1 Ouvrage très estimé des Bibliographes.-Brunet. 72 DENIS (M.) CODICES Manuscripti Theologici Bibliothecae Palatinae Vindobonensis Latinæ aliarumque Occidentis linguarum, 6 vols. folio, facsimile, calf, £3. 10s Vindob. 1793-1802 73 GIRARDOT, Catalogue des MSS. de la Bibliothèque des Bourges, royal 4to. 164 pp. executed in lithography, with facsimiles, sd. only 90 copies printed, 128 1859 74 HAENEL, Catalogi Libr. Manuscriptorum, qui in Biblioth. Galliæ, Helvetiæ, Belgii, Britanniæ Magnæ, Hispaniæ, Lusitaniæ asservantur, 4to. calf gilt, from Miss Currer's library, 27s Lips. 1830 75 HARRIS, Fragments of an Oration against Demosthenes, folio, 32 facsimile fragments of Greek Papyri in 11 plates, 2s 6d Contains Lists of Manuscripts existing in Public and Private Libraries in Europe. 1848 76 HAYTER'S Report upon the Herculaneum MSS., with observations upon a Review, and a letter of Sir W. Drummond, 4to. plates, hf. calf, Miss Currer's copy, 78 6d 1810-12 77 HUMPHREYS' (H. N.) ILLUMINATED BOOKS of the Middle Ages, with an Account of the development and progress of the Art of Illumination from the IVth to the XVIIth centuries, impl. folio, LARGE PAPER, illustrated by a series of 31 examples of the size of the originals, selected from the most beautiful of the MSS. of the various periods, executed on stone, and most beautifully printed in gold, silver and colours by OWEN JONES, red mor. (pub. at £16. 16s) £8. 8s 1849 An extremely low price for such a beautiful work. In 1855, Bernal's copy, mor. fetched £12. The illustrations, all of the exact size of the originals, are from the most celebrated and splendid MSS. in the Imperial and Royal Libraries of Vienna, Moscow, Paris, Naples, Copenhagen, and Madrid; from the Vatican, Escurial, Ambrosian, and other great Libraries of the Continent; and from the rich Public, Collegiate, and Private Libraries of Great Britain. 78 IRIARTE (J.) Regiæ Bibliothecæ Matritensis Codices GRECI MSS. Vol. I. all published, folio, whole bound, 25s Matriti, 1769 79 INDEX to the Records, with explanations of Rolls, Writs, &c. 12mo. calf, 58 1739 80 KELHAM'S Dictionary of the Norman or Old French Language, 8vo. calf, 20s; calf extra, 30s 1779 81 KOOPS (M.) Historical Account of the Substances which have been used to DESCRIBE EVENTS, and to CONVEY Ideas; from the EARLIEST DATE to the INVENTION OF PAPER, royal 8vo. 92 pp. printed entirely upon STRAW PAPER, with a sample of a superior kind, hf. russia, with Hanrott's autograph, rare, 18s London, 1800 Of this catalogue, the first volume only was published, it is a valuable and elaborate work. A very interesting and valuable work, especially to Palæographers. 82 KOPP, PALEOGRAPHIA CRITICA, 4 vols. 4to. (pub. at £16. 16s) bds. £3. 10s 1817-19 A most important and valuable work, containing several thousand new characters, expressly struck for it, to represent the endless varieties of styles, the abbreviations, etc. in the early Greek and Roman Writing They are arranged in form of a Lexicon, explained in the regular Greek and Roman characters, and followed by reverse Indexes. The work further contains several large folding sheets of facsimiles. The cost of the publication amounted to several thousand pounds, and was entirely defrayed by the learned author, in whose lifetime only a few copies were circulated amongst Public Libraries and his friends. 83 LANGLOIS, Essai sur la Calligraphie des Manuscrits du Moyen-Age, et les ornements des livres d'Heures imprimés, large 8vo. frontispiece, (slightly injured) and 15 plates of Initial Letters, Miniatures, etc. hf. calf neat, 16s Rouen, 1841 In this volume are bound up, also, "JUBINAL, Tapisseries historiées, 4 plates, 1840;" and LICHTENBERGER, Invention de l'Imprimerie, portrait of Gutenberg, and 9 plates, Strasb. 1825." 84 LE LONG, Bibliotheque Historique de la France, contenant le Catalogue de tous les Ouvrages imprimés et Manuscrits qui traitent de ce Royaume; augmenté par Fontette, 5 vols. folio, a beautiful copy from Miss Currer's library, in old French calf extra, with Arms on sides, £10. 10s Paris, 1768-78 Priced, 1831, H. Bohn, £10. 108. "Le Long's historical library of France, if we except some errors, is a very curious and useful work."— Voltaire, This is perhaps the most laborious and most able Bibliographical work which has ever appeared. It is scarcely possible to find a volume or a manuscript in the least connected with French History, but what is fully described here, and it frequently gives curious details respecting our English historians. Brunet says of it "Cet ouvrage est un des travaux les plus essentiels qu'ait produit la science bibliographique, et il doit se trouver dans toutes les Bibliothéques." 