RMGYMss.
GREGORIUS MAGNUS "MORALIA IN IOB" LEAF Ref 456 recto
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DESCRIPTION HAD BEEN ALTERED AS TO DATE AND ORIGIN.
This is a leaf from an early copy of Gregorius Magnus "Moralia in Iob" that was written c.775-800 probably in Switzerland at Saint Gallen near Lake Constance.
The text is from Book 33, Chapter 15 of the Morialia.
There are 30 lines in a pre Carolingian minuscule in dark brown/black ink and without rubrics.
Letter forms and various different ligatures initaly make the text quite difficult to read but it does quickly become manageable. The following should be noted: -
The diphthong “ae” - of the 20 occasions needed it is written out in full 15 times, as “e” with cedilla once (verso line 12) and as “e” only twice (recto line 8 and verso line30).
The letter “a” - written as “cc” on 210 occasions (including in diphthong), as “oc” twice (recto line 20 “valde” and verso line 10 “bona”) and with an uncial “a” twice (recto line 8 “di ma” and recto line 9 “avis”).
The letter “r” is in ligature with most letters that come after it and often has a long descender.
Tletter “e” is in ligature with most letters that come after it.
The letter “g” always has both bowls open as a “3”.
Ascenders and descenders are always long in “b”, “d”, “f”, “h” and “p”, and are sometimes clubbed.
Some examples of words that are very difficult read are as follows: -
Verso, line28 “teneret” Recto, line 28 “vero”
Recto, line 16 “serpens”
Word separation is not always as good as it could be which adds to the difficulty of reading the text.
The leaf has no illumination or decoration of any description.
The leaf is ruled in blind on the verso and prickings remain in the outside margin for all horizontal lines.
The size of the leaf is 257mm x 176mm (10 1/10ins. x 6 9/10ins.).
The size of the text block is 232mm x 140mm (9 1/10ins. x 5 1/2ins.).
PURCHASE DETAILS: -
Purchased from Giuseppe Solmi, Studio Bibliografico Restauro Libri Antichi, 40064 Ozzano Dell'Milia, Italy.
PROVENANCE: -
1. Expert opinion has been obtained indicating that the leaf is similar to manuscripts of scribes active, when Abbot Werdo (784-812) was abbot in Saint Gallen and pointing out that Saint Gallen manuscripts Codd. Sang 6 (i.e. p.2,12); Cod. 44 (i.e. p.85); Cod. 125 (i.e. p. 109); or Cod. 567 (i.e. p.135) are quite similar.
2. Obtained by Mr. Solmi in a small collection from a collector and manuscript expert in Paris, a Mr. De Coligny.
3. Received with Export Licence No. N. 342 dated 7th. July 2016 issued by the Italian authorities.
CONDITION: -
It looks as though the leaf has been used as part of a binding or as part of a folder. The top margin has been removed (without taking any of the text) and it is now somewhat rough, as is the inside margin. There is a natural flaw in the bottom margin that has been extended a little to the left by another very small loss of velum. The text at the inside edge at the bottom half of the recto, and in the bottom two lines particularly, is somewhat worn with the loss of a few letters. There are 17th./18th. Century notes on either side which do not detract and whilst the recto has browned the verso is quite bright. Overall, considering that the manuscript is all of 1200 years old, it is in very good condition.
GENERAL COMMENTS: -
This leaf is a truly superb addition to the collection. It is of great rarety.
GREGORIUS MAGNUS "MORALIA IN IOB" LEAF Ref 456 recto
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DESCRIPTION HAD BEEN ALTERED AS TO DATE AND ORIGIN.
This is a leaf from an early copy of Gregorius Magnus "Moralia in Iob" that was written c.775-800 probably in Switzerland at Saint Gallen near Lake Constance.
The text is from Book 33, Chapter 15 of the Morialia.
There are 30 lines in a pre Carolingian minuscule in dark brown/black ink and without rubrics.
Letter forms and various different ligatures initaly make the text quite difficult to read but it does quickly become manageable. The following should be noted: -
The diphthong “ae” - of the 20 occasions needed it is written out in full 15 times, as “e” with cedilla once (verso line 12) and as “e” only twice (recto line 8 and verso line30).
The letter “a” - written as “cc” on 210 occasions (including in diphthong), as “oc” twice (recto line 20 “valde” and verso line 10 “bona”) and with an uncial “a” twice (recto line 8 “di ma” and recto line 9 “avis”).
The letter “r” is in ligature with most letters that come after it and often has a long descender.
Tletter “e” is in ligature with most letters that come after it.
The letter “g” always has both bowls open as a “3”.
Ascenders and descenders are always long in “b”, “d”, “f”, “h” and “p”, and are sometimes clubbed.
Some examples of words that are very difficult read are as follows: -
Verso, line28 “teneret” Recto, line 28 “vero”
Recto, line 16 “serpens”
Word separation is not always as good as it could be which adds to the difficulty of reading the text.
The leaf has no illumination or decoration of any description.
The leaf is ruled in blind on the verso and prickings remain in the outside margin for all horizontal lines.
The size of the leaf is 257mm x 176mm (10 1/10ins. x 6 9/10ins.).
The size of the text block is 232mm x 140mm (9 1/10ins. x 5 1/2ins.).
PURCHASE DETAILS: -
Purchased from Giuseppe Solmi, Studio Bibliografico Restauro Libri Antichi, 40064 Ozzano Dell'Milia, Italy.
PROVENANCE: -
1. Expert opinion has been obtained indicating that the leaf is similar to manuscripts of scribes active, when Abbot Werdo (784-812) was abbot in Saint Gallen and pointing out that Saint Gallen manuscripts Codd. Sang 6 (i.e. p.2,12); Cod. 44 (i.e. p.85); Cod. 125 (i.e. p. 109); or Cod. 567 (i.e. p.135) are quite similar.
2. Obtained by Mr. Solmi in a small collection from a collector and manuscript expert in Paris, a Mr. De Coligny.
3. Received with Export Licence No. N. 342 dated 7th. July 2016 issued by the Italian authorities.
CONDITION: -
It looks as though the leaf has been used as part of a binding or as part of a folder. The top margin has been removed (without taking any of the text) and it is now somewhat rough, as is the inside margin. There is a natural flaw in the bottom margin that has been extended a little to the left by another very small loss of velum. The text at the inside edge at the bottom half of the recto, and in the bottom two lines particularly, is somewhat worn with the loss of a few letters. There are 17th./18th. Century notes on either side which do not detract and whilst the recto has browned the verso is quite bright. Overall, considering that the manuscript is all of 1200 years old, it is in very good condition.
GENERAL COMMENTS: -
This leaf is a truly superb addition to the collection. It is of great rarety.