Manuscript on paper of the writings of Christopher of Paris (pseudonym for a Venetian exile), including his major work, Lucidario, with its supplementary alphabet, plus three letters
Description:
In Italian and Latin., Script: Written by a single good italic hand, sometimes hasty toward the end of the codex., Rubricated, headings often in red., and Binding: Original plain parchment wrapper without ties, back with three raised bands, soiled and worn. Plain edges.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Christopher, of Paris.
Subject (Topic):
Alchemy, Alphabet books, Italian letters, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on parchment of Nicolaus de Byard (ca. 1250), Distinctiones, an alphabetical repertory in aid of preachers
Description:
In Latin., Script: Probably copied by a single hand writing a highly abbreviated small Gothica Semitextualis Libraria., Red headings. Alternately red and blue paragraph marks. Alternately red and blue flourished initials with marginal extensions, 2- or 3-line, sometimes 4-line; the larger initials are found at the beginning of each letter of the alphabet. Line-fillers (in black ink) in the first quire only., A large section of f. 157 is torn off, causing the loss of an important part of the text in both outer columns. Holes and parchment repairs before writing, e.g. ff. 22, 118., and Binding: Early. Undecorated brown calf over heavy rounded wooden boards (rebacked), sewn on five split leather thongs. Marks of four clasps attached to the front board. Front pastedown and flyleaf from a document on parchment, 1300-1350, written in Gothica Cursiva and dealing with sales of land (?), mentioning other documents dated 1245 and 1314 and the names of many persons. Rear flyleaf and pastedown are leaves of an alphabetical index to a moralistic treatise, written on parchment in Gothica Cursiva Libraria, 14th century. It contains part of the letter C, the full letter D and parts of the letters M and N and for each lemma refers to one or more numbers followed by one or more letters. Each new letter opens with a black plain initial.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Nicolas, de Byard.
Subject (Topic):
Alphabet books, Catholic preaching, and Manuscripts, Medieval
