Dr. Jörn Günther • Antiquariat
www.guenther-rarebooks.com

CONTENTS

Manuscripts

  1. Glossed Gospels of St Luke and St John,
    Paris or northern France, c. 1210
  2. Psalter with calendar for the diocese of Trier,
    Germany,Trier, c. 1220-40
  3. Psalter and book of hours for the use of Paris,
    illuminated in the du Prat atelier, France, Paris,
    c. 1250-60
  4. Biblia latina, pocket bible, France, Paris, c. 1250
  5. Antiphonary, sanctoral volume, Italy,
    Emilia-Romagna, c. 1270-75
  6. Psalter for the use of Auxerre, France,
    Burgundy or Paris, c. 1300
  7. Antiphonary for a Franciscan convent,
    illuminated by Neri da Rimini, Italy,
    Emilia-Romagna, dated 1314
  8. Vita Sancti Antonii Eremitae – Inventio et
    Translatio, illuminated by the Maestro del 1328,
    Italy, Bologna, c. 1320
  9. Schönrainer Liederhandschrift. Middle High
    German Minnesang manuscript, Germany,
    Hesse, c. 1330
  10. Missale Romanum, illuminated in the workshop
    of Cristoforo Orimina, Italy, Naples, c. 1355
  11. Boethius, De consolatione philosophiae and
    Jean de Meun, Testament, France, Paris, c. 1400
  12. Guido de Columna, Historia destructionis Troiae
    and Giovanni Boccaccio, Il Filostrato, Italy,
    Naples, dated 1414 and 1413
  13. Book of hours for the use of Paris, illuminated
    by the workshop of the Bedford Master, France,
    Paris, c. 1405-10
  14. Compilation of pastoral and mystical texts
    from the library of the Celestines of Marcoussis,
    illuminated by the Hoo Master, France, Paris,
    c. 1425-35
  15. Book of hours for the use of Toul, illuminated
    by the Master of Pommersfelden 351, France,
    Toul or Metz, c. 1435-40
  16. Dominican hymnal, illuminated by the
    Master of 1446, Italy, Bologna, c. 1450
  17. Nicolaus de Lyra, Postilla litteralis super
    Vetus Testamentum, two volumes, Italy,
    Ferrara?, 1441-46
  18. Compilation of history bible and world chronicle,
    the Antichrist and the XV signs and other texts,
    Austria, c. 1450
  19. Book of hours and psalter in Dutch, illuminated
    by the Master of the Haarlem Bible, Masters of
    Otto von Moerdrecht, Masters of Gijsbrecht
    van Brederode et al., northern Netherlands,
    Haarlem, dated 1453
  20. Book of hours for the use of Rome, with
    calendar of Bruges, illuminated by the Master of
    Buchanan E.5, Flanders, Bruges, c. 1450-60
  21. Chronique anonyme universelle, parchment
    scroll, illuminated by the Master of Étienne
    Sauderat, France, Paris?, c. 1450 with additions
    after 1461 and 1467
  22. Psalter with hymnal, illuminated
    by the workshop of Bartolomeo Varnucci,
    Italy, Florence, c. 1460-70
  23. Martin Le Franc, L’Estrif de Fortune et de Vertu,
    illuminated by the Master of the Échevinage
    de Rouen, France, Rouen, c. 1465-75
  24. Book of hours for the use of Utrecht in the Dutch
    translation of Geert Grote, illuminated by one of
    the Masters of Gijsbrecht van Brederode, northern
    Netherlands, probably Utrecht, c. 1465-70
  25. Missale Fratrum Minorum for the convent
    of S. Francesco di Montone, near Perugia,
    illuminated by Bartelomeo and Giapeco
    Caporali, Italy, Perugia, 1469
  26. Book of hours for the use of Rome with
    adaptations for Poitiers and a calendar for
    Angers, illuminated by Maître François,
    France, Paris, c. 1470
  27. Psalter with hymnal, illuminated by the
    workshop of Mariano del Buono di Jacopo,
    Italy, Florence, c. 1470-75
  28. Book of hours for the use of Rome, illuminated
    by Martino da Modena, Italy, Ferrara, c. 1480-85
  29. Book of hours for Dominican use, illuminated
    by the workshop of Matteo Felice, Italy,
    Naples, c. 1480
  30. Giovanni Boccaccio, Elegia di Madonna
    Fiammetta, illuminated by Attavante degli
    Attavanti, Italy, Florence, c. 1480
  31. Book of hours for the use of Rome, Italy,
    Sicily or Naples, c. 1480-90
  32. Olivier de la Marche, Le chevalier délibéré and
    other texts, Flanders, c. 1484
  33. Prayerbook in German, Germany, Nuremberg,
    c. 1495-1500
  34. Fencing treatise with pen-and-ink drawings,
    southern Germany,Augsburg, c. 1490-1500
  35. Book of hours for the use of Paris in Latin
    and French, illuminated by an artist from the
    circle of Jean Pichore, France, Paris, c. 1500
  36. Passion prayerbook in Latin with a prayer for
    the Church of All Saints in Wittenberg, Flanders,
    Bruges, after 1517
  37. Diploma for Statilio Paolino on his award of a
    doctorate in law from the University of
    Perugia, Italy, Perugia, dated 29 October 1582
  38. Album with Italian, mainly Venetian, costumes and
    characters from the Commedia dell’Arte, Italy,
    Venice?, first quarter of the 17th century

