Search Results: Manuscripts from Butler Rare Books

1180. No Binding. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Large cutting, with a historiated initial 'S' (opening 'Senior delecte domine' the opening of 2 John from the N.T.) formed of blue and light brown acanthus leaves with scalloping white penwork, the upper compartment with a green-headed bear creature with an orange body biting the initial at his feet, the lower compartment with a white griffon-like creature with sprouts of simple acanthus leaves emerging form its mouth and the apex of its head, all on burnished gold grounds and within a thick blue frame heightened by blue penwork, simple initials in red or blue, rubrics in red, partly marked up for reading in red ink, 19 lines of an early gothic bookhand with red touching to capitals and fishtailing to ascenders, but with only occasional ligatures and biting curves and with a tall capital 'E' with a tongue found in other manuscripts of the period (cf. Clermond-Ferrand, Bibl. Mun. ms. 1: W. Cahn, Romanesque Manuscripts, 1982, no. 44, fig. 44, central… Read More

Parchment bifolium, c.500×720cm, complete except for one excised corner, ruled in ink and written with nine lines of text and music on four-line staves, with music in square notation, the c , f , or g line indicated as appropriate at the left. As the text on the present bifolium is continuous, it must have been the central bifolium of its quire. This is confirmed by the consecutive (post-medieval) folio numbers 107 and 108 . These allow us to deduce the original structure of the parent volume. The most common size of quires throughout the Middle Ages was the quaternion (i.e. 4 bifolia, 8 leaves, 16 pages). In a book composed of quaternions, the 13th quire contains fols. 104 111, and the central bifolium of this quire is fols. 107 108. The small notches at the gutter fold show where the eight supports of the binding were sewn. The horizontal crease, and the 18th- or 19th-century inscriptions ( Dobbeldam ?) written sideways along the outer margin of fol. 2v suggest that the bifolium was folded in half… Read More

Single leaf, on vellum, Carolingian script on both sides, in two columns, 48 lines. 415 mm x 308 mm (16¼" x 12").Some discoloration and wear, several brown spots, a few small holes in margins, trimmed close; very good.A rare and striking leaf from an early AtlanticBible, so-called because of their largedimensions. (see previous item). The Bibles, abouta hundred examples of which are recordedaccording the Université de Genève, were produced between the middle of the 11th and the second half of the 12th century in central Italy, a product of the ecclesiastical reform of the second half of the 11th century.Schøyen Collection, Oslo and London, their MS216.

Bifolium from a Vita Sancti Stephani, including an abridgement of Evodius, Miracula Facta Uzali, in Latin, decorated manuscript on parchment[Germany (perhaps Rhineland), c. 1100] Bifolium (consecutive leaves and hence innermost leaves of a gathering), each leaf with single column of 30 lines of a rounded proto-gothic minuscule, with slightly tremulous aspect, an ampersand whose loops sit high above the baseline and trailing undulating pen strokes at beginning of some capitals, one large initial 'V' in red, reused in binding and hence slightly trimmed at foot of both leaves (text wanting at beginning and end), overall good condition with marginal prickings for ruling present, 220 by 170mm.; in cloth-covered binding Provenance: 1. Dr. Helmuth Wallach (1901-1989), of Munich and New York, the eminent antiquarian bookseller and art dealer. 2. Bernard Rosenthal (1920-2017), of San Francisco, California, his I/211, acquired in 1970. 3. Quaritch cat. 1147, Bookhands of the Middle Ages V, 1991, no. 87.4.… Read More

1050. No Binding. Condition: Good. 1st Edition. A single leaf on parchment 297mm x 215mm. The text is from the O.T. prophet, Amos Ch.5.22-8.3. Dates from the eleventh century. Double columns. Some shaving to the last line. A natural vellum hole. Significant worming holes especially heavy at the right hand foredge. On verso, a capital which appears to have been pencilled in. More browning on the verso. Sewing holes and a binding edge on the left hand margin. A good and acceptable example of an early full leaf.

