Manuscript on paper of an alchemical compilation, apparently the holograph of the original compiler, not identified. Probably the laboratory notes of a practicing alchemist. Includes lists of Flemish names, apparently identifying fellow practitioners in early alchemy; and laboratory procedures, designed primarily to color metals and to carry out other operations with various substances. Leaves inserted and blank pages filled at later dates
Description:
In Latin, with later additions in Latin and German., Watermark: Outstretched hand, the fingerjoints indicated, a four-leafed petal extending from the tip of the third finger, the wrist and cuff of a sleeve also depicted, comparable to Briquet 11423., Script: The original part of the codex (ff. 1-133) written in a very fine, neat, and clear humanistic hand, and using a considerable range of alchemical symbols; the later additions (ff. 134-145) consist of Latin sections written in a neat italic and German passages in flowing cursive, perhaps both by a single German hand of the 18th century., Headings of procedures in red and blue alternating in the original section, and with some capitals stroked red; no color in the additions. No ornament., Though the whole of the manuscript has suffered some marginal water-staining since it was bound, it appears certain that other stains and damage occurred while the separated quires, or groups of them, remained unbound., and Binding: Probably original. Stiff parchment over paper boards, flaps over the fore-edge, probably dating from about 1525, conceivably later, as the manuscript contents do not appear to have been bound at the time of writing in any case; flat spine with modern inscription in brown ink, "Alchemical | Recipes", original blue edges.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Topic):
Alchemy, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Science, Medieval
Manuscript fragment on parchment of an antiphonary containing unidentified chants and Holy Saturday, lauds
Description:
In Latin., Script: written in gothic script (littera textualis formata)., and Decoration: the 4-line initial "U" is in blue and red; some of the sketched flourishes outside of the letter have been traced in red and filled with green; inside the letter a floral pattern has been sketched and partially completed; the 2-line initial "O" is red with sketched flourishes only partially completed and filled with green; rubrics in red in the same script as the text; quadrata notation is in black on a 4-line staff in red; punctuated with the punctus.
Manuscript roll, on parchment, in a single hand, illuminated, containing the "Arma Christi" poem and other prayers, in Dutch, including prayers ascribed to Popes Sixtus IV and Alexander VI. The prayers are preceded by a rubric instructing readers to kneel as they recite the prayers in order to obtain an indulgence
Description:
In Dutch., Layout: single column of text., Script: gothic., Decoration: Rubricated. Initials in red or blue. Large miniature at head of roll containing a bust of Christ wearing a crown of thorns, displaying his stigmata, and surrounded by the "arma Christi" (also known as the Instruments of the Passion). On a blue ground in gold frame. One large decorated initial immediately below miniature. Text accompanied by decorated borders on both sides., and Binding: section of leather sewn to top of scroll. Accompanied by seventeenth-century? fabric case with fabric and metal appliqués.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Netherlands
Subject (Name):
Jesus Christ and Catholic Church
Subject (Topic):
Passion, Dutch, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Indulgences, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Religious life and customs
Manuscript fragment on parchment of a book of hours (litanies) including a litany that includes the following saints: Gereon and companions, Cosmas, Damian, Fabian, Sebastian, Gervase, Protase, Crispin, Crispinian, Chrysogonus, Leodegarus, Lambert, Christopher, Thomas, Demetrius, Blaise, Livinus, Firminus, Silvester, Gregory, Leo, Hilary, Martin, Nicholas, Augustine, and Ambrose
Description:
In Latin., Script: written in gothic script (littera fere bastarda)., and Decoration: each line begins with a 1-line initial "S" in gold on alternating grounds of red and blue; the names of the saints are written on the same line as "Or[a pros nobis]" but are separated from it by line fillers or alternating bands of red and blue decoraed with gold penwork; there is no punctuation.
Manuscript fragment on parchment of a book of hours (Office of the Dead).
Description:
In Latin., Script: written in two sizes of gothic script (littera textualis formata), with a larger script for the canticle and Psalm and a smaller script for the chants., and Decoration: the 2-line initial at the beginning of the Psalm and the 1-line initials at the beginning of Psalm verses are in gold on a ground that alternates between red with blue penwork and blue with white penwork; the interior of letters on the red ground are filled with blue and white penwork, and the interiors of those on blue ground are filled with red and blue penwork; 1-line initials at the beginning of chants are in brown; rubrics written in red in the same script as the text; punctuated rarely with the punctus; hyphenation is in the same ink as the text.
