153 résultats
ST17060HFrance probably Besançon 3rd quarter of 15th century. 239 x 165 mm. 9 3/8 x 6 1/2". Single column 15 lines in an elegant gothic book hand. <br/> Rubrics in dark pink line enders in pink and blue with white tracery and gold bezant each with multiple one- and/or two-line initials in burnished gold on dark pink and blue ground with white tracery each side of each leaf with a lovely panel border composed of hairline vines with gold ivy and bezants and colorful flowers and acanthus some with floral arrangements in vases and/or especially leafy vegetation. A couple leaves with a little yellowing or light soiling to vellum occasional small stains or smudges other negligible imperfections but on the whole VERY CLEAN BRIGHT AND WELL PRESERVED.<br/> <br/> From a large Book of Hours probably produced in Besançon these leaves feature very pretty panel borders on every page each with unique flourishes that include colorful acanthus flowers and/or fruits as well as a couple special examples with particularly large fleshy vegetation and vases of floral arrangements. Luxurious touches such as the numerous gilt initials several dozen gilt bezants and ivy leaves in each panel border and the unusually wide margins point to this manuscript having been a costly production. For additional leaves from this same manuscript at different price points please check our website. unknown
ST17060PFrance probably Besançon 3rd quarter of 15th century. 239 x 165 mm. 9 3/8 x 6 1/2". Single column 15 lines in an elegant gothic book hand. <br/> Rubrics in dark pink line enders in pink and blue with white tracery and gold bezant each leaf with a three- or four-line initial painted pink or blue with white tracery filled with pink and blue vines and flowers all on a burnished gold ground ONE SIDE OF EACH LEAF WITH A HALF OR THREE-QUARTER BORDER featuring hairline vines gold ivy and bezants colorful acanthus various flowers fleshy plants and vases with floral arrangements the other side of each leaf with a panel border similarly decorated. ◆Vellum slightly yellowed minor smudging to hairline vines and slight rubbing to paint on a few of the border decorations one leaf with some small stains in the border largely masked by the hairline vines but these issues quite minor and the leaves IN FINE CONDITION overall--very clean bright and well-preserved.<br/> <br/> From a large Book of Hours probably produced in Besançon these leaves feature exceptionally pretty borders each with unique decoration that includes vases of different shapes sizes and hues each containing a different flower arrangement fleshy vegetation and colorful floral accents. The large initials here coupled with the expansive border decoration indicate that these leaves marked the openings of major prayers including "Obsecro te" "O Intemerata" the "Joys of the Virgin" and the "Seven Requests to Our Lord." Luxurious touches such as the several dozen gilt bezants and ivy leaves in each border and the unusually wide margins point to this manuscript having been quite a costly production. For additional leaves from this same manuscript at different price points please check our website. unknown
ST12778-0799Italy ca. 1275. 272 x 193 mm. 10 3/4 x 7 1/2". Double column 67 lines of text in a pleasing regular gothic hand. <br/> In a very attractive 21 1/2 x 17 1/2" walnut frame of antique design with the leaf in a sunken compartment with a gold lip a brass label below the compartment. Once purchased from Quaritch with their description on the back. ◆Formerly used as the flyleaf in a binding so slightly soiled text with minor fading a very small portion perhaps one or two lines of the text trimmed off at bottom half a dozen small round wormholes but still an attractive legible example of an unusual text.<br/> <br/> The Quaritch description says that the leaf is from "a Medieval medical work based on Galen concerned with fevers especially those that last a single day 'febres ephemerae'; the present leaf contains the text of chapters 4-7. The author speaks about bloodletting not . . . for the young or elderly baths honey the better kind is clean clear and of sharp odor and delicate Roman women. He cites Hippocrates and the 'Regimen Sanitatis' of Salerno as well as his own writings 'Quisquis igitur se non exercet in meis libris non poterit intelligere' 'Whoever then does not train himself in my own books will not be able to understand'. The text has a strong Galenic tone although it is not a translation of Galen's 'De Differentiis Febrium' and suggests a Medieval work based on Galen and possibly from the great Salerno medical school. The vocabulary includes post-classical words such as 'acetositas' acidity and even some words unrecorded in the massive 'Thesaurus Linguae Latinae' Oxford Medieval Latin Dictionary and Du Cange such as 'crapulositas' drunkenness and 'indigestabilitas.'" The leaf has obvious interest for its content and it is well presented in its attractive frame. unknown