85 MASSEY (W.) Origin and Progress of Letters, manner of writing of different nations, etc. with an account of English penmen, 8vo. plates of alphabets and contractions, old calf, 7s 6d 1763 86 MACHHOLDTH (A.) Formular oder Schreiber Buch, Black letter, a curious work on writing, with SINGULARLY FINE INITIAL LETTERS of peculiar design, Eisleben, 1559-Karls V., des H. Römischen Reichs peinlich Gerichts Ordnung, woodcuts, Franckfurt, 1558-Meischner (J. H.) Teutscher Nation Formular und Handbuch Teutscher Schreiberey, 4 vols. ib. 1562-in 1 vol. stout folio, stamped pigskin, 18s 87 MÖLLER, Schreib-Kunst Spiegel, sm. oblong 4to. bds. 27s Lübeck, (1644-50) Collation: Ornamental bastard title, engraved title, dedication, 2 plates; printed text, pp. 1-16; a beautiful portrait of the Artist; 38 plates of Alphabets with very ingenious ORNAMENTS and FLOURISHES; text 1-119. 88 MONTFAUCON, Bibliotheca Bibliothecarum Manuscriptorum Nova: ubi, quae innumeris pene Msp. Bibl. continentur, ad quodvis literaturae genus spectantia describuntur et indicantur, 2 vols. folio, neat in calf, 25s Paris, 1739 Mead's copy fetched 37s; Heath's, 39s. "A learned and useful work, almost necessary for every man of letters." Gibbon's Misc. Works, Vol. I. p. 341. See Dibdin's Dec. Vol. III. p. 207. 89 MONTFAUCONI Palæographia Græca, sive de Ortu et Progressu Literarum Græcarum, et de variis Scriptionis Græc. Generibus, itemque de Abbrevationibus, folio, plates of facsimiles of Inscriptions, Monuments, &c. calf, 25s Paris, 1708 "An invaluable work, which has done the same in reference to the discovery of the age of Greek MSS. that the Re Diplomatica of Mabillon has done for the Latin."-DR. CLARKE. "A work illustrating by a considerable number of plates, and learned dissertations, the whole history of Greek writings, with the variations of the Greek characters from the earliest times down to the present. This was almost the first work written upon the subject, and it has served as the text-book for all students of this branch of Greek Literature."-H. L. Jones, Gent.'s Mag. Dec. 1855. 90 NATURE et Scripturæ concordia: de literis ac numeris primævis, sm. 4to. plates of ancient alphabets, 5s Lips. 1752 91 NESSEL (D. de) Catalogus, sive recensio specialis omnium Codicum Manuscriptorum Græcorum nec non Linguarum Orientalium Bibliothecae Caesarea Vindobonensis, 2 vols. folio, numerous facsimiles of early Greek and Byzantine Art, calf, 21s Vindob. 1690 92 NOTICES et EXTRAITS des Manuscrits de la Bibliothèque du Roi, et d'autres bibliothèques, publiés par l'Institut royal de France, faisant suite aux Notices et Extraits lus au Comité établi dans l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres, Vols. I. to XIII.-13 vols. 4to. plates and facsimiles, half bound calf, not uniform, the Earl of Munster's copy, £6. 10s Paris, 1787-1838 93 Tome XII. 4to. containing "De Sacy, Correspondance des Samaritains de Naplouse," with the Samaritan, Hebrew, and Arabic Texts, etc. bds. 15s ib. 1831 As there is some irregularity in publication of the recent volumes, I give a statement of what has been done since volume XIII.; Vol. XIV. parts 1, 2; Vol. XV. not out; Vol XVI. part 2; Vol. XVII. parts 1, 2. The "Notices et Extraits" form a desirable Supplement to the "Histoire de l'Académie des Inscriptions." "The existence and continuation of this collection, exhibiting such noble proofs of French literary industry, are hardly sufficiently known or appreciated. How is it that so excellent an example is not followed by other European Governments?"-Rev. Enc. vol. 4, p. 508. 94 NOUVEAU TRAITE de DIPLOMATIQUE, où l'on examine les fondemens de cet Art, on établit des regles sur le discernement des Titres, et l'on expose historiquement les Caractères des Bulles Pontificales et des Diplomes, par deux Religieux Benedictins de S. Maur, 6 vols. 4to. many plates of Ancient Writings, Charters, Diplomas, Documents, &c. £8. 8s Paris, 1750-65 The best book on Diplomatics, indispensable to every Public Library. 95 PALATINO, Libro nel qual s'insegna a Scriver ogni sorte Lettera, Antica et Moderna, di qualunque natione, con le sue regole et misure et essempi, sm. 4to. FIRST EDITION, Woodcut portrait on title, numerous wood engravings of ORNAMENTAL LETTERS, Combinations, Rebuses, &c. vellum, £2. 