Manuscript on paper of Vincent of Beauvais, Speculum Historiale, Books 21-25. Previously bound together with the Vinland Map (Beinecke MS 350A).
Description:
In Latin., Watermarks: Briquet Tête de boeuf 15056., Script: Written by a single scribe in a well-formed running hand with bâtarde shading and flourishes in the upper and lower margins that are often decorated with red. The same scribe also wrote the Hystoria Tartarorum (Beinecke MS 350A.1). A somewhat later hand, (approximately 1500), added running titles in the upper margin in italic script., Rubrics, Roman numerals and some simple initials in red., and Binding: Fifteenth century. Sewn on four tawed, twisted, double supports laced into grooves extending approximately 25 mm on the inside of beech boards and pegged. The spine is square and lined with vellum extending onto the inside of the boards between sewing supports. Covered in brown leather blind-tooled with concentric frames, the center panel filled in with small, square bird tools. The entire binding was tooled upside down. Impressions of the tools go through to the wood. Four fastenings, the clasps on the upper board. Restored; endbands added and clasps wanting. On the glue left from the original pastedowns, now wanting, are the offset impressions from a single, heavily annotated manuscript document that was cut in half vertically; dated 1437 from the Council of Basel.
