Collection of leaves from French illuminated liturgical manuscripts, in Latin, on vellum

3 leaves from various manuscripts, (a) single leaf from a Psalter, containing Psalm 142, 198mm. by 140mm., 20 lines in dark brown ink in a fine early Gothic bookhand, paragraph-marks in blue with red penwork, numerous 1-line initials in blue and liquid gold with red and blue penwork, one large initial 'D' (opening "Domine exaudi orationem meam ..."), 49mm. in height, in blue and pink with white penwork , infilled with coloured organic sprays, on blue, pink and burnished gold ground, with coloured panel in blue and orange the height of the initial horizontally across entire text block with "omine" in white with some scrollwork, small repair to lower right-hand corner, northern France, first half of the thirteenth century; (b) single leaf from a monumental Bible, 331mm. by 228mm., double column, 40 lines in dark brown ink in a fine early Gothic hand, initials touched in red, rubrics in red, titles and chapter numbers in red and blue, one 2-line initial in blue with delicate red penwork and border decoration extending the entire height of the margin on verso, on recto: one spectacular historiated initial 'F' (opening "Fratribus qui ..." the opening of II Machabees) 105mm. in height, in blue and pink with white penwork, on contrasting ground with dabs of burnished gold terminating in elaborate coloured foliage in the margin on top of which a bird sits, enclosing Abraham, Isaac and Jacob before God appearing as a bearded face in the upper right-hand corner, on delicate tessellated background, southern France (perhaps Bordeaux), c. 1300; (c) single leaf from a monumental Lectern Bible, 408mm. by 273mm., double column, 50 lines in black ink in a good Gothic hand, some initials touched in yellow, titles and numbers in red and blue, three 3-line initials in blue or pink with white penwork (2 infilled with coloured foliage, 1 with a human face) on coloured grounds with angular foliate extensions up and down margins, three small but detailed dragon-like creatures in margins with their blue and pink tails touched with dabs of liquid gold extending the entire length of the text forming leafy border panels which extend far into the bas-de-page, France or southern Netherlands, beginning of fourteenth century; all in excellent condition and in card mounts

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."

Item b here is from a manuscript owned by Chester Beatty (his MS. W.173) and Sir Thomas Phillipps (his MS. 2506), and was sold in our rooms 24 June 1969, lot 57, and was no. 5 in Thomas Cat.23, 1969; see M. Manion, C. de Hamel & V. F. Vines, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in New Zealand Collections, 1989, no. 103, where the present leaf is item 9. Item c is from a monumental Lectern Bible, the remnant of which was in the collection of Otto F. Ege of Cleveland, Ohio, and was sold in our rooms 11 December 1984, lot 39.

All from the collection of the late Dr F. Jossi.