Beschreibung:

PSALTER. Latin. [England, 14th cent.]; BREVIARY. Latin. [France, 15th century]. Portions of two MANUSCRIPTS ON VELLUM, bound together: Psalter: 80 leaves, quires apparently of four bifolia (binding order too disturbed for accurate collation), traces of original quiring, a few catchwords visible in extreme lower margin at right on last versos of quires. 177 x 127mm. (7 x 4 7/8 in.), written in black ink in a Gothic textura script, ruled in lead, single columns of 21 lines, justification (112 x 88mm.). 2-line Psalm initials in burnished gold on pink and blue grounds with white tracery; 1-line versal initials alternately in burnished gold with blue flourishing and blue with red flourishing; line fillers and diagonal ornaments in the upper and lower margins of each page in blue and burnished gold. Marginal corrections in a contemporary hand, some erased. The gold somewhat rubbed, inconspicuous early repairs to the margins of c. 6 leaves, small original defects or holes in the margins of c. 6 leaves. Ff. 27-31 partially cut out, f. 40 partially detached, ff. 41-46 detached and laid in. Occasional unobtrusive smudges or stains. Breviary: 48 leaves, quires apparently of four bifolia (too defective for accurate collation), traces of original quiring, a few horizontal catchwords visible in lower margin at right on last versos of quires. 177 x 127mm. (7 x 4 7/8 in.), written in brown or black ink in two sizes of Gothic textura formata script, ruled in red ink, single columns of 19 lines, justification (112 x 72mm.). One 5-line initial in burnished gold on a red and blue ground with white tracery and a partial border of gold ivy leaves on fine black stems (f. 13r); 2- and 1-line Lombard initials in burnished gold with blue flourishing or blue with red flourishing; line-fillers in burnished gold and blue; capitals washed with yellow; rubrics in red or indicated by red underlining. Small original holes or slits in the margins of c. 6 leaves; f. 21 lacks corner with no loss of text. Both fragments are incomplete at beginning and end, lack an undetermined number of leaves internally, and are bound with the remaining leaves out of order. BINDING Later stiff vellum, all edges gilt, slightly soiled . TEXTS The text of the Psalter as bound begins with Ps. 75:1, and includes portions of Ps 65:2-150, after which are found parts of the Canticles and Litany. There are substantial lacunae and many errors in binding order. The text of the Breviary is from the summer part, beginning with the feast of the Trinity. A rubric in French occurs on f. 13r. PROVENANCE Del Marchese Teod. Giorgio Friucchgi [?], inscription on second flyleaf -- No. 1155 in an unidentified collection, inscription on second flyleaf verso -- Geo. A. Leavitt & Co., Auctioneers, New York, no 24 in an unidentified sale, probably 1880s, printed label on pastedown -- Byron Reed, acquired before 1892.