2s Roma, 1561 96 Compendio del Gran volume de l'Arte del bene et leggiadramente Scrivere tutte le sorti di Lettere et Carattieri, sm. 4to. woodcuts (rebus), ornamental letters, &c. vellum, 36s A later edition of the preceding. Roma, 1566 98 RODRIGUEZ, Bibliotheca Universal de la Polygraphia ESPANOLA, royal folio, with 126 plates, exhibiting specimens of the writing of different ages, hf. yellow morocco, uncut; or calf, £3. 10s Madrid, 1738 This work is invaluable, and in fact indispensable to all collectors of, or any persons who are engaged in, manuscripts. The plates exhibit the various kinds of writings, from the earliest time down to the seventeenth century. "Cet ouvrage dont les exemplaires sont peu communs est precieux, a cause des modeles d'anciennes ecritures qu'il contient; les Benedictins auteurs du Nouveau Traité de Diplomatique, le citent avec eloge."-Bruret. 99 ROELAND'S PENMANSHIP: T'Magazin der Penn-const, 4to. folding plates of every style of Writing of that period, every page embellished with wonderfully combined FLOURISHES, vellum, 20s Antwerpen, 1616 100 SANDERI, Bibliotheca Belgica Manuscripta: Elenchus Codicum MSS. in Belgii Bibliothecis adhuc latentium, 2 vols. in 1, sm. 4to. vellum, 30s Insulis, 1641-44 101 SERVIDORI (Domingo M. de) Reflexiones sobre l'Arte de Escribir, 2 vols. folio, one consisting of 105 plates, calf, £3. 10s Madrid, 1789 102 SILVESTRE (J. B.) PALÉOGRAPHIE UNIVERSELLE. Collection de FACSIMILE D'ECRITURES de tous les peuples et de tous les temps, publiés d'après les modèles ecrits; accompagnés d'explications histor. et descriptives par MM. Champollion, 4 vols. atlas folio, with about 300 magnificent plates of FACSIMILES OF EVERY KIND OF MSS. many BEAUTIFULLY ILLUMINATED, in gold and colours, a most sumptuous work, bound in blue MOROCCO, gilt edges, original copies like this are now VERY SCARCE, £63 Paris, 1839-41 from the sale of Sir Mark Masterman Sykes in 1824 for 1577. 10s, since which time the pedigrees have been continued by Mr. W. Paver, of Clementhorpe, near York, for which a further payment of 10l. was incurred, as stated in Miss Currer's handwriting on the fly-leaf to the volume. It appears to have been purchased in 1797 of Mr. W. Prince of York by Sir M. M. Sykes. This "noble" MS., as it has been justly designated by a high authority (Sir Chas. G. Young, Garter), con tains the pedigrees of 472 families, a pen and ink drawing of the armorial bearings of each family being placed at the head of the pedigree. Portion of the volume is in the handwriting of Dugdale himself, but the greater number of the pedigrees, and of the shields of arms which are executed with much artistic spirit and elegance, are undoubtedly the work of Gregory King, afterwards Lancaster Herald, who was in Dugdale's service and accompanied him in all his visitations of the northern counties. The reprint published recently by the Surtees Society is not to be considered as diminishing the value of this book, when it is observed that the MS. contains not only the drawings of Arms, which are not reproduced in publication, but also possesses the valuable additions made by Mr. W Paver, Genealogist, of Clementhorpe. These additions, in many instances, trace the genealogies to a more remote date than originally done, as well as givir g their continuation; and contain interesting historical details. The sum of 107., said to have been paid for Mr. Paver's labor, must have been but a nominal payment; as its value far exceeds such a comparatively trifling remuneration. Mr. Paver has also added a copy of Dugdale's List of persons generally reputed Esquires or gentlemen, who having been unable or neglected to make proof of their gentility, on the Visitation, were forbidden to be addressed by those titles," with his notification to the Sheriff. The Surtees reprint stops short with the genealogy of the "Davye of Fockerby" family; and omits the concluding portion of the MS., which proceeds from that, with accounts of the Boroughs of Pontefract, Leedes, Richmund, Kingston upon Hull, Beverley, Doncaster and York. Beautiful drawings of their Common Seals and Arms, are prefixed. The preface to the reprint contains an exact history and pedigree of this MS., but notwithstanding the Editor's anxiety to give a faithful reproduction, as stated, this omission (doubtless inadvertent, in consequence of some blank pages