ST16985GFrance first half of 14th century. 110 x 82 mm. 4 3/8 x 3 1/4". Single column 12 lines in a gothic book hand. <br/> Rubrics in red line enders in pink and blue with gold accents each leaf with one or more one-line initials in blue with red penwork or gold with blue penwork some leaves with one two-line initial painted blue filled with either decorative shapes or INHABITED BY A HUMAN HEAD all on a gold ground one side of each leaf WITH A FULL BORDER composed of pink and blue tendrils accompanied by spikey gold decoration and gold accents often terminating in ivy leaves and incorporating EXTRAORDINARILY CHARMING EXAMPLES OF MARGINALIA INCLUDING ANIMALS HUMANS AND HYBRIDS. ◆Vellum slightly soiled and with a few minor imperfections one leaf with a little offsetting in one corner each leaf with a small area excised by a former owner affecting marginalia and a few words of text but each leaf with at least two fully intact examples of marginalia and on the whole the leaves quite clean the colors very bright and the gold sparkling.<br/> <br/> Though diminutive in size these leaves contain enormously appealing marginal decoration in the form of humans animals and hybrid creatures inventively incorporated into the lively borders in manners that range from adorable to bizarre. Especially popular in Flanders Northern France and England during the 13th and 14th centuries marginalia such as these comprise some of the most memorable and entertaining images to be found in any Medieval manuscripts. Despite being found largely in religious books such as Psalters and Books of Hours the images are often strange humorous or even outrageous and they provide us with consistent delight. Being by definition outside of the central text or miniature the margins seem to have been a place where illuminators felt more at ease to experiment resulting in highly imaginative and unique artistic expressions. The present specimens come from a fragmentary manuscript with many leaves either missing or rendered defective where portions of the vellum were cut away as here. Fortunately these leaves each retain at least two excellent examples of marginalia including a very alert hare hybrids with the heads of humans and the bodies of two-legged beasts humans emerging from the border tendrils to help hold up initials a human head with a wizened beard and a stylized hat incorporated into the border and a trumpeter blowing into a long instrument accented with gold. Though fragmentary in appearance these leaves present an excellent opportunity to acquire fine examples of marginalia at an affordable price. For additional leaves from this same manuscript at different price points please check our website. unknown
ST16985PFrance first half of 14th century. 110 x 82 mm. 4 3/8 x 3 1/4". Single column 12 lines in a gothic book hand. <br/> Line enders in pink and blue with gold accents each leaf with one or more one-line initials in blue with red penwork or gold with blue penwork each leaf with one two line initial painted pink or blue--filled with painted floral motifs or a gold cross and ONE INHABITED BY HUMAN FACE--all on a gold ground one side of each leaf with A FULL BORDER composed of pink and blue tendrils accompanied by spikey gold decoration and gold accents often terminating in ivy leaves and incorporating EXTRAORDINARILY CHARMING EXAMPLES OF MARGINALIA INCLUDING ANIMALS HUMAN HEADS AND HUMAN-BEAST HYBRIDS. ◆Occasional minor smudging vellum a little soiled and with a few small stains one leaf with noticeable staining affecting some of the text and decoration but with extremely appealing imagery making up for it another leaf with some marginal offsetting and the inhabited initial slightly rubbed but all other examples of marginalia VERY WELL PRESERVED.<br/> <br/> Though diminutive in size these leaves contain enormously appealing marginal decoration in the form of humans animals and hybrid creatures inventively incorporated into the lively borders in manners that range from adorable to bizarre. Especially popular in Flanders Northern France and England during the 13th and 14th centuries marginalia such as these comprise some of the most memorable and entertaining images to be found in any Medieval manuscripts. Despite being found largely in religious books such as Psalters and Books of Hours the images are often strange humorous or even outrageous and they provide us with consistent delight. Being by definition outside of the central text or miniature the margins seem to have been a place where illuminators felt more at ease to experiment resulting in highly imaginative and unique artistic expressions. The present specimens come from a fragmentary manuscript with many leaves either missing or rendered defective where portions of the vellum were cut away. Fortunately this group of leaves is intact and retains much marvelous imagery including two very alert hares an owl and a wonderful stork with a long beak grabbing the equally long beard emanating from a human-beast hybrid in the upper margin and the heads of humans some in the guise of a fool and storks with long beaks each holding a gold bezant incorporated into the border tendrils. One leaf shows more damage than the others here but contains some very desirable marginalia: a human-beast hybrid with an orange speckled body and a long tail in a stand-off with a snail in the upper margin and the torso of a trumpeter emerging from one of the border tendrils blowing into an extremely long gold instrument held vertically in the fore margin. For additional leaves from this same manuscript at different price points please check our website. unknown
