Adam and his descendants, large historiated initial on a bifolium from a monumental illuminated bible, in Latin, manuscript on vellum

a bifolium, 420mm. by 268-315mm. (second leaf trimmed vertically to edge of text), very large initial 'A' (opening "Adam Seth Enos Cainan Malaleel ..." the beginning of I Chronicles), 95mm by 77mm., in blue with delicate scalloped shading heightened with white penwork, terminating in two small animal heads, enclosing a host of bearded men in robes (most probably the descendents of Adam listed in the text) on burnished gold background, entire initial on tessellated orange ground with burnished gold frame, blue, pink and gold extension into margin down entire length of page with bird sitting on top of it, two fighting drollery creatures in the bas-de-page: both wearing habits of Franciscan friars and one waving a bifolium from a document, one with the legs of a deer the other with the legs of a blue horse with orange wings, double column, 36 lines in black ink in a good Gothic bookhand, initials touched in red, rubrics in red, title and numbers in red and blue, two 2-line initials in red or blue with penwork extensions up and down margin to contrast, recovered from a binding and hence discoloured and somewhat rubbed, with ink eating through small areas of text (now repaired in places), overall in fair condition, in card mount

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."

Illumination from the southern Netherlands from this period is rare, and the present leaf is a fine example. Close comparisons of the script and decoration can be made to a manuscript of the Sermons of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, probably made in a convent in Cambrai c. 1300, and now ÖNB, s. n. 12771 (reproduced in O. Pächt, U. Jenni, D. Thoss, Die Illuminierten Handschriften und Inkunabeln der Österreichschen Nationalbibliothek, Flämische Schule I, 1983, i, 162-4 & ii, pl. 1), and to a similar manuscript of the same sermons now Brussels, Bibl. Royale, MS. 1787 (Pächt et al. i, fig. 1) which may be from the same workshop as the ÖNB manuscript. In particular the tessellated grounds of the initials and the angular five-pointed leaves of the foliage within the marginal extensions are strikingly similar features, and the present leaf may very well have been made in a skilled monastic scriptorium in the Cambrai or Arras region of the southern Netherlands.

From the collection of the late Dr F. Jossi; bought in our rooms 6 December 1983, lot 14 (ex T.F. Flannery Jr. Collection).