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

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MS. Lat. th. c. 31

Summary Catalogue no.: Not in SC (late accession)

Contents

Jerome, Letters (Epistolae morales et ad mulieres destinate)
Rubric: Epistolę morales et ad mulieres destinatę (facing fol. 1)
(fols. vi–vii verso)

list of contents written by scribe

(fol. vii)

note by scribe warning reader about letters wrongly attributed to Jerome, followed by the Greek alphabet

(fols. 1–129v)

Begins with Ep. 11

(fols. 131–218v)
Rubric: Epistolę … ad scripturarum intelligentiam pertinentes et ad mulieres destinatę

Begins with Ep. 37

Fol.viii–viiiv, 109–110v, 130–130v are blank.

Fol.85, note in crayon: ‘nota quod in hoc volumine sunt littere iiijx.’ This is close to the number of initials (42), in the following section (fol.85v–102v).

For a detailed description of the manuscript, see J.J.G. Alexander, A.C. de la Mare, The Italian Manuscripts in the library of Major J.R. Abbey, 1969, no.41, pp.115–117 and plates LII, LIIIa.

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: pęnitentes quę
Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: viii + 212 leaves (s)
Dimensions (leaf): 335 × 234 mm.
Edges cropped by binder
Dimensions (written): 214 × 148 mm.
Foliation: Contemporary foliation in red arabic numerals jumps from 102 to 109 because of cancelled leaves

Collation

1(4)(4 canc.), 2(10)–11(10), 12(10) (3–8 canc.), 13(10)–22(10), 23(10) (9–10 canc.) catchwords

Layout

36 long lines ruled in crayon

Hand(s)

Humanistic script, apparently by one scribe writing at different times

Decoration

Fine historiated border, initial. Fine initials. (Pächt and Alexander iii. 1339, pl. CXX)

Fol.1, illuminated border, partly in vinescroll, partly in coloured interlace on gold ground, with figures of female saints (including S. Giustina), peacocks, dragons, etc.

In initial, miniature of Jerome praying in a chapel.

Subsequent initials in vinescroll style, without borders.

Binding

Modern parchment binding.

History

Origin: c. 1450–1460 ; Italian, Padua

Provenance and Acquisition

Sta. Giustina, Padua: ‘Iste liber est monachorum congregacionis sancte Iustine deputatus usui monasterii ipsius sancte Iustine de Padua. 304 d14.’ (fol.1, 218v). Identifiable in the catalogue of Sta. Giustina, begun 1453, pr. L.A. Ferrai in MSS. Italiani delle biblioteche di Francia II, 1887, p.603.

Leigh & Sotheby, 1–4 March 1816, lot 938

Puttick and Simpson, 27 June 1890, lot 721

Henry White (1821/2–1900), sold at Sotheby's, 25 April 1902, lot 1061

Sir Sydney Cockerell (his notes on fol.i)

J. R. Abbey, sale, 7th portion, Sotheby's 1 Dec. 1970, lot 2879

Bought, 1971.

Record Sources

Typescript Description by Bodleian library staff, revised by Peter Kidd, late 1990s

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (5 images from 35mm slides)

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Last Substantive Revision

2017-07-01: First online publication.