and portion of Mr. Paver's additions occurring between the Davye pedigree and the concluding portion of the MS.) makes the Surtees Society publication glaringly imperfect, 11 EARLY ENGLISH MANUSCRIPT, ON VELLUM, OF THE XIVTH CENTURY, containing : I. Meditacious and Confessions of Seint Austyn II. A Tretise that men callith Richarde of Seynt Victor (of the study of wysdome) IV. Songe of Love to owre Lorde Jhesu Christe V. Ave, Quene of heven, ladi of erthe, welle of all bounte Emperice of helle, & of mekenes the sov eynte Ryht briht sterre schynynge, of all fayrnes the flor Gracious moder of Jhu, throw you have we grace, counfort and socour, etc. IN ENGLISH METRE, divided into 15 sections, expounding on each of the principal words of the Ave Maria separately, commencing with Ave, then Maria, and so on VI. A Poem on the Passion of Christ, divided into various sections, and beginning: And with his gostly yze thereon loke To save his sowle fro the feende Than for to do as this boke tellyth Ffor holy writte forsooth it spellith, etc. sm. folio, A BEAUTIFUL VOLUME of 92 leaves, in the finest state of preservation. The fifth piece in this volume, which apparently is not entirely complete, is a very remarkable production, and is apparently entirely unknown to poetical antiquaries. The Meditations of St. Austin end with the following address of the Scribe to the nuns by whom it seems he was employed to write the book. Thankyd be almyghti God, my gode sustren, I have now pformyd yor. desyre in englysshinge these meditacious etc. I have nat wrytin alway as it standith. Ffor in translatynge of oon langage to another, som wordis must be chaungyd & and some places moo wordes must be seyde Ffor Englysch is soo buystus (?) of it self that ellis it wole be full unsavery to rede therfolwe as me semyth is most lisabel. And I have wryten in spekyng to God, for reverens, ye and youres & so I fynde in the frensche boke that I wrote after vos & vre, etc. Much of the poetry is written with an ease and melody of versification which is remarkable in comparison with the rugged metrical efforts of the time; and on the whole this beautiful MS. is one of extreme interest for the light it throws on the history of the English language in its early development. 12 EARLY ITALIAN MS. ON NAVIGATION.-CESAREO (Agostino) L'ARTE DEL NAVIGARE con il regimento della Tramontana, e del Sole; e la vera Regola An interesting manuscript very neatly written and evidently prepared for publication. It is dedicated "allo illmo. Signor Ferrante Somma." Contents: on the North Pole; on the cross-staff, its manufacture, use, etc. with diagram; Ursa Major and Minor, with moveable diagram; on the Antarctic Pole; Rule for calculating distance; on oblique winds; on the navigation of the Levant; on the sun's altitude; on the sun's shadow; 16 pp. of tables of the sun's declinations; on Tides; Rule for Tides with lists of Tides on the Coasts of SPAIN, ENGLAND, etc.; Rule tɩ know the tides in all parts of the world, with a curious diagram having two moveable pieces. 13 EVANGELIA IV. graece, apparently written by GEORGE HERMONYMUS of SPARTA, the teacher of Budaeus and Reuchlin, sm. 4to. a remarkably well written Greek MS. with 4 curious DRAWINGS, and Initial Letters in gold; quite perfect, and in excellent preservation, olive morocco extra, by THOUVENIN, £8. 8s Sæc. XV. XVI. Though this MS. was probably written after the invention of printing, there is no doubt, that it was copied from a much earlier MS. Biblical writters are invited to examine this manuscript. 14 EVAGGELIA, Ta Hagia, small 4to. A FINE GREEK MS. of the 13th Century, written upon VELLUM, rudely ornamented with INITIAL LETTERS and headings in red, 324 pp. not quite complete, in the original oak boards, £36 Saec. XIII. A curious and valuable MS. which has come from a Monastery in the East. It was selected by an English officer, as the most precious book in the library there, and obtained under very peculiar circumstances. The writing, which is not entirely that of one scribe, is in a fine bold hand; and the text is arranged not according to the usual form, but in chronological order. It begins with the first and second chapters of John, then proceeds with Luke; and alternates similarly all through the book. The chapters and verses are numbered; and dates are prefixed at each heading. دو On the first page, above the ornamental border, is seen the inscription, (in contracted characters.) “ Μνησθητη κυριε την ψυχην τε δουλε τε θες Μαρτηνε. Μνησθητη κυριε την ψυχην της δουλης τ8 θες Ελενης. [Remember, Lord, the soul of God's servant Martin. Remember, Lord, the soul of God's servant, Helena.] 