Collection of leaves from Italian illuminated manuscripts, in Latin, on vellum

6 leaves, (including a bifolium) (a) single leaf from a decorated Bible, 355mm. by 230mm., with a large historiated initial 'V' (opening "Vocavit autem ...", Leviticus 1:1), 45mm. high, in pink with white penwork, enclosing God appearing from a high balcony and speaking to Moses (small flake of God's face wanting), on blue ground with white tracery, fleshy acanthus-leaf extension into upper margin, double column, 47 lines of brown ink in a rounded Gothic bookhand (with 3 lines of erasures and replacements at base of page), some initials touched in red, rubrics in red, title and numbers in red and blue, one 2-line initial in blue with elaborate red penwork, northern Italy (perhaps Bologna), early decades of the fourteenth century; (b) single leaf from an antiphoner, 410mm. by 213mm., with large initial 'C' (opening "Cum ingrederentur beata Agatha ...") in blue with complex interlacing decoration within the body of the initial, enclosing interlacing geometric bands of green and blue terminating in leaves and biting animal heads, all on burgundy-red ground touched with white dots, in green frame, eleven lines of text in black ink in a late Gothic hand accompanying music on 4-line red staves (some erasures and replacements from text), rubrics in red, six initials in red or blue with penwork to contrast, northern Italy, second half of the fourteenth century; (c) bifolium from an antiphoner, ) 445mm. by 340mm., with large initial 'S' (opening "Simon petre ante quam de navi ...", an antiphon for the first nocturn in Matins), 90mm. high, in terracotta-red, terminating in detailed green animal heads with foliage sprouting from their mouths, and enclosing complex coloured foliage sprays with burnished gold bezants, all on blue ground heightened with white penwork, and all framed in blue with bands of burnished gold, 7 lines of text in black ink in a late Gothic hand accompanying music on 4-line red staves, rubrics in red, eight initials in red or blue with penwork to contrast, Italy, late fourteenth century; plus two further Italian fifteenth or early sixteenth century antiphoner leaves with large initials with geometric patterns including animal heads and sprays of naturalistic foliage, 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."

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