Manuscript on parchment (thick and furry, numerous imperfections, some repaired) of Augustine, Confessiones
Description:
In Latin., Ten illuminated initials of good quality, 19- to 6-line, drawn in brown ink against medium blue, reddish orange and/or ochre grounds. The initials are constructed of scrolling vines with stylized foliage and/or winged dragons, with vines issuing from their mouths, accentuated or shaded in red. Some initials inhabited by winged dragons, f. 10v with grotesque (outlined by prickings), f. 25r with a nude male figure. Headings in red., and Binding: Nineteenth century, France. Brown, diced calf with a gold-tooled spine and title: "Confescion/ Santti/ Augustini" and "Manuscrit/ du 12^e siecle".
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Augustine, of Hippo, Saint, 354-430.
Subject (Topic):
Autobiography, Church history, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript, on parchment, incomplete, of the text of Peter Abelard's Historia calamitatum, followed by the seven epistolae exchanged between him and Héloïse.
Description:
In Latin., Script: compressed gothic book script., Decoration: 2-line initials in red or blue with penwork flourishing in red or purple. Medieval marginalia includes manicules and grotesques., Manuscript is incomplete (circa 50 leaves missing?). Text opens: id secreto fieret (Historia calamitatum). Text concludes: orationum instantiam confessio[ne]m lau[dis?] (Letter 7)., and Binding: modern blind-stamped white leather.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Abelard, Peter, 1079-1142. and Héloïse, approximately 1095-1163 or 1164.
Subject (Topic):
Autobiography, Women authors, Latin letters, Medieval and modern, Love-letters, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on paper (rough, brown; trimmed; no watermarks) of the Life of Josephus, which was perhaps an appendage to his Antiquitates. This codex appears to be one of the earliest surviving authorities for the autobiography of Josephus
Description:
In Greek., Script: Written by a single scribe in well-spaced minuscule; a second scribe added four lines on f. 32v, partly damaged and undeciphered., Crude headpiece on f. 1r, with title and small initials in red., The upper and lower portions of the manuscript are waterstained. Most folios have been repaired; the final leaf is badly mutilated with much damage to the text., and Binding: 17th-18th centuries (?). Rebound in brick-red leather, blind-tooled with a rope interlace with small dots in the border and a floreate cross in the center.
