Beschreibung:

BREVIARY, for the use of Xanten, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM [Lower Rhineland, Xanten?, mid-15th century] 115x85mm, 288 leaves, collation: 1 4 (3 cancelled blank) 2 6 (-6 cancelled) 3 4 (blanks, one cancelled) 4-10 10 11 12 (-8 and 10, 9 in later hand inserted) 12 10 (9 cancelled)) 13 8 14 8 (8 cancelled) 15-20 10 21-22 8 23 10 24 8 25-29 10 30 8 31 10 (4 and 7 later insertion) 32 10 (9 used as paste-down, 10 cancelled). 28 lines, justification 88x60mm, written in brown ink in a small gothic bookhand, rubrics in red, one- and two-line initials throughout in red, blue and sometimes gold, 13 illuminated 3-line initials, 5 large illuminated 4 to 9-line initials, mostly gold on coloured ground, 3 with floral borders (borders cropped). (Occasional rubbing of text in lower half due to use, corner torn off f.264). Contemporary blindstamped calf over wooden boards, original sheep spine, brass corner pieces and hasps (clasps lacking), 14TH-CENTURY GERMAN IVORY PLAQUE OF THE CRUCIFIXION attached to upper cover (binding rubbed and worn, holes for precious stones, which have been removed) PROVENANCE: (1) Made for the Collegiate Church [Stiftskirche] of St.Victor in Vetera Castra, Xanten in Northwest Germany, north of Cologne. St.Victor and his translation appear in red in the calendar and there is a special commemoration for him and also for his translation. The Sanctorale also has Ss Gundulf and Arnulf venerated in Maestricht, just north of Xanten, as well as St.Agilulf of Cologne. (2) In 1525 it belonged to the vicar of the church, Cornelius Hatzfeld, who signed his name on f.1 verso and again repeated in another hand on f.2 verso. (3) An illegible signature dated 1771, and other erased signatures TEXT: (f.1) Table for Easter. (ff1v-2) blank, except for ownership inscriptions. (ff 3-8) Calendar. (ff9-11) Benedictions and prayers to be said at Xanten, in a 16th or 17th century hand. (f.12) Ferial Psalter. (f.101) Litany. (f.104v) Vespers for Advent. (f.109) Commemorations for the Virgin, St.Victor and St.Helena. (f.115) Suffrages to the Holy Cross with antiphons. (f.118) Temporale. (f.163) Office for the evening before Easter. (f.194) Sanctorale. (ff268-269) blank except for later prayers to St.Joseph. (f.270) Common of the Saints The church of Saint Victor had a very important library of more than 10,000 volumes, now in the Stiftsbibliothek, Xanten. However, the manuscripts appear to be lost. Cf. Stiftsbibliothek Xanten: Die Stiftskirche d.Hl.Victor zu Xanten . Edited H.Föhl u.A.Benger. Kevelaer 1986