ST16985NFrance first half of 14th century. 110 x 82 mm. 4 3/8 x 3 1/4". Single column 12 lines in a gothic book hand. <br/> Line enders in pink and blue with gold accents each leaf with one or more one-line initials in blue with red penwork or gold with blue penwork each leaf with one two line initial painted pink or blue filled with painted floral motifs and TWO INHABITED BY HUMAN FACES and on a gold ground one side of each leaf with A FULL BORDER composed of pink and blue tendrils accompanied by spikey gold decoration and gold accents often terminating in ivy leaves and incorporating EXTRAORDINARILY CHARMING EXAMPLES OF MARGINALIA INCLUDING ANIMALS HUMAN HEADS AND HUMAN-BEAST HYBRIDS. ◆Vellum a little soiled and with a few small stains one leaf with more obvious soiling varying degrees of smudging two leaves with more noticeable smudging affecting some of the text and decoration another leaf with two of the human heads slightly rubbed but all other examples of marginalia very well preserved and paint quite fresh and the gold sparkling.<br/> <br/> Though diminutive in size these leaves contain enormously appealing marginal decoration in the form of humans animals and hybrid creatures inventively incorporated into the lively borders in manners that range from adorable to bizarre. Especially popular in Flanders Northern France and England during the 13th and 14th centuries marginalia such as these comprise some of the most memorable and entertaining images to be found in any Medieval manuscripts. Despite being found largely in religious books such as Psalters and Books of Hours the images are often strange humorous or even outrageous and they provide us with consistent delight. Being by definition outside of the central text or miniature the margins seem to have been a place where illuminators felt more at ease to experiment resulting in highly imaginative and unique artistic expressions. The present specimens come from a fragmentary manuscript with many leaves either missing or rendered defective where portions of the vellum were cut away. Fortunately this group of leaves is intact and retains much marvelous imagery including several animals a dog a bird a squirrel and a large hare human and bestial heads capping the ends of border tendrils many with a memorable detail such as a bushy beard a massive gold horn or wearing a tall pointy hat including the torso of a person holding a long antler-like club and colorful human-beast hybrids. A couple of these leaves also have initials inhabited by charming little human faces. For additional leaves from this same manuscript at different price points please check our website. unknown
ST16985QFrance first half of 14th century. 110 x 82 mm. 4 3/8 x 3 1/4". Single column 12 lines in a gothic book hand. <br/> Line enders in pink and blue with gold accents each leaf with one or more one-line initials in blue with red penwork or gold with blue penwork each leaf with one two line initial painted pink or blue ONE INHABITED BY HUMAN FACE others filled with painted floral motifs all on a gold ground one side of each leaf with A FULL BORDER composed of pink and blue tendrils accompanied by spikey gold decoration and gold accents often terminating in ivy leaves and incorporating EXTRAORDINARILY CHARMING EXAMPLES OF MARGINALIA INCLUDING ANIMALS HUMAN HEADS AND HUMAN-BEAST HYBRIDS. ◆Vellum with a little soiling and a few small stains slightly more noticeable on one leaf where it is touching the text though not obscuring meaning a few instances of rubbing to gold and decoration including one bird with its detailing rubbed away other minor imperfections but none of these flaws egregious and the most desirable imagery here still very well preserved.