Manuscript on paper of Cicero, Paradoxa, Pseudo-Cicero, Synonyma, and other texts
Description:
In Latin., Script: the original parts are copied by two scribes: A copied art. 1 in Gothica Semihybrida Libraria/Currens; B, writing a bold Gothica Cursiva Formata with “northern” features and marked by lengthened and decorated ascenders on the top line, copied artt. 4, 6 and 7. The additional texts, copied on blank spaces or pages, are in badly shaped Humanistica Cursiva (art. 2), slovenly executed Gothica Semihybrida Currens (art. 3), Humanistica Cursiva (art. 5, [1] and [2]) and Gothico-Humanistica Cursiva (art. 5, [3] and [4])., There are remnants of an early foliation in arabic numerals (17th century?) in the upper outer corner of the recto pages, starting f. 16 ("1")., In the original parts all initials are missing; at the opening of art. 6 the upper half of f. 17r is blank (in view of a picture which was not executed?) and a later hand has entered a large and coarse initial “C” (8 lines) containing a human face; in that art. there are guide letters for the small initials which were intended to open each entry; a few of these initials were added afterwards. The initial planned at the opening of art. 7 is 6 lines high. The opening lines of art. 1 are in a large fanciful display script overdecorated with flourishes and almost illegible. There is some pale red stroking of the majuscules on ff. 68v, 69r and 70v., The manuscript contains: 1) Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.), Paradoxa. 2) Prophecy in 11 verses added by a slightly later hand on the blank lower half of the page. The text is corrupt. 3) Two rhetorical exercises by an unrecorded author addressed to an emperor, who is praised with all possible exaggeration. 4) Astronomical or computistical table, recording for each month 3 up to 7 days, of which two are superscribed with a cross and an hour, the remaining ones only with the letter "p". The crosses are crutched crosses up to September inclusive, afterwards simple crosses. 5) Notes added by slightly later hands on a blank page; notes on ancient Roman abbreviations; various Latin names applied to the Greeks. 6) Ps.-Cicero, Synonyma, printed from 1487 onward, with 17th century Italian annotations, in the same hand as in art. 1, found in the margins of ff. 23v-25r. 7) Ps.-Sallustius, Invectiva in Marcum Tullium Ciceronem., and Binding: 20th century. Yellow parchment over light cardboard, with turned edges.
Manuscript on paper of 1) Cicero, De amicitia. 2) Cicero, Paradoxa Stoicorum
Description:
In Latin., Watermarks: similar in design to Piccard Schere III.918-19., Script: Written in poorly formed humanistic script with some gothic and cursive elements, perhaps by more than one scribe, above top line., Decoration, all of poor quality, executed by several contemporary hands. On f. 1r, black penwork initial with floral design in center, on square pale red-orange ground, outlined in black; large rectangular frame, in black, connects initial to unidentified arms (or a castle [tower?] proper surrounded by vine, in chief azure [with label of cadency of 4 points argent?] with charge [stars or crosses?] argent) in lower margin. On f. 26r, angular scroll, green with pale red and orange trim, unfurls to form the letter A, 5-line, with an arrow shot through the two shafts to serve as crossbar; green foliage sprouting above. Initials, 5- to 2-line, of similar scroll design for each paradoxon. Rubric on f. 1r in a different hand from those in rest of manuscript. Many elegant pointing hands with fancy cuffs in margins., and Binding: Nineteenth century, Italy. Quarter bound in vellum with blue, red, and yellow woodblock paste-paper sides. Traces of inscription on fore-edge (contemporary?) and on vellum strip.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Cicero, Marcus Tullius.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin essays, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Stoics
Manuscript on parchment of 1) Rudimenta grammatices (Grammatica latina secundum Donatum). 2) Disticha Catonis
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written in round gothic bookhand by a single scribe., Historiated initial, f. 1r, 11-line, pink against blue ground with a half-length portrait in profile of the author, dressed in red and green robes and a red hat against parchment ground with brown penwork. Foliage serifs, green, blue and red extending into inner and upper margin to form partial border. In center of lower margin, blank shield for coat of arms, flanked by stylized foliage, blue and red. In outer margin, small patch of green with boy or man sitting under a tree (visible under ultra-violet light). One illuminated initial on f. 11r, 8-line, pink against blue ground filled with stylized foliage, blue, green and red. Plain initials in red. Small initials touched with yellow., The entire manuscript is well worn, affecting the text; f. 1r is badly rubbed and stained., and Binding: Twentieth century, England (?). Quarter bound in brown, blind-tooled calf over wooden boards.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Donatus, Aelius.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin language, Grammar, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Stoics
