FULL-PAGE MINIATURES. BINDING: Modern (19-20th century?) reddish purple velvet binding over wooden boards, with a center ornament and border impressed in the velvet, two ornamental silver clasps, housed in a protective box. TEXT: This Carta Executoria , granted on behalf of King Philip IV of Spain (1605-1665), authenticates the nobility of Juan de Nurue ±a y Alava, thereby granting him exemption from taxes along with other perks. Our document is the formal copy that was commissioned and retained by the family, copied in a beautiful script, and lavishly illuminated. ILLUSTRATION: Two full-page miniatures . f. 2v,Immaculate Conception of Mary with the Virgin, full length, her hands clasped in prayer, in blue robes with a star above her head, standing on a crescent moon with cherubs, in a beautiful garden and with symbols from the litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary; f. 3, Coat of arms of the family of Juan de Nurue ±a y Alava, incorporating the Alava arms on the right. PROVENANCE: Issued by the Real Audiencia y Chanciller a de Valladolid for Juan de Nurue ±a y Alava of Tordelr ¡bano and Hita, Spain on May 28, 1622. On f. 4v, the beginning of the case is stated as May 23, 1620; original flyleaf, f. i, early notes and two signatures in ink, "Manuel â¦"; "Luis Fernando"; modern owner's annotation in pencil, inside front cover, "456-TEO." CONDITION: some cockling to the leaves near the beginning and end, slight cracking along the top and bottom of the joints, upper cover, otherwise excellent condition. Full description and images available. (TM 1240)- $8,500
- $8,500
Book of Hours (use of Mons); in Latin and some French, illuminated manuscript on parchment
illuminated by the Mildmay Master, the Master of Philippe de Croÿ, and a third Mons illuminator, follower of Simon Marmion FASCINATING MEDIEVAL BOOK OF HOURS WITH EXTENSIVE ILLUMINATIONS BY THREE DIFFERENT ARTISTS. In Latin and some French, illuminated manuscript on parchment, Southern Netherlands, Mons, c. 1460 (original portion), c. 1480-1490 (updated). Dimensions 167 x 116 mm., 199 folios, lacking one text leaf, written by two different scribes in gothic textualis bookhand in single column on 17 lines; BINDING: seventeenth century brown calf over wooden boards, spine with four raised bands, gold-tooled, gilt title ("OFFICIU / BEATEM / VIRGIN", partly worn out), gilt edges. ILLUSTRATION: 22 full-page miniatures within full rinceaux borders by the Mildmay Master (13), the Master of Philippe de Croÿ (7), and a third Mons illuminator, follower of Simon Marmion (2), and 4 small miniatures by the Mildmay Master, additional sixteen full rinceaux borders, and 5-line initials in pink or blue on burnished gold grounds. The Mildmay Master was responsible for the core of the original manuscript; the artist paints elongated figures with small heads and slender bodies, mostly situated on pale yellow tiled grounds. His outdoor landscapes are cursory. Unusual here are his delicate acanthus and floral borders sprinkled with fanciful grotesques. The artist responsible for updating the manuscript is the Philippe de Croÿ Master. He favors tiled floors in brown or gray and white, with a generally somber, almost grisaille palette, with blue and white, grey, and a burnt brownish orange. A third painter, a follower of Simon Marmion, intervened during this second campaign. The most skilled of the three illuminators, his delicate figures are well-modeled, with tiny hands and individualized faces. PROVENANCE: The manuscript was made in Southern Netherlands probably in two different stages. The core of the Hours and the calendar were written in Mons for an unknown patron, c. 1460. Then, around 1480, the manuscript was updated, also in Mons, for a couple represented in prayer in the manuscript: Jean Antoine de Mahieu, Lord of Bosqueau, and his wife, Jacqueline de Sivry, Lady of Buath; belonged to Jean-Baptiste-Florentin Gabriel de Meyran, marquis de Lagoy (1764-1829); inside front cover: "Jean Fra(n)sois de Lescluse demeurant a Frasne." CONDITION: ink stain in the margin of f. 1, water stains in lower margins of first 32 leaves, colors slightly faded on marginal decoration f. 120v, stain in the marginal decoration f. 77v, other minor signs of use, otherwise in very good condition. Binding condition: leather very rubbed, gold tooling worn, front cover almost detached, hinges of the back cover fragile. Full description and images available. (BOH 217)- $140,000
- $140,000
Carthusian Ordinarium for the Mass and Office, in Latin, decorated manuscript on paper
