Majorque

ABC_47997 — 1320. Folio folded lengthwise 11.2 x 32 cm. Stored in custom-made purple half morocco case. Catalan manuscript on cotton paper. 9 written pp. on 8 tall sewn leaves. An extensive account of the expenses incurred and payments received by Guillem Guillermo Esteve for the care of the falcons of King Sancho I of Mallorca between the months of March and May 1320. Sancho of Mallorca the Peaceful 1274-1324 was King of Mallorca Count of Roussillon and Cerdanya and Lord of Montpellier from 1311 to his death in Formiguères on 4 September 1324.The document includes information on the feeding and care of the falcons on the costs of the hoods jesses rings and other utensils and the loans and payments to various persons. The itemized transactions involve the purchase of several falcons: three from the castle of Pollensa two from the land of Palomera and three from the land of Alconzena; others from the Bishop of Mallorca from the land of Escorça from the married woman Valentina wife from the land of Calobra; further 12 pairs of pigeons and another 27 pairs of pigeons; other entries of pigeon purchases follow: "Llibre de les messions que en Guillem Stheve ha fetes per los falcons del senyor rey de lÂ’any de MCCCXX. Primo costà 1a exavegada de pala als dits falcons 4 s. 4. Ãtem costà 1 librel 8 d. Ãtem costaren de port 8 quarteres de forment 7 d. Ãtem 2 graneres 2 d. Ãtem costà veta a seyar los falcons 4 d. Ãtem costen 3 ganstz de serró 6 s. Ãtem costen 14 capels de falcons 6 s. Ãtem costen 4 longes de serró 12 d. Ãtem costen 10 longes dÂ’escodat 20 d. Ãtem costen 14 parels de getz dels falcons 4 s . Ãtem rebí dimarstz a 29 dÂ’abril falcons 1 prim e 1 tersol de lÂ’agre de la Palomera 3. Ãtem rebí digous primer jorn de mag falcons 2 prims e 1 tersol de lÂ’agre de lÂ’Alconzena e portà ’ls lo balle dÂ’Aleró 3 .".Written in Mallorcan a dialectal variant of Catalan in a scribal hand on cotton paper manufactured in Mallorca by Arab paper makers. Under Muslim rule from 903 until 1229 Mallorca "Mayurqa" had formed one of the Eastern Islands of al-Andalus "al-jazaÂ’ir al-sharqiya li-l-andalus". The art of papermaking long mastered by the Arabs had reached the southern Spain only in the 12th century through the Muslim conquest at a time when most of western Europe still favoured vellum as a writing material. The Arab tradition of papermaking is still evident in this early 14th century insular specimen.An extraordinarily rare survival in excellent state of preservation. Includes full transcription. ABE CAT Falconry & Hunting hardcover