MAGNUS, HISTORIEN DER MITTERNACHTIGEN LANDER, BASEL, 1567, BOUND IN A VELLUM MUSIC MANUSCRIPT LEAF

small folio (297 x 198mm.), woodcut folding map of Scandinavia, numerous woodcut vignettes, full-page printer's device on verso of final leaf, bound in a large manuscript vellum leaf, c. 450 x 300mm., of an very elegantly written troped Sanctus from the Kyriale of a Gradual, with music in square notation on five-line staves for the Sanctus trope, "Adonay athanatos" [France (or England?), 13th century], map trimmed to neatline at foot, scattered small wormholes, lacking ties, spine slightly worn 

Friedrich August, Herzog von Braunschweig-Lüneburg-Oels (1740-1805), armorial bookplate; "Kgl. öffentl. bibliothek zu Dresden", and "Doublette", ink stamps to title; Per Hierta (1864-1924), Swedish book collector, inscription and signature (Hierta owned a large collection of about 300 incunabula, which in 1911 were given to the Swedish Royal Library), sale, Björn and Börjesson, Stockholm, item 550, 100 kroner, 26 October-30 November 1932; bought by K.A. Jacobsen, bookplate; his son Ole Lars Jacobsen, bookplate

VD16 M227

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, 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."

This copy is complete with the rare decorative map of northern Europe, including Greenland. It is a reduction of Magnus's 1539 Carta Marina. Only two other sources are known for the troped Sanctus on the manuscript binding; one late 12th or 13th century, the other dated 1363, both in the Archive of Prague Castle. The present setting has the same melody for the tropes as do the Prague sources, but with slight variants (see H. Vlhová-Wörner, Tropi Ordinarii Missae: Sanctus, Repertorium troporum Bohemiae medii aevi, 3, 2010, SaTr 1).