MEDIEVAL Manuscript BIBLE Vellum FOLIO 13th Century PHILLIPPS COLLECTION Rare

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

MEDIEVAL Manuscript BIBLE Vellum FOLIO 13th Century PHILLIPPS COLLECTION Rare :
$125000.00

THIRTEENTH CENTURY ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT BIBLE

FROMTHE PHILLIPPS COLLECTION

France, 13thCentury

UnusuallyWell-Preserved Specimen of an Early Manuscript Bible in Folio

BIBLE.Sapiential Books, Glossed. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Wisdom and the Song of Songs. France, 13th Century (Potentially LateTwelfth). COMPLETE.Folio (335mm x 239mm) on vellum (180 leaves). Finely bound in straight grained black morocco with gilt paneled side by W.J. Mansell.

Item Description:This is a fine manuscriptofthe late twelfth to earlythirteen century, written in a bold hand withnumerous capital letters and illumination.Initial letters finely painted in red and blue, and very many smallercapitals executed in the same style. The text contains broad margins, on some of which extensive notes are written in a very neat hand.In a most excellent state of preservation throughout.

On the last leaf, written in a 15thcentury hand, is the account of how the Abbey of Royaumont acquired this manuscript. The notation reads:\"This book was acquired by brother Gille of the Royal Abbey of Royaumont from Jehan Guymier, library of Paris by exchange madewith him of four books of Kings and of Luke and John, glossed, which were duplicates in the library of Royaumont and did not have an equal in the present. Done inthe month of February in the year 1458.\"

At the conclusion of the biblical text,the manuscript contains a medieval sermon ontheMartyrdom of St. Andrew(\"But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful life, went forward voluntarily to the torment.\").For the possible significance of this sermon,see M. Hugo\'s work entitled \"The Dispersion oftheManuscripts ofRoyaumont II: Gilles de Roye,\" (Revue Bénédictine, CXV, 2005, pp. 205–10).

Historical Provenance:Anote on the last leaf ofthisvolume indicates that it was acquired by the Abbot of Royaumont in 1459, who exchanged it for 4 duplicate manuscripts fromthe monastery library. It was later acquired by Sir Thomas Phillipps and is twice entered in his catalogue as Nos. 4734 and 20567. It has the initials of Thomas Fitzroy Fenwick, with the date 1894. Fenwick was Phillipps\' grandson.

Purchased by Nichols atthe Phillipps Sale in 1895, other owners include Michael Tomikson and Dr. Eric Millar, collector of medieval manuscripts, and Keeper of Manuscripts at the British Museum.There are a number ofrelevant papersaccompanyingthe book, the work ofprevious scholars, included a fine letter to Millar written by Tim Munby, author of Phillipps Studies (1950).

This manuscript sells with an extensive and verifiable provenance from February of 1459 to 2017 - a remarkable span of over five hundred and fifty years. The highly detailed provenance of thisvolume isindicative of both its value and significance.

Rare Biblesspecializes in early printed English Bibles, books, manuscripts, and objet d’art.Items listed on are merely representative of our broader inventory.Please do not hesitate to enquire regarding other early printed books and manuscripts.

In addition, we are currently offering one of the world\'s most significant collections of biblical manuscripts and early printed Bibles. The Legacy Collection may be viewed at: CrawfordSterling.com.