MANUSCRIPT FOR CARTHUSIAN MONKS ON HOW TO OBSERVE THE LITURGY. In Latin, decorated manuscript on paper, Southern France (M ounes-les-Montrieux), November 15, 1544.Dimensions 145 x 90 mm. 96 folios on paper, watermark: a cross on a mount (unidentified), complete, written in a gothic cursive bookhand in a single column on 25 lines, red rubrics and initials. BINDING: modern half binding in cream-colored parchment over pasteboards, marbled papers on covers, pastedowns and flyleaves, five raised bands on spine, in excellent condition. TEXT: A handbook for the Carthusian liturgy for new priests. This is a manuscript about the Mass and Divine Office, setting forth the rules that governed the complex liturgical life of a Carthusian monastery. The information it contains is thus very different than the contents of much more common liturgical manuscripts like Missals or Breviaries. How widely this text was disseminated within the Carthusian Order remains a question for further research. PROVENANCE: copied at the charterhouse of Montrieux (in Latin, mons rivus), in Southern France, located in the commune of M ounes-les-Montrieux, north of Tolon, and about an hour away from Marseille, and securely dated 1544 in the scribal colophon at the end of part one; bookplate of Ludovic Froissart (d. 1977); modern booksellers's marks on the verso of the front flyleaf. CONDITION: slight water damage on the first leaves, some stains, and signs of use, otherwise in very good condition. Full description, images, and video available (TM 1181).- $11,000
- $11,000
Lo Statuto della Compagnia del Santissimo Sagramento in S. Nicolà dei Perfetti (Statutes of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Sacrament), in Italian and Latin, decorated manuscript on parchment
CAREFULLY WRITTEN AND DECORATED UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT FROM AN ITALIAN CONFRATERNITY. In Italian and Latin, decorated manuscript on parchment, Italy (Rome), c. 1736-1745. Dimensions 231 x 167 mm., 27 folios, complete, written in black ink in italic and in an upright script modelled on Roman font in 25 long lines, red rubrics, full decorative borders in black ink throughout, five 3-line and one 4-line initials in red ink with acanthus, one 6-line initial in black ink with acanthus, decorative tail pieces throughout. BINDING: original quarter leather binding with decorative paper covered boards. TEXT: This manuscript contains the statues for a confraternity in Rome, recording its regulations including the election of its chief officers, maintenance of the archives, care for the sick, funerary arrangements for deceased members, and so forth. Carefully written and decorated, this manuscript illustrates the interesting continuation of manuscript culture (in this case clearly influenced by the aesthetics of contemporary printed volumes) in the eighteenth century. PROVENANCE: Written and decorated in Rome for the Confraternity of the Holy Sacrament in S. Nicol dei Perfetti, Rome; the Statutes were originally ratified c. 1736; additions at the end of the manuscript confirming reforms to the statutes are dated 1744-1745; auction and other notes, all in pencil, in several hands; later owned by Kroch's Bookstore, Inc., Chicago (typed description from Kroch's bookstore laid in). CONDITION: slight darkening to edges, binding with slight wear to corners of boards, first quire loosened from bottom cord, in otherwise very good condition. Full description and images available. (TM 1093)- $6,500
- $6,500
Scriptum super libros sententiarum Petri Lombardi, Liber I (Commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard, Book one); in Latin, decorated manuscript on paper
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPT OF A THEOLOGICAL COMMENTARY BY THOMAS AQUINAS. In Latin, decorated manuscript on paper, Central Italy, c. 1450-1500. Dimensions 225 x 237 mm., 134 folios, copied by two scribes in small gothic book hands, red and blue initials throughout. BINDING: reversed calf over pasteboards (eighteenth-century?). TEXT: St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), a Dominican friar and Doctor of the Church, composed his commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard while teaching in Paris in the 1250s. It was his first major work on theology, in which he presented ideas that were to be elaborated in the Summa contra Gentiles and Summa Theologica , the latter destined to become the standard textbook of Catholic theology for centuries to come. When Aquinas was teaching, the Sentences had been the standard theology textbook since its compilation in the twelfth century. Our manuscript includes only book one, and many manuscripts of this text in fact include only a single book (or books). Only one other copy of Book I is found in a North American collection. PROVENANCE:Copied probably in the Marche region of Italy in the second half of the 15th century, when it was acquired by the Dominican convent of Santa Lucia in Fabrian (note on f. 134, partially erased and partially missing the ends of lines where the original page was torn away); European Private Collection. CONDITION: lacking two leaves at front, last leaf partially defective with some loss of text, mild dampstaining to margins and a few text pages (f. 1 and ff. 114-134), some fraying at edges and corners. Full description and images available. (TM 1136)- $32,000
- $32,000
