A catalogue of Western manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries and selected Oxford colleges

MS. Bodl. 265

Summary Catalogue no.: 2465

Contents

Boccaccio, De casibus uirorum illustrium (French translation by Laurens de Premierfait)

There are two prologues, and lists of contents of each book

Colophon: Ci fine le liure de Jehan Bocace des Cas des Nobles malheureux Hommes et Femmes, translate de Latin en francois par Laurens de Premier fait, Clerc du diocese de Troies, et fut finee ceste translacion lan mil cccc et neuf le lundi apres pasques closes. Plesseboys
Language(s): French

On fol. ii are some theological and miscellaneous notes, of the 15th century, in Latin

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: ii + 330 leaves
Dimensions (binding): 16.875 × 12.875 in.

Condition

The outer margin of fol. 56v has been cut off

Layout

2 cols

Hand(s)

Written by 'Plesseboys'

Decoration

By the atelier of the 'Terence des Ducs', Paris, Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, MS. 664. Pächt and Alexander i. 658, pl. LI.

Fine miniatures. Before each of the nine books is a fine miniature, and before the first prologue is a fourfold one, 1. a pope, cardinals, etc. (defaced); 2. a king and courtiers; 3. the translator presenting his book to Jehan duc de Berry, with Boccaccio standing by; 4. a bailiff directing artisans.

Borders.

Initials.

Binding

Stamped black leather with gold tooling, damaged, English work of c. 1600

History

Origin: c. 1420 ; France, Paris

Provenance and Acquisition

Acquired not later than 1602

Record Sources

Description adapted (December 2022) by Stewart J. Brookes from the Summary Catalogue (1922). Decoration, localization and date follow Pächt and Alexander (1973)

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (10 images from 35mm slides)

Bibliography

Last Substantive Revision

2022-12-26: Description revised to incorporate all the information in the Summary Catalogue (1922)