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

MS. Add. C. 283

Summary Catalogue no.: 29637

Contents

Justin, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus
Rubric: ... Epythome Justini
Incipit: CVM MULTI EX ROMANIS etiam consularis dignitatis uira res romanas
Explicit: ad cultiorem uitae usum traductum in formam provinci(a)e redegit. FINIS

Divided into forty-three books, instead of forty-four

The writing and some of the illuminations are a revival of an 11th and 12th century style

The only rubric or title is at fol. 20v

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: i + 153 leaves
Dimensions (binding): 12 × 8 in.

Hand(s)

Humanistic script in the same hand as MS. Canon. Class. Lat. 61, and possibly British Library, Add. MS. 12012 (which was signed by Alessio Germanico, pupil of Guarino, in 1433); cf. London, British Library, Burn. 187 which was written by Germanico (Pächt and Alexander ii. 383)

Decoration

Pächt and Alexander ii. 383, Pl. XXXVII

Fine initials in two styles, some unfinished

Border

Arms of the Maffei of Volterra added on fol. 3: azure a demi-stag attired or (saec. XV2)

Binding

Red russia with gold ornament, worn (18th century English work)

History

Origin: 14th century ; Italy, Ferrara (?)

Provenance and Acquisition

'De figli et eredi di Messer Mario Maffei' (fol. 3, erased, saec. XVI-XVII: family of Maffei of Volterra; see José Ruysschaert, 'Recherche des deux bibliothèques romaines Maffei des XVe et XVIe siècles', La Bibliofilía, 60 (1958), 306-355, listing the present manuscript at p. 325 no. 36.

Anthony Askew: his sale, 7 March, 1785, lot 476:

Fol. 1: 'Leigh's Auction. Dr. Askew's Manuscripts [lot 476] £1 12s. M: Wodhull Mar: 15th 1785': Michael Wodhull

Mary Ingram, to whom Wodhull's library was bequeathed (as MS. Don. d. 85, q.v.)

Samuel Amy Severne (as MS. Don. d. 85, q.v.)

Bought as no. 29G1G (lot 1428) on 18th January 1887 for £11 in the Severne Sale

Record Sources

Description adapted (September 2025) by Stewart J. Brookes from the Summary Catalogue (1905). Decoration, localization and date follow Pächt and Alexander (1970).

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (3 images from 35mm slides)

Last Substantive Revision

2025-09-11: Description revised to incorporate all the information in the Summary Catalogue (1905)