Latin Bible, part (Pauline and Catholic Epistles, Acts, Apocalypse); NICHOLAS OF LYRA, Postillae (Commentaries on the Pauline and Catholic Epistles, Acts, Apocalypse); in Latin, decorated manuscript on paper
Nicholas of Lyra MANUSCRIPT COMBINING A LATIN NEW TESTAMENT AND COMMENTARIES BY NICHOLAS OF LYRA. In Latin, decorated manuscript on paper, Northeastern Netherlands or Northwestern Germany, c. 1450-1475. Dimensions 275 x 198 mm., 383 folios, apparently complete, written in a formal cursive gothic bookhand without loops in two columns of 38 lines, red initials, nine- to fifteen-line blue or parted red and blue initials, added running titles, which continue to part two of the volume; ff. 146-end, copied in a very neat controlled hybrida script, red initials 3- to-10 line (occasionally blue), a few with pen decoration,10-line red initial, six 10-line parted red and blue initials. BINDING: seventeenth century(?) plain vellum over pasteboard with yap edges. TEXT: This sizeable volume combines a copy of the New Testament, lacking only the Gospels, with the Commentaries by Nicholas of Lyra on the same books of the New Testament. Although possibly of independent origin, these two sections are contemporary and were united very soon after they were copied. This is the only manuscript we know of that combines the two within one volume, but it is easy to see how readers benefited greatly by having these complementary texts together. PROVENANCE: Evidence of the script, decoration, and watermarks suggests the first part of the manuscript, with the biblical text, was copied in Northwestern Germany, c. 1450-1475; evidence of the watermarks and script suggest the second half of the manuscript with Nicholas of Lyra's postillae likely copied in the Northeastern Netherlands or in Northwestern Germany, c. 1460-1470; belonged to Johann Heinrich Joseph Niesert (1766-1841); later owners, Isaac H. Hall and S. B. Pratt. CONDITION: In very good overall condition, f. 1 slit at the bottom inner margin, frayed in the outer margin, ff. 145v-146 paper noticeably darkened, f. 383 frayed at the gutter, few worm holes, rare stains from damp top margin in the second half, last few pages a bit fragile in the inner margin, vellum at the front now detached from the pasteboard and curling up, front and back covers rather dirty and scuffed. Full description and images available. (TM 1089)- $70,000
- $70,000
Viridarium Gregorianum sive Biblia Gregoriana, New Testament (A Garden or Bible of Gregory); in Latin, decorated manuscript on parchment
JACOBUS FOLQUERIUS (JACQUES FOUQUIER) FOURTEENTH-CENTURY MANUSCRIPT OF A RARE NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY COPIED BY A NAMED SCRIBE. In Latin, decorated manuscript on parchment, Southwest Flanders or Hainaut (Tournai?), c. 1350. Dimensions 240 x 170 mm., 120 folios, complete, catchwords in red and brown ink, quire signatures, written by a single scribe in a university bookhand, scrolling cadels at top lines sometimes in human and animal forms, numerous red and blue/black penwork initials of five to seven lines. BINDING: Nineteenth-century marbled boards and doublures, parchment covering corners and spine, spine title in red and black with filigreed decoration in red. TEXT: A New Testament commentary, Jacobus Folquerius's Viridarium Gregoriana , mined from many of Gregory the Great's works, drawing occasionally on Alulfus of Tournai's Gregorialis . The text is known in only three other manuscripts; this copy was, until now, apparently unknown, and is certainly the only of its kind on the market. PROVENANCE: Based on the script, this manuscript was copied c. 1350 by a scribe trained in Southwest Flanders or Hainaut (Tournai?). The parchment's texture and penwork initials are also consistent with this region. The scribe, moreover, names himself on the final folio: "Hic liber est scriptus ludofus sit benedictus." Ludolfus is otherwise unknown. The Germanic name Ludolfus, coupled with the manuscript's northwestern physical features, is consistent with production in this region; an auction record indicates this manuscript was previously in a Bordeaux private collection, although the blue pencil note in English suggests an interruption in French ownership. CONDITION: some small spots and parchment discoloration occasionally clouding text, several original holes in parchment once stitched, rodent damage to bottom inner corner of last two quires, minor cockling of leaves due to tight binding, some chipping on binding cover, edges, and hinges, staining on front flyleaves and some ink transfer to flyleaves adjacent to book block, overall in good condition. Full description and images available. (TM 1054)- $85,000
- $85,000
[Latin Vulgate] Gospels, with marginal commentary on Matthew chapters 1-9 from THOMAS AQUINAS, Catena aurea in Matthaeum (The Golden Chain on Matthew): https://rarebookinsider.com/rare-books/latin-vulgate-gospels-with-marginal-commentary-on-matthew-chapters-1-9-from-thomas-aquinas-catena-aurea-in-matthaeum-the-golden-chain-on-matthew/