773J Messe, e Vespri

MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM.

[FIFTEENTH CENTURY]

Missal and Vespers . 

Close-up of a manuscript page featuring ornate red and black calligraphy, with musical notation above the text.

This is the second volume of a probably three or four volume Graduale Romanum Part II is in this case is the Antiphonale Missarum (begining folio CLXXXI) consisting of the or the music for the Mass and Vespers.

Page of a 15th-century manuscript displaying musical notation and Latin text, featuring colorful illuminated initials and decorative borders.
Front cover of a 15th-century manuscript bound in wooden boards, covered in blind-stamped black calf leather, featuring brass fittings and a centerpiece.

This is a Large quarto; 37 x 25 cm. [15¾  x 10 inches.]  132 leaves, There is a manuscript singleton between the Table on paper and the beginning of the text proper.

This small antiphonal was made in Italy in the later fifteenth century. The text begins with the “In Natiuirate Dominion P:a Missa.” the first four gatherings are made up of 10 leaves, with vertical catch word, followed a gathering of 6 followed by six more gatherings of 10 and then one gathering of 6 then one of 7, none signed but with contemporary numbering in a fifteenth century hand.  This volume begins with folio CLXXXI There are no lacuna nor gaps in numbering of text leaves, Including one inter textual blank except for the foliation number º CCXXXIIIIº through to CCXCVIII.  Assigned signatures: a-d10e6f-l10m6n7.  This complete section does exhibit signs of long continuous use. There are word and phrase changes as well as early repairs, a much later index /table on paper bound before the text.         

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Manuscript page from a fifteenth-century missal, featuring musical notation and text, with visible margins showing the leather binding.

This Blank leaf, preservers the structure of a 10 leaf gathering as well as maintaining the  Rule of Gregory, which has with hair-side facing hair-side and flesh-side facing flesh-side, giving a consistent color and texture across each opening. (this image shows the flesh sides, you can also see that the flesh side is paler than the hair side which is yellowish common is sheep skins, where as Goat skin is mostly yellow on both sides.

This manuscript is bound in an original binding of wooden boards covered in blind stamped calf leather, at some time early on it was rebacked (perhaps when separated from the first section) with a centerpiece in brass, and with chased corner bosses in brass; with clasps in leather and brass, one of which is detached but present. The nature of the clasps attaching in the back of the book suggesting that the binding is also Italian.

Leather-bound manuscript book from the fifteenth century, featuring a diamond-shaped brass centerpiece and corner bosses.

On the front inside pastedown is a description of this book from a 1902 Caxton Head Catalogue by James Tregaskis 

Description from the 1902 Caxton Head Catalogue detailing a fine manuscript on vellum, including information about the contents and condition of the book.

nb * 8 guineas in 1902 <>

 The leaves lined in red, notated and lettered on the rectos and the versos;

Open medieval manuscript with musical notations and text, featuring illuminated initials in red and blue, on vellum pages.

There is a manuscript index leaf at the front, “Tavola di Messe, e Vespri del Libro Piccolo”.

Interior page of an illuminated manuscript displaying the table of contents for Mass and Vespers, featuring handwritten text in Italian.
Page from a fifteenth-century manuscript showing a list of Masses and Vespers, with text in Latin, annotated with musical notations.

There is a beautiful 4 inch initial on leaf 67 (g2– CCVI)

Ornately decorated initial 'B' in vibrant colors, surrounded by floral motifs on a manuscript page with lined red writing space.
Illuminated manuscript page featuring musical notation, the word "imanis," and a colorful decorative border with a central illustration showing a religious scene.

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Close-up of a decorated letter 'G' in blue ink from a medieval manuscript page, featuring musical notations and text in black and red ink.

There is a small light guide letter ‘g’ in the margin!

Detail view of a manuscript page featuring handwritten musical notation and text in Latin, including a red initial '6' and black lettered phrases, on a vellum surface.
Page from a 15th-century manuscript with musical notation and text in Latin, featuring decorative red initials and a blend of two styles of calligraphy.

Yellowish hair side of the folio.

Open historical manuscript page featuring musical notation and text in Latin, from a 15th century antiphonal.

A later comment added . Also note the vertical catch word.

A close-up of a manuscript page featuring musical notation and text in Latin, with some red ink highlights, likely from a medieval liturgical book.

Exmples of over writing and additions.

Open manuscript showcasing music notations and text for Mass and Vespers, with red and blue ink details.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brown, Michelle P., Understanding Illuminated Manuscripts: A Guide to Technical Terms, J. Paul Getty and The British Library Board: Los Angeles, 1994, pp. 95, 56, 65.

Clarkson, Christopher, ‘Rediscovering Parchment: The Nature of the Beast’, in Conservation and Preservation in Small Libraries, ed. by Nicholas Hadgraft and Katherine Swift (Cambridge: Parker Library, 1994), pp. 75-96

Clemens, Raymond and Timothy Graham. Introduction to Manuscript Studies. New York: Cornell University Press, 2007.

Reed, R., Ancient Skins, Parchment and Leathers (London: Academic, 1973)