Breviary, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [Italy (Tuscany, probably Florence), third quarter of the fifteenth century]

527 leaves (2 blank, lacking a further blank after fol.488), 145mm. by 100mm., lacking single leaves after fols.91, 344 and 374, else complete, collation: i^{6, ii-ix10, x9 (of 10, lacking vi), xi-xvii10, xviii8, xix-xxv10, xxvi12, xxvii-xxviii10, xxix8, xxx-xxxv10, xxxvi9 (of 10, lacking ii), xxxvii-xxxviii10, xxxix9 [of 10, lacking iii], xl-xlix10, l7 (of 8, last blank cancelled), li-liii10, liv8+1, mostly with catchwords often in radiating cartouches, double column, 30 lines, written in two sizes of a very small gothic hand, rubrics in red, capitals touched in yellow, 2-line initials throughout (usually several on every page) in blue or red with penwork in red or purple, some larger initials in both colours,} upwards of forty illuminated initials in leafy designs in burnished gold and colours, often with partial or even full-length marginal extensions, additions to the Calendar and fols.489-527 added slightly later (see below), a few margins replaced with slight loss of extremities of text or decoration (with crude replacements), some thumbing and signs of use, generally excellent, nineteenth-century black morocco gilt, marbled endleaves, gilt edges, metal clasp and catch, in a black quarter morocco slipcase

provenance

(1) Written probably in Florence (Calendar and Litany with SS. Reparata, Donatus, etc.) and adapted at an early date for Franciscan use, by upgrading the Calendar and the addition of fols.489-527 with specifically Franciscan offices.

(2) "Ex libris Frid. Minetti... 1883" (note on end flyleaf).

(3) Bookplate of Thomas Bodley Stibolt, c.1900; and by descent to the present owner.

text

A Calendar (fol.1r); a Ferial Psalter (fol.7r), with Litany; the Temporal complete from the first Sunday in Advent (fol.80v) to the fourth Sunday of November; the Sanctoral complete from St. Saturninus (fol.284r, 29 November) to St. Catherine (25 November the following year); the Common of Saints (fol.435v); and the Office of the Dead (fol.462v).