<br/> <br/> Though diminutive in size these leaves contain enormously appealing marginal decoration in the form of humans animals and hybrid creatures inventively incorporated into the lively borders in manners that range from adorable to bizarre. Especially popular in Flanders Northern France and England during the 13th and 14th centuries marginalia such as these comprise some of the most memorable and entertaining images to be found in any Medieval manuscripts. Despite being found largely in religious books such as Psalters and Books of Hours the images are often strange humorous or even outrageous and they provide us with consistent delight. Being by definition outside of the central text or miniature the margins seem to have been a place where illuminators felt more at ease to experiment resulting in highly imaginative and unique artistic expressions. The present specimens come from a fragmentary manuscript with many leaves either missing or rendered defective where portions of the vellum were cut away. Fortunately this group of leaves is intact and retains much marvelous imagery including an owl and two other birds one apparently holding a worm in its mouth human heads and torsos capping off the ends of border tendrils including a trumpeter blowing into a particularly long instrument and a man reaching both arms straight into the air as if trying to grab the head attached to the tendril above him and a hybrid with the head of a human in a gold hood and the body of a hare perched gingerly on an ivy branch. For additional leaves from this same manuscript at different price points please check our website. unknown
ST16985LFrance first half of 14th century. 110 x 82 mm. 4 3/8 x 3 1/4". Single column 12 lines in a gothic book hand. <br/> Line enders in pink and blue with gold accents each leaf with one or more one-line initials in blue with red penwork or gold with blue penwork each leaf with one two line initial painted pink or blue filled with painted floral motifs and on a gold or blue ground one side of each leaf with A NEAR-FULL BORDER composed of pink and blue tendrils accompanied by spikey gold decoration and gold accents often terminating in ivy leaves and incorporating EXTRAORDINARILY CHARMING EXAMPLES OF MARGINALIA INCLUDING ANIMALS HUMANS AND HYBRIDS. ◆Vellum a little soiled and lightly stained and wrinkled in places some of the gold a bit rubbed one leaf with some noticeable smudging affecting some of the text and decoration including the head of one of the hybrids but the other examples of marginalia quite well preserved and still retaining much of their original charm.<br/> <br/> Though diminutive in size these leaves contain enormously appealing marginal decoration in the form of humans animals and hybrid creatures inventively incorporated into the lively borders in manners that range from adorable to bizarre. Especially popular in Flanders Northern France and England during the 13th and 14th centuries marginalia such as these comprise some of the most memorable and entertaining images to be found in any Medieval manuscripts. Despite being found largely in religious books such as Psalters and Books of Hours the images are often strange humorous or even outrageous and they provide us with consistent delight. Being by definition outside of the central text or miniature the margins seem to have been a place where illuminators felt more at ease to experiment resulting in highly imaginative and unique artistic expressions. The present specimens come from a fragmentary manuscript with many leaves either missing or rendered defective where portions of the vellum were cut away. Fortunately this group of leaves is intact and retains much marvelous imagery including a particularly annoyed-looking bird two human-beast hybrids with long necks and bushy tails and a trumpeter emerging from the border decoration blowing into a long instrument decorated with gold accents. For additional leaves from this same manuscript at different price points please check our website. unknown
ST16985MFrance First half of 14th century. 110 x 82 mm. 4 3/8 x 3 1/4". Single column 12 lines in a gothic book hand. <br/> Line enders in pink and blue with gold accents each leaf with one or more one-line initials in blue with red penwork or gold with blue penwork each leaf with one two line initial painted pink or blue filled with painted floral motifs and on a gold ground one side of each leaf with A NEAR-FULL BORDER composed of pink and blue tendrils accompanied by spikey gold decoration and gold accents often terminating in ivy leaves and incorporating EXTRAORDINARILY CHARMING EXAMPLES OF MARGINALIA INCLUDING HUMAN-BEAST HYBRIDS. ◆Vellum a little soiled and with a few small stains one leaf with more noticeable smudging affecting some of the text and decoration another leaf with one of the heads a little rubbed but all other examples of marginalia very well preserved.