Leaf from the Psalms from a finely decorated Bible, in Latin, manuscript on parchment [Italy (probably Bologna), late thirteenth or early fourteenth century]Single leaf, with double column of 50 lines in a rounded Italian Gothic bookhand ( Psalms 119-127), a few tiny contemporary corrections to text, one-line initials in red or blue, 2- and 3-line initials in same with ornate scrolling penwork in contrasting colours, referencing system comprising of "XIII" in alternate red and blue capitals in upper outer corner followed by a small red triangle, these above a blue geometric shape formed from an interconnected square and rectangle with long and thin extensions at two of their extremities, tiny hairline guide-letters underneath coloured initials, small splits to outer upright edge of leaf, a small stain in margin, heavy grain pattern on verso, somewhat roughly cut from parent volume (as common with leaves from this manuscript) and folded twice at upper inner corner, else good condition, 356 by 240mm. (written space: 233 by 147mm.)Three other leaves from this large and handsome Biblical manuscript were offered in our rooms, 6 July 2017, lots 59 and 60, and 10 July 2018, lot 52. A few others have emerged with Joern Guenther (two presently on his website, identified as in the Bolognese 'Primo Stile', and attributed to the circle of the First Master of the Infortiatum dating c. 1270-1300, now Paris, BnF., ms. lat. 4476), as well as two or three others in European collections. All leaves to emerge thus far have been from the Old Testament, and the parent volume was probably the first of two volumes.What is most notable here is the complex form of reference system made up from Roman numerals and rectangles or squares in the upper outer corners of these leaves. As one of the leaves presently with Joern Guenther contains the final part of Genesis and has the number "I" at its head, and that for Joshua offered in our 2017 catalogue (lot 60) has "VI", we might suppose that the numbers correspond to the order of the books of the Bible. However, it is more difficult to perceive a pattern when we look at the interconnected shapes and their thin arms. These appear in different numbers and combinations, and their evolution is not apparently simple or straightforward (compare the single blue rectangle on the Genesis leaf; with the square and a rectangle on the Joshua leaf offered by us in 2017; the two rectangles and a square on the Job leaf sold by us in 2018; and the simpler two rectangles on the present leaf). To the best of our knowledge this referencing system is not commonly attested elsewhere, and is deserving of further study.
Leaf from the Psalms from a finely decorated Bible, in Latin, manuscript on parchment [Italy (probably Bologna), late thirteenth or early fourteenth century]Single leaf, with double column of 50 lines in a rounded Italian Gothic bookhand ( Psalms 119-127), a few tiny contemporary corrections to text, one-line initials in red or blue, 2- and 3-line initials in same with ornate scrolling penwork in contrasting colours, referencing system comprising of "XIII" in alternate red and blue capitals in upper outer corner followed by a small red triangle, these above a blue geometric shape formed from an interconnected square and rectangle with long and thin extensions at two of their extremities, tiny hairline guide-letters underneath coloured initials, small splits to outer upright edge of leaf, a small stain in margin, heavy grain pattern on verso, somewhat roughly cut from parent volume (as common with leaves from this manuscript) and folded twice at upper inner corner, else good condition, 356 by 240mm. (written space: 233 by 147mm.)Three other leaves from this large and handsome Biblical manuscript were offered in our rooms, 6 July 2017, lots 59 and 60, and 10 July 2018, lot 52. A few others have emerged with Joern Guenther (two presently on his website, identified as in the Bolognese 'Primo Stile', and attributed to the circle of the First Master of the Infortiatum dating c. 1270-1300, now Paris, BnF., ms. lat. 4476), as well as two or three others in European collections. All leaves to emerge thus far have been from the Old Testament, and the parent volume was probably the first of two volumes.What is most notable here is the complex form of reference system made up from Roman numerals and rectangles or squares in the upper outer corners of these leaves. As one of the leaves presently with Joern Guenther contains the final part of Genesis and has the number "I" at its head, and that for Joshua offered in our 2017 catalogue (lot 60) has "VI", we might suppose that the numbers correspond to the order of the books of the Bible. However, it is more difficult to perceive a pattern when we look at the interconnected shapes and their thin arms. These appear in different numbers and combinations, and their evolution is not apparently simple or straightforward (compare the single blue rectangle on the Genesis leaf; with the square and a rectangle on the Joshua leaf offered by us in 2017; the two rectangles and a square on the Job leaf sold by us in 2018; and the simpler two rectangles on the present leaf). To the best of our knowledge this referencing system is not commonly attested elsewhere, and is deserving of further study.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
