Lot 109

Missal, in Latin, decorated manuscript on vellum [Aquileia or Slovenia, second half of the fifteenth century (not after 1481)]

Estimate

6,000 - 8,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Vellum

78 leaves, 293mm. by 202mm., wanting a gathering of 10 leaves after fol.24, else complete, collation: i-iii^{8, iv^{6, v-x^{8, double column, 25-30 lines in light brown ink in a late gothic bookhand, capitals touched in red, rubrics and contemporary foliation in red, one- and 2-line initials in red, one 5-line initial in green heightened with scrolls and red penwork (fol.18r),}}} six large initials (6-line; fols.1r, 4r, 10v, 13v, 25r, 31r), in blue heightened with white penwork, on brilliantly burnished gold grounds with pouncing, all within multi-coloured frames and with scrolling foliage with bulbous coloured and burnished gold buds and silver bezants in borders, medieval page markers, some small stains else in excellent condition, contemporary blind-stamped leather over wooden boards (rebacked), metal central bosses and corner fittings in pierced foliate designs (the cornerpieces with the inscriptions 'maria hilf uns/aus nof ma', clasps also with 'maria' and 'hif uns'

Provenance

provenance

1. The manuscript is signed by the scribe, Franciscus Preming, on fol.75v. The Calendar points towards the eastern border of the Venetian republic with modern Slovenia, including the Aquileia saints, Hermagoras, first bishop of the town (12 July), and his associate and deacon Fortunatus, and Paulinus, first patriarch of the town (11 January), as well as the feast of the discovery of the relics of St. Cantian in the town (13 April). The initials are distinctly Slavic or Austrian in style, and share much with the productions of Prague and Vienna.

2. Allexius Dorvekch, vicar of the town of Slavina (modern Postojna, Slovenia): a long and detailed note on fol.78r recording the purchase of the Missal by the church of St. Daniel in nearby Zalog on 25 November 1481, for 5 ducats and 7 shillings. The readings at the end of the Sanctoral for the feast of SS. John and Paul are in a distinctively spiky hand of c.1500, and were probably added by a Slovenian scribe.

3. Sold in our rooms, 7 December 1982, lot 60, to Laurence Witten.

4. Bergendal MS.40; bought by Joseph Pope from Witten (his cat.18, no.31) in February 1983: Bergendal catalogue no.40; Stoneman, 'Guide', pp.182-83; M. Smolik, 'Latinski Rokopisni Misal', Knjiznica: Revija za Podrocje Bibliotekarstva in Informacijske Znanosti 47, 2003, pp.51-62.

Catalogue Note

text

A Missal of Roman use, with readings for the major holidays beginning with Christmas (fol.1r), followed by the appropriate prefaces (fol.20r); a Calendar (fol.22r); the Canon of the Mass (fol.25r) and prayers; the Sanctoral, from the feast of St. Andrew, 30 November (fol.31r) to that of SS. John and Paul, 26 June; followed by a blessing for holy water.