<br/> <br/> Though diminutive in size these leaves contain enormously appealing marginal decoration in the form of humans animals and hybrid creatures inventively incorporated into the lively borders in manners that range from adorable to bizarre. Especially popular in Flanders Northern France and England during the 13th and 14th centuries marginalia such as these comprise some of the most memorable and entertaining images to be found in any Medieval manuscripts. Despite being found largely in religious books such as Psalters and Books of Hours the images are often strange humorous or even outrageous and they provide us with consistent delight. Being by definition outside of the central text or miniature the margins seem to have been a place where illuminators felt more at ease to experiment resulting in highly imaginative and unique artistic expressions. The present specimens come from a fragmentary manuscript with many leaves either missing or rendered defective where portions of the vellum were cut away. Fortunately this group of leaves is intact and retains much marvelous imagery including a beast with an exaggeratedly long body and horns and long-necked beasts with human heads--one who appears to be blowing smoke into the air one with a bearded face as its bottom and another with the body of a stork sporting a hat with a long pointy tendril. For additional leaves from this same manuscript at different price points please check our website. unknown
1440ST12158bAParis ca. 1440. 222 x 162 mm. 8 3/4 x 6 3/8". Single column 16 lines of text in a beautiful gothic book hand. <br/> Rubrics in red leaves with varying numbers of line fillers and one- and two-line initials in burnished gold blue and magenta highlighted with white tracery and WITH LOVELY RINCEAU BORDERS on one or both sides these composed of delicately twining hairline stems bearing red and blue blossoms and FEATURING A PROFUSION OF BURNISHED GOLD IVY LEAVES. IN OUTSTANDING CONDITION the vellum extraordinarily bright fresh and clean and WITH MARGINS AS VAST AS ONE COULD EVER HOPE FOR.<br/> <br/> Commissioned for use by a woman as indicated by the feminine form in the "Obsecro te" the Book of Hours from which these leaves come could only have been a manuscript of great beauty prepared for a household of very substantial wealth and importance. The level of achievement manifested here in both the scribal hand and the execution of the illuminated decoration clearly indicates that some of the best artisans money could buy were at work on this book and only a powerful family could afford to pay their price. Further corroboration of this fact is seen in the leaves' noticeable size and immense margins which are at least as wide as on any Book of Hours leaves we have ever owned. Such a conspicuous display of purchasing power those extra millimeters meant the slaughtering of extra animals and that meant greater cost announces an owner's self-congratulatory consequence that is uncommon except in the grandest of prayer books of the period. Happily the condition here matches the importance of the manuscript which was obviously considered from the beginning--and ever after--an object to be carefully preserved. For additional leaves from this Book of Hours at different price points please check our website. unknown
1450ST11774DParis ca. 1450. 159 x 108 mm. 6 1/4 x 4 1/4". Single column 15 lines per page in an excellent gothic book hand. <br/> Rubrics in red each leaf with two or more two-line initials in burnished gold on red and blue ground with white tracery some also with one-line initials and line fillers similarly decorated one or both sides with a swirling panel border featuring flowers leaves strawberries and many burnished gold ivy leaves on hairline stems. Isolated trivial stains or imperfections but VERY BRIGHT CLEAN AND FRESH.<br/> <br/> In fine condition beautifully decorated and sparkling with gold these leaves are marvelous examples of a high-quality Parisian Book of Hours made for a person of means. The borders here are especially pleasing with skeins of hairline vines accented by burnished bezants and ivy bright blue and gold acanthus pale green leaves and cheerful red blossoms. For leaves at other price points please check our website. unknown
1450ST11774EParis ca. 1450. 159 x 108 mm. 6 1/4 x 4 1/4". Single column 15 lines per page in an excellent gothic book hand. <br/> Rubrics in red each leaf with line fillers and multiple one- and two-line initials in burinshed gold on red and blue ground with white tracery one or both sides with swirling panel border featuring flowers leaves strawberries and many burnished gold ivy leaves on hairline stems. Isolated trivial stains or imperfections but VERY BRIGHT CLEAN AND FRESH.<br/> <br/> In fine condition beautifully decorated and sparkling with gold these leaves are marvelous examples of a high-quality Parisian Book of Hours made for a person of means. The borders here are especially pleasing with skeins of hairline vines accented by burnished bezants and ivy bright blue and gold acanthus pale green leaves and cheerful red blossoms. For leaves at other price points please check our website. unknown