Parchment, c.175×140mm, i (paper) + 107 + i (paper) leaves; foliated in modern pencil i, 1 108; COMPLETE; collation: 16 (fols.1-6) | 28 (fols.7 14), 3 78 (fols.15 54), 84 (fols.55 58) | 9-138 (fols.59 98), 144-1 (last leaf cancelled with no apparent loss of text or decoration; fols.99 101), 158-2 (6th and 8th leaves cancelled without loss of text or decoration; fols.102 107); one catchword survives (fol.38v); prickings occasionally survive at the fore-edge; ruled in pink ink for 17 lines of text per page (33 lines in the calendar); written in a professional gothic bookhand in dark brown ink (occasionally with very calligraphic flourishes e.g. fols.16v, 17v), rubrics (often in French) and major feasts in the calendar in red, capitals stroked in yellow wash; the ruled space c.115×73 78mm; illuminated with TWELVE LARGE ARCH-TOPPED MINIATURES FRAMED IN GOLD, typically above 5 lines of text (above 4 lines on fols. 45r, 48v, above 6 lines on fol.75r) and a 4-line initial (5-line initials on fols.7r, 24v,… Read More

A bifolium from a gargantuan Atlantic Bible, each leaf 510mm x 355mm., with Tobit 11:8-Judith 8:26, double column, 40 lines in brown ink in a professional rounded Romanesque bookhand, simple initials and running titles in red, some holes with significant losses to one column of first leaf, Italy, mid-twelfth century. Sotheby's July, 2014 Lot 3 (part).

1250. No Binding. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. 155mm x 128mm. Fragment on vellum in a neat C13th hand rubricated in red and blue. Comestor's 'Historia Scholastica' commentary on the end of Genesis and the chapters of Exodus. What is interesting about this piece is that the numerals are Arabic and not Roman.

1280. No Binding. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Fragment 238mm x 190mm. Vellum, probably France, late thirteenth century. This is an index to a text of canon law; it is possibly Sebald? Intricate rubricated initials in blue and fine red work with red caps at the start of almost each line. Left hand of front is dusty and shows the remains of a recovered binding piece, otherwise clarity is very good on both sides.

Parchment, a substantially complete leaf, c.310×230mm, the corners and inner margin cropped to allow mitering, with the loss of a few letters at some line-ends but otherwise apparently preserving the full width of the outer and lower margins, ruled in drypoint for two columns of 37 lines written above top line, in a fine rounded Caroline bookhand, marginal notes are keyed to the appropriate places by the use of a triple dot or a crossed 7 sign, inscribed in the lower margin in modern pencil HIERONYMUS [In?] Isaiam . Recovered from use as the cover of a binding as shown by the mitering at the corners, the creases for the turn-ins, the horizontal creases marking the spine of the host volume, the comparative darkness of the outer face, and the remains of a title in 18th(?)-century script on what would have been the front cover. Here the scribe uses æ as well as ę , d is always upright, tall s and r usually descend a little below the line, round s does not occur except as a capital at the beginning… Read More

1250. No Binding. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Boethius commentary on Aristotle, Categoriae, and the same authors translation of Perihermenias, two bifolia, in Latin translation, decorated manuscript on parchment [France (probably Paris), thirteenth century (probably first half)]four leaves (two bifolia), each with single column of 41 lines in a tiny university script, paragraph marks in red, rubrics and simple initials in red, numerous tiny contemporary or near-contemporary marginal notes and addition, reused on binding in France in eighteenth century and with later inscriptions of that period, some leaves with large areas of scuffing, some holes and folds, somewhat battered condition, each leaf 225 by 162mm.While the thirteenth century saw the highpoint in translation and study of Aristotle in the West, and benefited from the incoming cultural influences from the East and southern Europe, Boethius had already begun such work in the early sixth century. His works were the main carriage of such… Read More

1550. Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Paper covers. 32pp, bound. Second half of C16th. A small calligraphic hand in brown ink with marginal notes written on paper. Some vestigial show through 282mm x 196mm. This appears to be a copy of a printed text of Fortunatianus

1837. Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. A manuscript transcription of part of Edward Greswell's 'Parables' on the Millennium. Bound in full contemporary blind stamped calf with gilt lines raised bands and a label. 243pp. Marbled endpapers and edges. The rear hinge is split but is holding firmly, appears to have been glued in restoration. A very attractive Victorian production.