15 EVANGELIUM S. Matthæi Græco-Latinum. Manuscript of the XVth Century, on Paper, with Miniatures, folio, hf. vellum, £17. 10s Saec. XV. A very interesting volume containing several very singular Miniatures executed in gold (in many places faded) and colours, in a style wherein may be traced the oriental influence. In 1465 this Manuscript was presented to the Convent of St. Epiphanius. It begins with two Epistles of Saint Jerome, after which follows a sort of commentary on the arrangement of the Gospels. An epistle of St. Ambrose in Latin, and the Nicene Creed in Greek; with a record of the donation of the book, are found at the end. 16 GALLEGO (Hernando, de la Coruña) Vyaie y Descubrimiento de las Yslas Salomon en el Mar de el Sur, (1566), smallest 4to. 87 leaves, vellum, £10. 10s ? 1570 The discovery of the Isles of Solomon, was one of the greatest achievements which marked the career of Spanish domination in America, during the sixteenth century. The accounts which the mariners brought back with them, concerning these islands were marvellously magnified; the rivers of their fertile soil were said to flow over sands of gold; and all the wonders of an El-Dorado were associated, in Europe, with the name of the Islands of Solomon. From them, it was believed, the Royal Sage of Judah had obtained the gold with which he glorified the Temple; and hence they received the appellation which they have retained, notwithstanding the designations bestowed by subsequent discoverers They long maintained a fabulous character in the eyes of Europe, for the Spaniards who first discovered them, could not find them again; and little, beyond their name was known, till Surville re-discovered them in 1767, and they first became noted in France and England, as the Islands of the Arsacides, and as New-Georgia. This valuable MS. which was never published, is probably the only existing authentic record (unless there be a copy in the archives of Spain) of the voyage in which they were first discovered. In Thevenot's collection, there was inserted a Spanish fragment (generally wanting), concerning these Islands, from which, apparently, the small information to be found upon the subject of that voyage, has always been derived. This fragment seems to have been written about 1620, when Luis de Velasco, Marquis de salino, was Viceroy of Peru; and, although its first five columns are devoted to the first Voyage, yet it chiefly records the second enterprise, in which the Spaniards went out ineffectually, to seek again and colonize the Isles of Solomon. In the year 1566, Don Lope Garcia De Castro, Governor of Peru, fitted out the expedition chronicled in the above MS.; Alvaro de Mondano, (called frequently Mendoza, Miranda, Mandana, etc. by other writers), being appointed Admiral, and Hernando Gallego the Piloto Mayor. On the 19th of November, 1566, they sailed in two ships from Callao; and after a voyage, styled by the Biographie Universelle, "one of the most remarkable since the discoveries of Columbus," they landed in Peru again on the 26th of July, 1569, bringing with them golden tales of the new found Islands in the Pacific. Mendano, or Mendana, was received by the Viceroy, with a complimentary speech, in which he compared him with Columbus and Cortes; and in the Spanish fragment in Thevenot, he is extolled by the side of Ulysses and Vasco de Gama. The discovery was considered of such importance by the Spanish government, that they determined to send him out again with a larger force, to colonise the islands. The political troubles of Spain prevented the immediate execution of this project, which lay in abeyance for twenty years; and in 1599, Mendana set out again on the unfortunate voyage, in which he sailed for some years round the world, unsuccessfully, in search of the Isles he had previously discovered. Gallego's narrative is in a simple style, somewhat like a diary; and gives exact records from day to day of the progress they made. Several errors in date, which are generally received, from the statement of the Spanish fragment in Thevenot, may be corrected by the account of the Piloto Mayor, who probably prepared the above work for presentation to Philip II. 17 HAWTREY (Rev. Dr., Provost of Eton) Dissected Map of the Parish of Maplederham, traced from the Rent-Charge Map 1859, with MS. reference or index, by the Rev. Dr. HAWTREY, 12mo. morocco, 20s 1859 18 HERALDRY. Coats of Arms of the Noble and Gentle Families of Great Britain and Ireland, upwards of Eight hundred neat and boldly executed pen and ink drawings of Armorial Bearings, executed about 1640, with an Index added about 1780, sm. 4to. a few of the earlier drawings inlaid and slightly injured, an interesting MS. hf. bd. £3. 