1622ST12778-0281Rome 1622. 295 x 410 mm. 11 5/8 x 16 1/8". Single column 23 lines in a papal chancery hand. <br/> Elaborate lettering across top line of text. Lower margin with several signatures in ink; verso with brief notes in ink; lacking the original hemp tie and lead seal. Two tears at bottom of the document where ties were removed not affecting text vellum lightly soiled but in excellent condition overall.<br/> <br/> Addressed to the Archbishop of Naples this Papal Bull grants a marriage dispensation between Fabritio Virgopia and Judith Cuono. An online search finds nothing about the couple named here but the document reveals that they were petitioning for a dispensation because they fell into the second and third degrees of consanguinity meaning that they shared at least one common ancestor. Although marrying within four degrees of consanguinity was prohibited by the church it was not uncommon for the Holy See to issue dispensations as here allowing such marriages to take place—particularly for the privileged classes. The Papal Bull takes its name from the lead seals called "bullae" lacking in the present example that were issued with official documents of the papacy as a way of ensuring their authenticity. Apart from the very rare Solemn Privilege like Innocent III's famous granting of England in 1214 to his involuntary vassal King John there are three categories of Papal Bulls: Simple Privileges also called Solemn Letters Letters of Grace which confirm privileges and rights but are somewhat smaller and Mandates which are differentiated by their use of hemp ties as opposed to silk as would have been the case here. Pope Gregory XV born Alessandro Ludovisi 1554-1623 ruled for just over two years from 1621-23. His brief papacy was marked by efforts to support the Catholic Counter-Reformation including the establishment of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith to oversee missionary work. He also played a key role in the election of Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II canonized notable saints such as Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier and issued the last papal mandate concerning witchcraft. Documents issued by Gregory XV are unsurprisingly rare given the shortness of his rein: we could trace just one sold at auction since 1995. unknown
1614ST12778-0352Rome 1614. 203 x 319 mm. 8 x 12 5/8". Single column 25 lines in a papal chancery hand. <br/> With braided cloth tie for appended seal now gone. Elaborate lettering all across top line of text especially the first 8-line initial and at lower right corner. Lower margin with several signatures in ink behind the fold; verso with brief notes in ink; remains of hemp tie for appended seal which has been cut away. Three vertical and one horizontal fold creases faint overall yellowing to verso possible erasure correction in second line of text otherwise the page bright and the hand clear.<br/> <br/> Addressed to the Archbishop of Naples this Papal Bull grants a marriage dispensation between Pietro Palladino and Giovanna Cabalone. An online search finds nothing about the couple named in the present document but they were apparently high-ranking Neapolitan citizens who had the means to procure a Papal intercession. Likewise the particular impediment prohibiting the marriage is not apparent here. This type of document takes its name from the lead seals called "bullae" that were issued with official documents of the papacy as a way of ensuring their authenticity. Apart from the very rare Solemn Privilege like Innocent III's famous granting of England in 1214 to his involuntary vassal King John there are three categories of Papal Bulls: Simple Privileges also called Solemn Letters Letters of Grace which confirm privileges and rights but are somewhat smaller and Mandates which are differentiated by their use of hemp ties as opposed to silk as here. A member of the influential Borghese family Pope Paul V born Camillo Borghese 1550-1621 reigned as head of the Catholic Church for 16 years from 1605 until his death. As a staunch defender of the rights and privileges of the church he often came into conflict with secular leaders. He is perhaps best remembered for financing the completion of St. Peter's Basilica and for his involvement in the Galileo controversy in which he warned the scientist against advocating heliocentrism. unknown
1902ST20771New Rochelle: Printed by the University Press for George D. Sproul 1902. No. 23 OF 30 COPIES 18 for America 12 for Europe; this copy illuminated for Herman A. Metz of the "St. Dunstan Edition" all of them PRINTED ON VELLUM. 270 x 210 mm. 10 5/8 x 8 3/8". 