Lot 1
  • 1

Fragments of three bifolia from a Homilary and a Missal, in Latin [Germany, 9th and 12th century]

Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • Vellum
three fragmentary bifolia: (a) 195x165mm, vellum, part of the middle of a bifolium of a Homilary, preserving most of the width of one column and about half of the other, the text on one side with sermons for the 2nd Sunday in Quadragesima by Leo the Great, De Quadragesima II, Sermo XL ("nobis dilectissimi … haec est perfec[torum"), and Bede, Homilia XVIII in Dominica II Quadragesimae ("desideriis su[beamus] … patre in un[itate spiritus sancti Deus in] saecul[a]", the other side includes part of  the Sermo de confessione peccati perhaps by St John Chrysostom ("dei peccamus et parcit … remediis qui moritur[us]"), re-used as a book-cover and thus creased and darkened, one side with the spine painted white [Germany, 9th century]; (b) 220×335-40mm, vellum, the major part of two bifolia of a Missal, preserving the full width of one column of text and almost all of the other, containing votive masses for one’s sins, for tears of repentance, for the weather, for rain, for tribulation, for the living and the dead (“quorum corpora in hoc monasterio requiescunt”), and for one’s father and mother, used in the 15th century as a cover for a book with its title ‘Prima pars summe Anthonini Anthoninus archiepiscopus’ written vertically between the columns in a neat German hand, cropped at the top and stained to one edge, but still very handsome [Germany, 12th century]

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

Despite the seemingly meagre evidence, one can deduce a considerable amount about the appearance of each of the parent volumes; the marks of the sewing-thread of (a), for example, show that this was the central bifolium in a quire, and the amount of text missing at each side show that the book was laid out in two columns, each about 90mm wide.