10s ca. 1640 There are also several MS. notes added in the commencement of this century by some learned hand. 19 HIERONYMI (S.) EPISTOLÆ, sm. folio, SPLENDID ITALIAN MANUSCRIPT, in Latin, upon the PUREST VELLUM, of 286 leaves, in the most elegant character. The first page is encircled with the most beautiful ITALIAN ARABESQUE BORDER, with a small miniature by an artist of great merit, in the finest state of preservation, bound in vellum, £12. 12s J. Grassus Carpensis, Ferraræ, 1467 It may be remarked that this voluminous and interesting correspondence of St. Jerome is of very unusual occurrence in Manuscript. 20 HOMILIÆ ET SERMONES, cum LECTIONARIO veterum Patrum; nempe Augustini, Bedæ, Leonis et Gregorii Paparum, Fulgentii, Maximi, Origenis, etc. large folio, MANUSCRIPT, ON VELLUM, OF THE VIIIth or IXth CENTURY, 289 leaves, meas. generally 18 inches by 13, in double columns, brown morocco, in compartments, £180. SEC. VIII.-IX. A Magnificent Manuscript, in two columns, in Merovingian characters, with an admixture of Saxon and rude Gothic. It contains more than two hundred initials, some of which are upwards of half a foot in height, in various colours. The style of these initials is very singular, and they present to view a number of interlaced lines and crossbars similar to those seen in the famous Evangelistarium written by Bishop Eadfrith in honour of St. Cuthbert, between the years 698 and 720 of the Christian era, so adm.ired in the British Museum. Although more square, the form of the letter G is the same as that indicated in the Saxon Alphabet represented in the second volume of the Nouveau Traité de Diplomatique, published by the Benedictines. The body of this Manuscript has a great resemblance to the one of St. Isidore ("Bibliothecæ Regiæ Parisiensis" No 2994 A), which is of the VII-VIIIth Century, and of which a facsimile can be seen in Plate LI of the third volume of the Nouveau Traité de Diplomatique, but the writing of this Manuscript is more regular and finer. The Homiliæ here described is a palæographic monument of the highest importance. At once a Homiliarium and a Lectionarium, it is doubly valuable as a monument of ancient Liturgy, and as containing a very large number of Pieces by the VENERABLE BEDE. It contains 289 leaves, with an ancient numbering, which proves that the first nine are deficient. This enormous volume has been admirably bound by Sumter, who has clothed it with one of those brown morocco bindings (called monastic, and so well executed in England), and surmounted the difficulties offered by so ancient a volume. Besides the Initials and the writing of the entire Manuscript, which is very fine, most remarkable are the numerous Rubrics, in red and blue, written in capitals interlaced in a peculiar style. The reverse of the 130th leaf is entirely occupied with a magnificent Initial in various colours, measuring 16 inches in height, accompanied by an inscription in large letters, interlaced in the style of monograms to be found in certain very ancient Charters, and arranged by great lines alternatively in red and blue, commencing thus: EXPLICIT LIBER HOMELIARUM PARTIS PRIME, &C. This magnificent page, which we have never seen surpassed, will be found facsimiled in Libri's INEDITED MONU MENTS. The above is the description which Mr. Libri has given of this venerable MS, but he is manifestly wrong in attributing it to the Seventh Century; for BEDE died at the age of 63 in the year 735; and it is generally admitted now that he did not receive the epithet of "Venerable" (which is here given to him) till after his death. It is therefore probable that this MS. was not executed till late in the Eighth or early in the Ninth Century, and was probably the work of some Saxon monk upon the Continent, most likely in France. The shape of the letters partakes much of the Anglo-Irish and, in a less degree of the Roman style of Charlemagne's period, but is entirely without the rudeness