1150. No Binding. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Half leaf, bi-sected laterally; with remains of double column of 17 lines in a notably fine early gothic bookhand, without biting curves, capitals touched in red, rubrics in red and pale blue in margin, elegant Nota sign in red and pale blue, small initials in red or pale blue with contrasting penwork (that on back with foot and tracery scrolling far into bas-de-page), one large red initial with acanthus leaf frond picked out in foot, prick marks visible at inner edge, corner cut away, some very slight offset and darkening (reverse stained purple), small spots and holes, else fair and presentable condition, 230 x 310mm. From a parent manuscript of remarkably high quality, with pleasing use of alternate red and pale blue in its decoration.

18cm x 7cm. A fragment written on parchment c.1200. A side-gloss from a larger glossed portion of Zechariah Chapter 14. Almost certainly France, probably Paris. One painted red paragraph mark

54cm x 38cm. Huge leaf from a Gradual with a beautiful illuminated large initial 'G' in gold leaf, pink, blue and green. Probably Siena or perhaps Florence written about 1500 on parchment. Text in red, blue and black ink with musical staves. This leaf is from the same as that in Sotheby's 2 December 2014, Lot 21 and Bloomsbury, 8 July 2015, Lot 81. This leaf is newly discovered from that same gradual. From a small European private collection.

4 volumes. The first 3 volumes 28cm x 19cm 1) German, Dutch, Flemish, and Spanish Schools. 108+plates; 2) Italian school. 161+plates. 3) British, Irish and Icelandic schools. 167+plates. All in near fine d/w and nr fine text. Volume 4 is 'Oxford College Libraries, University Archives and Taylor Institution' 29cm x 23cm in nr fine d/w and nr fine text. All dustwrappers in protective covering. The addition of this 4th volume makes a useful 'complete' set of the Oxford Illuminated Manuscripts. Additional shipping will be required for this heavy set.

c.1320. 45cm x 30cm. Single large leaf, with the main text set in a small, square text block of 2 columns of 15 lines. Tall square Italian bookhand in the centre of the leaf (with parts of Lib.1 tit VI. 'De electione'). Wide margins with 67 lines of the standard commentary enclosing the main text. Capitals touched in yellow, paragraph marks in red and blue, running titles in red and blue with other contemporary roman numeral section numbers in contemporary pen. One text correction. Old water damage. Modern folio no. '23' on recto. Spotting to outer upper corner but overall in good condition. A very large and handsome leaf from a copy of the 'Sextus Liber Decretalium'.

Leaf from a commentary on Matthew 2:11-18, in Latin, from a large decorated manuscript on parchment[England, c. 1200] Single leaf, with double column of 45 lines in a handsome English gothic bookhand (textualis libraria), capitals touched in red and sometimes with leafy vine-stem terminals, one small red initial, marginalia including diagrams for the words "fuga" and "Moratus", recovered from a binding and with staining to margins on recto, some tears to edges of leaves and small holes, overall in fair and presentable condition, 345 by 245mm.; in cloth-covered binding and with report by Prof. Marvin Colker Provenance: 1. The presence of punctus flexus punctuation indicates an origin in a Cistercian community, somewhere in England at the end of the twelfth century and the opening of the thirteenth.2. Sotheby's, 12 November 1987, lot 12. 3. Bernard Rosenthal (1920-2017), San Francisco, California, I/266 (1987). 4. Quaritch cat. 1088, Bookhands of the Middle Ages III, 1988, no. 65. 5. Schøyen… Read More

Physical description and Materiality
Parchment, a substantially complete leaf, c.260×375mm, but the corners trimmed to allow mitering and one margin cropped to reduce the width to the required size, ruled in dry-point on the hair-side for two columns of 36 lines written above top line in a fine regular rounded late Caroline bookhand, with a rubric in red and an enlarged initial in red divided into two panels, foliated "cxlvj" in the middle of the upper margin.
The shape of the book that this leaf covered is clearly preserved; the very darkened spine still has one of two paper labels preserved, inscribed with a shelfmark "[…] 5. b | 29", and rows of holes show where the cover was sewn to the boards. Unlike the vast majority of medieval manuscript leaves re-used as book covers (including those in this catalogue), the outer face is almost entirely blank: this cannot be due to fading or ordinary wear-and-tear, and shows that the binder have deliberately and carefully erased the text, probably with a… Read More