Beschreibung:

BIBLE, Latin , with prologues attributed to St. Jerome and the interpretation of Hebrew names. [England, 1st half of the 13th century]. MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM, 401 leaves, 1-2416 2514 (14 + 1) 264 (lacking 9/7 III Esdras 1:30-4:28, and blank), 224 x 143 mm. (8 7/8 x 6 in.), written in a very small regular Gothic bookhand in black ink, double columns of 51 lines, justification (144 x 95mm.), each book beginning with a 6-line parti-colored red and blue Lombard initial, each prologue with a 2- or 3-line divided blue Lombard initial, each chapter with a simple 2-line Lombard initial, ALL INITIALS WITH VERY FINE RED OR RED AND BLUE FILIGREE INFILLING AND FLOURISHING EXTENDING INTO THE MARGINS, versal initials and paragraph marks in Psalms and interpretation of Hebrew names in alternate red and blue, chapter numbers and running titles in alternating red and blue capitals, the capitals touched in red, rubrics in red. Occasional neat marginal corrections by the original scribe, traces of the corrector's original notes in cursive script (now mostly erased), contemporary marginal glosses throughout giving cross-references to parallel passages of scripture, instructions to rubricator in outer and lower margins (partially cropped), contemporary quiring visible on last verso of most gatherings. Lacking one leaf of text, between ff. 134-135, otherwise complete and in good condition. A few margins torn, some margins with original holes, slits, or defective corners, not affecting text; two margins with neat early patches (ff. 235, 246), one slit sewn with pink thread (fol. 152). Original holes in the text area of eight leaves (ff. 23, 56, 91, 95, 155, 199, 220, 227), three original patches extending into text (ff. 215, 230, 234; the first now partially detached), no loss of text. Occasional slight smudging of red ink, stain obscuring three or four letters on ff. 80v-82. Binding English eighteenth-century red morocco, gilt, covers with frame of single fillet and dentelle, spine in five compartments, with four raised bands, second compartment labelled BIBLIA SACRA, the other compartments with an oval gilt ornament. Traces of blue pigment on edges of leaves. In a modern quarter morocco clamshell box. Texts Bible (fols. 1-364; fols. 365-366 blank). Interpretation of Hebrew names (fols. 367-397). Verse summaries of the Eusebian canons and of the four Gospels (fols. 398-400). Lists of Gospel readings for Sundays and weekdays and of Gospels and Epistles for the feasts of the saints (fols. 400v-401v). The text is that of the Paris Vulgate Bible, with the chapter divisions attributed to Stephen Langton, including III Esdras, here called "Apocrifa Esdre," and St. Jerome's alphabetical glossary of Hebrew names, beginning "Aaz apprehendens." Of the standard set of 64 prologues identified by Ker (vol. I, pp. 96-97), this Bible omits Stegmüller 327, 468, 515, 524, 547, 553, 589, 793 and 839, and it adds Stegmüller 789. The Gospel summaries (Stegmüller 10159) and the lists of readings are contemporary or near contemporary additions. In the latter, St. Thomas of Canterbury is the only English saint; St. Francis (canonized 1228) and St. Dominic (canonized 1234) are not present. Various mnemonic verses and proverbs, in fourteenth-century Anglicana cursive hands, occur as marginalia (fols. 172v, 326, 398). Provenance: 1. Written and decorated in England, to judge from the script, the flourishing, and the Anglicana script used for portions of the marginalia and the lists of readings 2. Sarah Hinton?, inscription, sixteenth 16th century?, fol. 380 3. Rev. H.R. Lloyd, rector of Cliffe-at-Hoo near Rochester, Kent, chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, bookplate; stamp, fols. 1, 364. (Not in the sale of his library at Puttick and Simpson, 21-23 April 1880) 4. P.M. Barnard, Tunbridge Wells, sold in 1917 to 5. A. Chester Beatty, Western MS. 49 (sale, Sotheby's London, 24 June 1969, lot 48).