of construction and irregular character of the writing which prevailed in France at that time. There is a singular exactness and equality of form throughout; and the writer must have been a man of refined taste, judging from the symmetry of his work, and the constant variations in the shape of the initials, which nearly all differ from each other, yet have a bold and felicitous elegance quite remarkable. The chief feature of the ornamentation is the multiplied interlacing, which was first used in Irish MSS., and introduced upon the continent during the seventh and eighth centuries; and which flourished there till the twelfth century, then dying out, to be reproduced as an accessory in the Italian MSS. of the fourteenth century. The green, purple, blue, and red colours used in painting the initials, are of that dark and peculiar tint only met with in the most ancient MSS. There are some slight peculiarities in the orthography, not very frequent indeed, but which may be remarked. The letters B and V appear to be interchangeable; for instance the word lavor is to be met instead of labor, and Benerabi is for Venerabilis. Nihil is spelt Nicil, and charitas begins with a k instead of ch. On leaf 34, at the commencement of one of Bede's Homilies is a heading which appears to read thus, in mingled Western and Greek characters: "Eabacthansc Prbcr." Its meaning is left to conjecture. This Manuscript evidently formed at one time a valuable portion of some Spanish monastic library. On the first page (which was originally the nineteenth, being the obverse of the tenth leaf) there is a memorandum, in Spanish handwriting, possibly two hundred years old, which runs thus: "Sermones y Homilias de varios Santos Padres, de el tiempo, y festividades particul." On the front of leaf 30, at the beginning of a Sermon of "Fulgentius Episcopus," there is a Latin memorandum, also in a Spanish hand, which is as follows: "Sermo Fulgentii Ruspensis, vid. Tom. 3. Bibliothe. pp. f. 106. Vide Opera S. Fulgentii Ruspensis, p. 250, et in prefat. Oper. n. X. ubi cum hoc notantur reliq. 3 sermones reperti in hoc Lectionario, pp. 38-60 et 274." As the mind looks back upon the probable history of this venerable Manuscript, and reverts to the vicissitudes through which its owners may have passed, a kind of reverential awe is awakened, and we seem to stand in the presence of Time, the Destroyer. Yet his hand has but lightly touched this relic of ancient days, it is in fine preservation; and is not much changed from what it was, when the great empire of Charlemagne was torn asunder, and deluged with bloodshed by his grandchildren. It passed unscathed through those stormy times, and through all the subsequent troubles of the Middle ages; and perhaps, was part of the treasures of the Holy Roman Empire till the days of Charles V. Upon his death, it is not unlikely that it came into the possession of Philip II. and remained in Spain till the present century. I gave £161. for these "Homilies," at Mr. Libri's sale, and now offer it at the above s'ightly increased price, reserving to myself only a commission profit of 10 per cent. for expenses, and the honour of having possessed, even for a while, this venerable monument of the Carlovingian times. 21 HORÆ Beatæ Mariæ Virginis, cum Kalendario, Manuscript upon fine Vellum, in a large gothic hand, and richly decorated with 50 SUPERB MINIATURES, illustrative of the Passion of Christ, the Lives of Saints, etc. thirteen of them large miniatures of nearly the size of the page, with borders, and thirty-seven small Miniatures with appropriate SEMI-BORDERS, the whole depicting a multitude of figures most admirably drawn and grouped, and highly interesting in their various accessories as Buildings, Costume, Beasts, Birds, Insects, etc. The preceding are all executed in the extremely rare CAMAIEU GRIS, with occasional relief of gold, ultramarine in the skies, etc. There are also a multitude of initial letters in rich gold and colours. The whole of FRENCH execution, in fine preservation, with ample margins, stout 4to. in old morocco, powdered with the fleurde-lys, having impressed within the covers, Ce livre apartien a moy Vincent Guichard," £80. circa 1440 An extremely beautiful example of a very unusual style of art in Missal painting. There was no specimen of the Camaieu-gris style at the recent magnificent exhibition of Illuminated Manuscripts in the rooms of the Society of Antiquaries. 66 |