MS. Add. C. 283
Summary Catalogue no.: 29637
Contents
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
Physical Description
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
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
Digital Images
Digital Bodleian (3 images from 35mm slides)
Abbreviations
View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.
Last Substantive Revision
2025-09-11: Description revised to incorporate all the information in the Summary Catalogue (1905)