Beschreibung:

BIBLE, in Latin, with the prologues ascribed to St. Jerome, and the interpretation of Hebrew names, commencing 'Aaz apprehendens', MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM [England, first half of the 13th century] 233 x 160mm. 349 leaves, COMPLETE. Collation: 1 4 , 2-5 12 , 6 12 +2 (13 and 14 added), 7-10 12 , 11 6-3 (4-6 cancelled), 12 6-3 (4-6 cancelled), 13-14 12 , 15 10 , 16 12 +1 (1 insert), 17-18 10 , 19 12 , 20 8 , 21 6 +1 (1 insert), 22-24 12 , 25 10 , 26-29 12 , 30 10 , 31 6 -1 (6 cancelled), 32-33 10 , 34 6 . With catchwords, single column, ruled in ink, justification: 153 x 105mm, 50/53 lines, single column, prologue double column, written in a very small gothic hand in black ink, versal initials, chapter numbers and running headlines in red, larger initials in alternate red and blue, with red penwork decoration, large initials to Prologue and Genesis in red and blue with penwork decoration. Contemporary and early marginal glosses throughout. (A few small wormholes, outer blank corners of most leaves worn.) GENERALLY IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. 16th-century blindstamped calf over wooden boards, brass clasps (rebacked, catches missing). PROVENANCE: 1. 14th-century note on verso of last leaf 'Ex dono fratris Thomae de Dovaria'. This is probably Brother Thomas, Prior of St. Martin's, Dover in 1354. S.P.H. Statham, Dover Charters (1902) p. 458 cites a grant of land in his name, to Peter de Loude in 1354. 2. Front endleaf and paste-down from a 15th-century London Court Roll. Probably a record of cases from the Court of Common Pleas. 3. Thomas Bayly, who writes on verso of flyleaf 'May the 11th 1629: I sould this bible and one old magna carta in 8vo and thereby bee warranted to bee perfett the prise of them being: 8 shillings 8 pence'. This is certainly Thomas Bailey, the London bookseller, active in Holborn between 1617 and 1642. 4. Reverend Smith, Guilford Street, London. Letter from J. Hewlett, 16 May 1812, thanking him for allowing him to inspect the book. 5. Label of the Church Congress Exhibition, ca. 1880. A HIGHLY UNUSUAL BIBLE. THE ONLY EXAMPLE KNOWN TO US OF A 13TH-CENTURY BIBLE WRITTEN IN LONG LINES IN ONE SINGLE COLUMN, instead of the usual double column. The outer and lower margins are wide, possibly to allow for glosses. These have in fact often been added. The Prologue (2 leaves) has been repeated by another scribe, in the same gathering, possibly because the first version contained many mistakes. Together they form a quire of 4 leaves.