Collection of leaves from Spanish and Portugese illuminated manuscripts, with a Carta Executoria, in Latin and Spanish, on vellum

7 items, including 6 leaves from illuminated manuscripts: (a) single leaf from a monumental Lectionary, 448mm. by 307mm., with a very large initial 'M' (opening the lection for the Passion of SS. Catherine and Maxentius: "Maxentius imperator anno regni sui tricesimo quinto residens in civitate Alexandrinorum ..."), in a green organic design terminating in animal heads, and enclosing an emperor in one compartment, enthroned and holding a sceptre (most probably King Clovis I to whom Maxentius was an adviser), gesturing to a messenger (probably the saint himself), who is ushered in by an attendant, both on burnished gold grounds (some flaking and perhaps minor retouching), and all within a frame of blue decorated with white dots, double column, 38 lines of black ink in a rounded Gothic bookhand, rubric and lection numbers in red, four 2-line initials in red and blue, horizontal cut across top of leaf just above upper text line, some small erasures from text, else in excellent condition, Spain, early thirteenth century; (b) two text leaves from a Psalter, 160mm. by 97mm., 23 lines in dark brown ink in a small rounded early Gothic hand, rubrics and underlining in red, numerous 1- to 3-line initials in liquid gold, some small splits in vellum, else good condition, Spain (perhaps Seville), first half of the thirteenth century; (c) single leaf from a monumental Lectionary, 370mm. by 304mm., double column, 36 lines in black ink in a good early Gothic bookhand, with music on verso, rubrics in red, five small initials in red or blue with penwork to contrast, eight large initials 3- to 4-lines in height in red or green with penwork to contrast, recovered from a binding and somewhat defective, Spain or the Pyrenees, early thirteenth century; (d) two text leaves from a Breviary, 240mm. by 173mm., 20-22 lines in black ink in two rounded Gothic bookhands, initials touched in yellow, rubrics in red, eight 1- to 2-line initials in red or blue with elaborate penwork to contrast, one 13-line initial 'I' (opening "In illo tempore ..." a reading from John) in red with delicate purple penwork with a compartment inside the initial itself, and elaborate purple penwork up and down entire margin, excellent condition, perhaps Portugal, fifteenth century; (e) single text leaf from a Book of Hours, 191mm. by 141mm., 16 lines in black ink in an excellent late Gothic hand, rubrics in red, nine 1- or 2-line initials in blue or pink with white penwork on burnished gold scroll-like grounds touched in blue and pink, excellent condition, Spain, c. 1500; all leaves in card mounts; (f) a Carta Executoria, 36 leaves, complete, collation: i^{18, ruled in pink for 48 lines of black ink in a good rounded late Gothic hand, some decorative cadels at top of each page, numerous 1- to 4-line initials in liquid gold on red grounds, nineteen text panels in same, two pages with coat-of-arms and crest within a coloured foliate frame on liquid gold grounds, with full border panel of liquid gold acanthus-leaves on blue grounds (fols. 28v & 32v), one page with large miniature of arms and crest with a chivalric scene in the bas-de-page in which a number of knights on horseback charge an encampment with tenets, a cannon, and a feasting scene, hills and castles in background, with a severed head on a spear from one of the ramparts (fol. 3v), one full-page miniature of arms above a seated ruler who commands a soldier in elaborate antique armour to murder two small naked boys, as their mother and the court looks on, miniatures in bright and fresh condition, modern cloth covered binding, Spain (Valladolid), 30 October, 1555}

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."

Manuscripts from Spain and Portugal are not common. Item b is from a manuscript sold in our rooms 10 July 1967, lot 37, and most probably broken up by the Foilo Society; see their Cat.69, January 1970, no. 757. Other leaves have since been sold in these rooms 12 July 1971, lot 10 & 10 July 1972, part of lot 15, Maggs Bulletin 9, 1975, no. 10 and the Rendell's Cat.146, 1979, no. 43. One leaf is reproduced in D. J. Rendell, Autographs and manuscripts, A Collector's Manual, 1978, p. 22, and commented on in M. Manion, C. de Hamel & V. Vines, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in new Zealand Collections, 1989, no. 106.

From the collection of the late Dr F. Jossi.