50 leaves last blank. <br/> SUMPTUOUS COBALT BLUE MOROCCO GILT AND INLAID TO AN ARABESQUE DESIGN BY TRAUTZ-BAUZONNET stamp-signed on front doublure covers framed in gilt and inlaid brown morocco blossoms central panel of azure blue morocco outlined in brown morocco large central medallion enclosed in brown morocco and inlaid with an eight-pointed inlaid and gilt fleuron each corner with tan and ivory morocco medallion with gilt "T" at center outlined in brown morocco the spaces between the medallions with curling gilt flourishes raised bands spine compartments with gilt lettering framed by sprays of gilt berries SKY BLUE MOROCCO DOUBLURES inlaid with darker blue squares containing an ivory morocco polygon these forming a frame around a central taupe morocco panel with inlaid blue morocco flowers at corners vellum free endleaves painted with a simple blue frame small flowers at each corner all edges gilt. BEAUTIFULLY ILLUMINATED BY ROSS TURNER the title page and final page with heraldic emblems and WITH 51 LOVELY INITIALS in a range of hues 22 with delicate extensions. Printed entirely in majuscules on rectos only. A couple of small faint water spots to upper board with slight dulling where someone tried to fix these naturally occurring variations in the grain and color of the vellum otherwise A FINE COPY--the vellum creamy and smooth the colors and gilt bright and the binding lustrous.<br/> <br/> A bookmaking tour-de-force this item is part of the remarkable St. Dunstan series of famous works of literature produced at the turn of the century in very strictly limited and particularly luxurious editions by publisher George Sproul. Named for the English bishop Dunstan 909-88 who was known for his skills as an illuminator the St. Dunstan volumes were printed on vellum illuminated by different artists and then put into bindings of striking design executed by Trautz-Bauzonnet one of the premier French binders of the period. While the physical properties of this volume announce themselves more emphatically than the text the narrative here is from Tennyson's "Idylls of the King" a work Day tells us in which the legend of King Arthur is used "to establish the Victorian virtues of marital faithfulness fair play gentlemanly conduct and useful action for self and society." "Guinevere" sets forth the consequences of marital infidelity presenting a penitent queen now withdrawn to a convent groveling for Arthur to pardon her affair with Lancelot. Although the injured king grants her forgiveness he does so with little grace appearing to modern readers as "insufferably self-righteous." Day Reminiscent of the designs used in 15th century illuminated books the painted initials in our volume are well executed and attractive combining fluid shapes and consonant combinations of colors and the binding is a singularly elaborate achievement. German-born binder Georges Trautz 1807-79 apprenticed in Heidelberg Stuttgart and Witemberg before arriving in Paris in 1803. There he trained in “dorure†with the skilled gilder Debès learning to create intricate gilt designs on bindings. In 1833 he was hired as a doreur by Bauzonnet the successor to the celebrated Purgold and soon achieved acclaim for his beautifully gilded bindings. According to Michon he was "the uncontested master of the luxury binding" in 19th century France celebrated for his "sumptuous moroccos" and "dazzling gilt." His bindings were so sought after that the term "Trautzolâtrie" was coined to describe the craze for his work. In 1869 he became the first bookbinder to be named a chevalier of the Legion of Honor. The culmination and termination of the St. Dunstan books was a planned edition of 15 sets of the complete works of Dickens projected to contain 130 large folio volumes—surely the most ambitious undertaking in the history of modern American fine printing. Five volumes only comprising most of "Pickwick" were produced before the grandeur of the project overwhelmed its sponsors. Potter says that in addition to the Dickens edition the St. Dunstan series comprised a dozen volumes of the works of various authors one of them the present Tennyson issued to subscribers at the spectacular amount of $12000 per set. One of the subscribers was our original owner New York chemical manufacturer and U.S. Congressman Herman A. Metz 1867-1934. Not surprisingly this strictly limited "Guinevere" is quite rare: We could trace just two copies at auction since 1975 one of them ours sold in 1998.  . [Printed by the University Press for] George D. Sproul unknown
148552035France c.1485-1515. Small8vo. 80 x 12 mm. 1 leaf in vellum single column with text to both verso and recte. Fine flower ornamentation in red blue and gold to outer margin both verso and recte. Horisontal catchword. Small worm-hole to upper right corner far from affecting text. hardcover
1928120551928. Original illuminated large manuscript page on vellum comprising a central panel of calligraphic text in red and black ink with a miniature of a young herald surrounded by a decorative border of larger armorial shields set within a stylised foliate background in blue red green and gilt with a fine miniature of a knight’s tournament at the foot. 41 x 25.5cm. Mounted on card with ink title to the head: “Illuminated page on vellum. / Testimony of study for Board of Education Exam in industrial design 1928.†In very good condition.WITH: Two further pencil drawings by the same artist the first of an elderly gentleman the second of a classical sculpture measuring 57.5 x 38cm and 56 x 39cm respectively each signed “Bate†and dated 1927. The pencil drawings have a few short tears to the edges otherwise they are in very good condition. A fine example of 1920s illumination hardcover
