Beschreibung:

Collection of Biblical readings, in Latin, modern illuminated manuscript on parchment attempting to emulate a late medieval manuscript [probably Britain or Europe, most probably late nineteenth century] 20 leaves, a single gathering, many leaves with ascending numbers in modern pencil on their versos often in centre of text, each leaf with a miniature on the recto showing scenes of courtly life with knights fighting and on horseback, kings in judgement, monks reading and martyrs being burnt at the stake, before scenes from an apparent saint's life with a young man pointing to a star, being executed while at prayer and lying in state, ending with scenes of hanging, a man in chains and a headless kneeling corpse with his executioner showing his head to two nobles , full border of coloured and gilt foliage on crystalline gilt grounds, text in red and black in 11 lines of script imitating a late medieval bookhand, numerous errors showing the copyist's inability to follow medieval abbreviations and text often breaking off at end of verso of each leaf, text block framed in orange, first leaf with full-page miniature of bearded king, each miniature with sheet of red satin tipped in as guard, cockled and with some leaves varnished and on less than best quality parchment, overall fair condition, 140 by 85mm.; bound in parchment over pasteboards with two knotted tags, spine covered with pasted on strip of parchment Provenance: 1. Most probably produced as a forgery for sale to a manuscript collector in the last decades of the nineteenth century. Some bungled abbreviations and characters show that the forger was inexperienced with medieval writing, but seems to have selected an actual medieval book or images of it for his template. The volume first appears in the hands of Alfred Trapnell (1838-1917) of Bournemouth, England: with his detailed printed paper bookplate with scene of late medieval reader, above his burgundy circular leather label with gilt edge and number "2165" in gilt. He was a sea captain and industrial metal producer who used his travels and wealth to assemble collections of artefacts such as porcelain, before selling them in large single-category sales in London to great financial success. The Times reported on 17 March 1914, that he had "probably formed and sold more collections than any other man now living". His collection of illuminated manuscripts was sold at Sotheby's, 6 April, 1910, doubtless including this lot. 2. Captain Thore Virgin (1886-1957) of Qvarnfors, Sweden; his gilt and blue bookplate dated '1911'. From his heirs to the current owner. To view a video of this item, click here.