Illuminated manuscript on parchment of a book of hours, use of Sarum, incomplete. May have been produced for a Scottish patron. Contains 1) Prayers in Latin and Middle Scots, f1r-5v; 2) Hours of the Virgin, use of Sarum, with Hours of the Cross and of the Holy Spirit intermixed, f6r-30r; 3) Prayers, including Seven Joys of the Virgin, O intemerata, and Obsecro te, f30v-42v; 4) Seven Penitential Psalms and Litany, f43r-55v
Description:
In Latin; rubrics in Middle Scots., Script: gothic bookhand., Decoration: 5 column-width miniatures, some illuminated; 4-6 line initials with illuminated full borders; 2-line blue initials with red penwork; 1-line initials in alternating red and blue. Rubricated., Layout: single columns of 22 lines., Secundo folio: tuo., Binding: modern limp vellum. Spine title: "Horae ad Usum Sarum" and "MS.", Some annotations in Middle Scots in 15th-century hand., Some full and partial leaves removed throughout., and Bookseller description available.
Manuscript fragment on parchment of a gradual in Latin with rubrics partially in Dutch containing the Vigil of St. Andrew (29 November) and St. Andrew (30 November).
Description:
In Latin and Dutch., Script: written in gothic script (littera textualis formata)., and Decoration: 4-line historiated initial "D" in blue on a dark red ground bordered with gold; the initial, of workshop quality and badly rubbed and damaged by water, shows Christ standing on the shore with Andrew and Peter in a boat; the extant margins on the recto are decorated with blue and gold vines from which come pink, green, and gold flowers; rubrics written in red in a less formal script than the text; punctuated with the punctus; words and syllables are separated by horizontal strokes in red; the foliation is written in red in the center of the upper margin of the recto.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Catholic Church
Subject (Topic):
Liturgy, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Graduals (Chants).
Manuscript on parchment of a Book of Hours with Calendar (rather empty) and headings in French
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written in formal batarde script; ff. 238r-241v in a different hand than the preceding folios, but probably almost contemporary., Thirteen undistinguished historiated initials (6-, 4-, and 3-line), ca. 1460-70, blue or pink with white highlights on brown grounds with gold highlights. Six other initials (ff. 13r, 17r, 27r, 107r, 155r, and 195r) enclose carefully studied flowers. Scatter and compartmentalized borders of average quality added later, ca. 1480-1500, for the most part to pages with historiated or flower initials, similar to borders in manuscripts of the "Ghent Associates"; the majority with acanthus branches, flowers, and birds, or flowers alone scattered on backgrounds of pink, bright blue, slate blue, gold and/or black, or flowers set within a lattice of twigs, the diamonds so formed alternately pink and blue (f. 123r) or green, pink and blue (f. 238r). Three borders (ff. 27v, 69v, and 136v) with thistles, brown and blue or brown and green, touched with gold, arranged in a wallpaper-like pattern over grounds of slate-blue or red cross-hatched with lines in a darker shade of the same color. In the border on f. 107r, a grotesque with the torso of a man and the hind legs of a large cat; on f. 185r the same, holding a bow., 2-line initials in gold on pink and blue with white highlights, except on ff. 238r-241v, gold on blue and brown with white highlights. 1-line initials in blue with red penwork, or gold with black penwork, or black with a red stroke; a few spaces for such initials have not been filled. In the text, headings and marks for antiphons in red; in the calendar, headings for months, dates, and important feasts also in red. Line-fillers: two oblique lines, blue or gold, with dots attached., and Binding: Eighteenth century. Brown calf. Paste-decorated edges. Rebacked. Spine stamped with gold leaves and the words "GETEY BOEK".
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Catholic Church
Subject (Topic):
Books of hours, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, and Manuscripts, Medieval
In Dutch., Script: Written in gothic bookhand., Four 9- or 8-line historiated initials, blue with white highlights or spiralling acanthus in white and gold, against cusped grounds, with penwork floral sprays in border, tinted red, blue and yellow. Fourteen 5-line initials for the Hours, blue, with leaves in white, filled with flowers or fruit, against gold grounds, square with cusps at corners: each with a three-quarter border, a red, blue and gold bar, some with dragon-head terminals, in outer margin; foliage with flowers, red, blue, green, purple and pink, and animals surrounded by brown and black hair-spray and gold dots. 4 inserted miniatures probably date ca. 1475-85 and differ in style from the manuscript to which they were added. The miniature on f. 55v Angels with Monstrance (Hours of the Eucharist) and most of the overpainted borders around miniatures and pages with historiated initials probably date from ca. 1500-10. The borders consist of pink and/or gold arched frames, cusped in black, with full borders, some compartmentalized, pink, blue and/or gold, with various combinations of gold curling acanthus, red, blue, and green flowers, insects and jewels; one (f. 149v) a damask pattern with jewels and flowers in roundels., Many small initials in red or blue with flourishing in blue or red, often extending the length of the written space. 1-line initials alternating red and blue. Rubrics throughout., and Binding: Seventeenth century. Gold-tooled, green goatskin with a red label and a spine decorated "a la grotesque," possibly by one of the Padeloups, a family active in Paris from ca. 1654 to 1800. Traces of original sewing and paste in gutter and on contemporary parchment flyleaves. Gilt edges.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Catholic Church
Subject (Topic):
Books of hours, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, and Manuscripts, Medieval