ST17587France late 12th century. 176 x 132 mm. 7 x 5 1/4". Single column 18 lines in a protogothic hand text on one side only. <br/> Rubrics in red "Liber" in upper margin in red. Recto and verso with scribblings by later hands the name "Simon Pivante" clearly visible on recto but the others illegible. ◆Recovered from a binding and thus with obvious staining folds and rubbing a couple lines at top and bottom and a few other words here and there too rubbed to make out but by and large still very legible and in a pleasing hand.<br/> <br/> This leaf is primarily of interest for its content containing a rare example of Anastasius Bibliothecarius' "Historia Ecclesiastica" of the Byzantine Church also known as the "Chronographia tripartita" compiled from the works of the near-contemporary Greek authors Theophanes Nicephorus and Syncellus. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia Anastasius Bibliothecarius ca. 810-79 "learned Greek from Greek monks and obtained an unusual education for his era so that he appears to be the most learned ecclesiastic of Rome in the barbaric period of the ninth century." He earned the moniker "Bibliothecarius" from his appointment as librarian of the Roman Church a position he held during the reign of popes Adrian II 867-72 and John VIII 872-82. It is possible that Anastasius was also the same figure elected antipope in 855 as recorded in at least one contemporary chronology but historians disagree on the validity of this identification. Anastasius' work appears to be extremely rare in the marketplace. unknown
87191250. Central Italy c.1250. <br /> <br /> Matted in fine condition.<br /> <br /> § A well-painted initial of a man in flowing blue and pink robes holding a book to which he gestures probably Saint Paul. Italian miniature paintings of this period are known to be difficult to localize with any accuracy but as the face is strongly drawn with well-proportioned features it might well hail from central Italy. unknown
ST12778-0082South Germany or more probably Austria second half of the 12th century. 429 x 304 mm. 16 7/8 x 12". Double column 36 lines of text in a fine proto-gothic hand. <br/> ◆Text a bit faded on one side an upper corner slightly defective minor soiling and with the grain of the vellum apparent on verso but with the beautiful text entirely legible and the leaf as a whole quite pleasing.<br/> <br/> The hand here is memorable featuring wide upright letters that could not be more regular. Elected pope in 590 Gregory ca. 540-604 was one of the most influential pontiffs in the history of the Church. In addition to revising liturgical worship he wrote extensively on theology offering homespun wisdom rather than esoteric debates. He was declared a saint immediately upon his death. unknown
161771548Venetia: appresso Gio. Battista Ciotti 1617. pergamino. Folio. appresso Gio. Battista Ciotti unknown
161743152Venetia: Apresso Gio. Battista Ciotti 1617. Seconda impressione two parts in one folio pp. 12 609 1 8 236; a6 A-2N8 2O-2p6 †4 A-O8 P6; V4 of the first section missigned R4 with manuscript cancellation; woodcut printer's device initials and head- and tail-pieces; title page printed in red and black; text in double columns; full contemporary vellum soiling calf bands manuscript spine title and ornamentation; vertical hatch marks to upper cover edges quite rubbed and worn; endpapers supplied title page edges rather ragged minor worming to preliminaries else textblock mostly very good. Small period manuscript paper label "Ad usum A.M.L. Parm." mounted to bottom of title page. Zaunmüller p. 209. OCLC does not locate any copies in the United States. Apresso Gio. Battista Ciotti unknown
52102Presumably late 15th century. 4to 195 x 142. 1 leaf of vellum 21 lines of text recte and 18 lines verso. hardcover
46663Kent 1663 . Large 17th century velum document with two horizontal folds and 5 vertical folds plus 3 of the original wax seals. 55cm length x 64cm width. Vellum lightly soiled and worn along the creases. Document begins with a large initial "C". English text in a contemporary hand rubbed in places. The document states that Henry Hills and Edward Gray are at Cliffords Inn London. Also that Harry Welles and Ralph Blundell are from East Greenwich Kent. Also that Ralph Blundell is a Chandler. Notes to verso of the document include an amendment in Latin dated 1664 and signed by "John Walker". Also another note in English signed by Robert Cheke; "Gills Master"; and "Thomas Bosboke Jn." Family history records show a Ralph Blundell was a churchwarden of East Greenwich in 1679. Kent, 1663 . hardcover
45375Kingston upon Hull: 24th December 1667 . Folded vellum ducument. 26" x 22". Between: John Legard Kingston upon Hull; George Newman Kingston upon Hull; & Christoper Bacon. With 3 old wax seals chipped and rubbed to base. Kingston upon Hull: 24th December, 1667 . hardcover
