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Lot 161¤
DECORATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM. Ritual, in Latin. Central Italy, perhaps Tuscany, third quarter of the 15th century.
21 November 2023, 10:00 EST
New YorkSold for US$4,480 inc. premium
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DECORATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM.
Ritual, in Latin. Central Italy, perhaps Tuscany, third quarter of the 15th century. 145 x 110 mm. i + 58 vellum folios. Complete. Collation: [i-v10 vi6 vii2]. Catchwords centered in lower margin, last versos. 12 long lines, very faintly ruled in lead (written area: 90 x 75 mm). Written in a formal, round liturgical hand in two sizes of script. Extensive rubrics in red, two-line initials alternating blue flourished in red and red flourished in mauve, one-line initials in text alternating blue and red. A few contemporary corrections to text. (Blank bottom margins of a few leaves replaced with other blank parchment, slit and early mend in blank margin of f. 51.) Binding: vellum spine, sides of 18th-century Italian paste paper over pasteboards (worn, inner front joint split, first quire detached from sewing).
Provenance: Copied perhaps in Tuscany, as the flourished initials closely resemble those of J. R. Abbey's manuscript J.A. 3166 (dated to Tuscany, 1460-1470); Written for use in a Franciscan community: the two litanies (f. 11, f. 41) each include St. Bernardine of Siena, canonized 1450, in the original text, but St. Bonaventura, canonized 1482, has been added in the margin of the second litany; Ex libris of an unidentified Franciscan community (f. 57v); William A. Quayle, 1860-1925, bookplate (his collection of rare books is now at the University of Oregon and his collection of Bibles at Baker University, Baldwin, Kansas); Modern penciled inscription "Mabel, from Mumsie, Daddy's Library" (f. 58v).
The Ritual (Latin: Rituale) is a Catholic liturgical book containing the instructions (rubrics) and texts for the ceremonies of the church other than the Mass or Office. This small-format, carefully executed manuscript focuses on the last rites as practiced in the later Middle Ages. Its small size indicates that it was meant to be carried and used by the celebrant at the various ceremonies. The inclusion of the rite for churching a woman after childbirth undoubtedly relates to the pastoral responsibilities of Franciscan friars.
Contents:
Last rites: instructions and texts for communion, anointing, commendation of the soul, preparation of the body for burial, preparations for chanting the vigils for the dead and other rites in the church, and ceremonies and prayers for burial (ff. 1r-31v); rite for the burial of a child (ff. 31v-33v); seven penitential Psalms, litany and prayers (ff. 33v-52r); rite for churching a woman (ff. 52r-53v); the rite for absolution (normally the first of the rites) added at end (ff. 54r-55r).
Passion according to John: John 18:1-19:37, contemporary addition, copied in a very small italic hand (ff. 55r-57v).
Provenance: Copied perhaps in Tuscany, as the flourished initials closely resemble those of J. R. Abbey's manuscript J.A. 3166 (dated to Tuscany, 1460-1470); Written for use in a Franciscan community: the two litanies (f. 11, f. 41) each include St. Bernardine of Siena, canonized 1450, in the original text, but St. Bonaventura, canonized 1482, has been added in the margin of the second litany; Ex libris of an unidentified Franciscan community (f. 57v); William A. Quayle, 1860-1925, bookplate (his collection of rare books is now at the University of Oregon and his collection of Bibles at Baker University, Baldwin, Kansas); Modern penciled inscription "Mabel, from Mumsie, Daddy's Library" (f. 58v).
The Ritual (Latin: Rituale) is a Catholic liturgical book containing the instructions (rubrics) and texts for the ceremonies of the church other than the Mass or Office. This small-format, carefully executed manuscript focuses on the last rites as practiced in the later Middle Ages. Its small size indicates that it was meant to be carried and used by the celebrant at the various ceremonies. The inclusion of the rite for churching a woman after childbirth undoubtedly relates to the pastoral responsibilities of Franciscan friars.
Contents:
Last rites: instructions and texts for communion, anointing, commendation of the soul, preparation of the body for burial, preparations for chanting the vigils for the dead and other rites in the church, and ceremonies and prayers for burial (ff. 1r-31v); rite for the burial of a child (ff. 31v-33v); seven penitential Psalms, litany and prayers (ff. 33v-52r); rite for churching a woman (ff. 52r-53v); the rite for absolution (normally the first of the rites) added at end (ff. 54r-55r).
Passion according to John: John 18:1-19:37, contemporary addition, copied in a very small italic hand (ff. 55r-57v).