Gospel of Mark, with interlinear and marginal glosses (Glossa ordinaria, as printed in PL 114.179-244), written on goatskin parchment. The manuscript originates in Italy, but was in the later Middle Ages probably moved to Germany
Description:
In Latin., Script: Copied by a single scribe in Praegothica with Southern features in two sizes. Some glosses are added by other hands., Decoration: Limited decoration. Paragraph marks by the scribe in the ink of the text. A few 1-line versals in red. A few larger primitive flourished initials, red or blue, with penwork in the opposite colour. The text of art. 1 begins with a 4-line littera duplex “M” in red and blue colour. Art. 2 opens with a 10-line primitive dentelle initial “I” in gold on a blue and red background, which is heightened with white penwork design. The initial is shown resting on the back of a small bent male figure, coloured red and gold., and Binding: Romanesque, with undecorated white (deerskin?) leather over rounded wooden boards, sewn on three leather thongs (spine repaired). There was originally one leather strap fixed with two nails to the front board and closing over a pin in the center of the rear board. Later this strap was replaced by two straps similarly fixed with iron nails to the front board. This arrangement appears to have been changed at the end of the Middle Ages, when a title was inscribed on the front cover and an iron chain was attached at the bottom of the front board by means of an iron staple. The endleaves are two parchment bifolios from an antiphonary (Italy, 11th century), containing text and music for the offices of Ash Wednesday and the first weeks of Lent. The notation is diastematic. Rubrics and initials are missing.