    Miniatures

  39. Funeral mass for a dignitary, miniature from a
    breviary, France,Avignon, c. 1340-45 128
  40. A pope distributing the decretals, miniature from
    a manuscript of canon law, France, Languedoc,
    c. 1320
  41. The Adoration of the Magi, historiated initial ‘D’
    on a leaf from a missal, Italy, Siena, c. 1400-10
  42. Two martyr saints, historiated initial ‘P’ on a leaf
    from a gradual for Lucca Cathedral, illuminated by
    Martino di Bartolomeo. Italy, Lucca, c. 1394-95
  43. Investiture of St Clare on a cutting from a
    Franciscan antiphonary, Italy, Bologna or Veneto,
    c. 1430-40
  44. Trinity, historiated initial ‘G’ on a cutting from
    a choirbook, France, Savoy, c. 1450 138
  45. King David playing the psaltery, historiated
    initial ‘E’ on a leaf from a psalter, illuminated by
    Jacopo da Balsemo, Italy, Bergamo, c. 1450-55
  46. The Creation of Eve, historiated initial ‘I’ on a
    cutting from a choirbook, illuminated by
    Bonifacio Bembo, Italy, Lombardy, c. 1445
  47. Jesaia before the Almighty, historiated initial ‘A’
    on a leaf from an antiphonary, illuminated by
    a follower of the Maestro delle Vitae Imperatorum,
    Italy, Lombardy, c. 1460
  48. Batsheba bathing, miniature from the Hours of
    Guyot II Le Peley, illuminated by Jean Colombe,
    France, Bourges, c. 1480
  49. The miracle of St Michael on Mount Gargano,
    miniature from a choirbook, illuminated by
    Attavante degli Attavanti, Italy, Florence,
    between 1473 and 1502
  50. Christ taking leave of his mother, miniature
    mounted on wood, illuminated by Jacopo del
    Giallo?, Italy, Rome, c. 1540

    Key to bibliographical references

A Gothic psalter for the rare use of Auxerre with playful marginal decoration

6 Psalter for the use of Auxerre

Illuminated manuscript on vellum. France, Auxerre, c. 1300.

205 x 138 mm. 128 leaves, complete: I6, II-XI12, XII2 – Written space: 152 x 86 mm, 30 lines, calendar in a single column, text in double columns, ruled in brown.Written in a neat Gothic Textura in brown ink. Musical notation throughout on four red staves – Two- and three-line initials in red and blue with contrasting penwork decoration. Text opened by calligraphic initials infilled with yellow, 12 calendar leaves with decorative initials with shorter extensions, 8 seven- to eight-line historiated initials with full-page border extensions. – 17th- and 18th-century manuscript entries on the front flyleaf.At the beginning and from fol. 117 until the end a few wormholes. – Late 15th-century blind-tooled dark brown calf over wooden boards; spine renewed (19th century?). Paper endleaves including 4 flyleaves (1 in front, 3 at end). In a modern half leather drop back box.

PROVENANCE: 1. Made for the use of Auxerre as the entry for the feast of the consecration of the cathedral of Notre Dame of Auxerre indicates: “Dedicatio huius ecclesiae festum solenne” (8 July) respectively “Palladii ep.Autissiodori et confessoris” on 10 April.The cathedral of Notre Dame of Auxerre was consecrated by bishop Aymeric Guenand in 1334. The entry in the calendar is by another, slightly later hand and therefore provides us with a terminus ante quem for the production of this psalter. 2. Francis Henry Dickinson, his sale at Sotheby’s, 10 Nov. 1886, lot 249. 3. Athelstan Riley, his bookplate “Athelstan Riley. Seigneur de la Trinité” on the front pastedown and a handwritten entry of ownership on the flyleaf as well as the entry from the sales catalogue pasted in on the front flyleaf. 4. Friedrich Georg Zeileis, his bookplate on the back pastedown.

TEXT: fol. 1-6v: Calendar – fol. 7-16v: Invitatory – fol. 17- 124v: Ferial Psalter with canticles – fol. 124v-127v: Litany – fol. 128:Three readings for Advent. The present manuscript is one of the rare psalters made for the use of Auxerre; Leroquais (p. 58f.) lists only one late 14th-century copy in the Bibliothèque municipale of Auxerre (ms. 56).

ILLUMINATION: fol. 19v: David playing the psaltery – fol. 33v: David pointing to his eyes – fol. 45v: David pointing to his mouth – fol. 54: The fool (slightly rubbed) – fol. 63: David sitting in the water, God blessing – fol. 74: David playing bells – fol. 84v: Four monks singing – fol. 96: God the Father and Christ. The illumination comprises KL-ligatures in the calendar in gold, red, mauve and blue, with ivyleaf and bar baguette border extensions, the letter A (lettera dominicalis) in gold, on blue or pink ground and eight historiated initials.They show the author of the psalms, the fool and monks singing as well as God the Father and Christ. The charm of this psalter does not exclusively rest upon the historiated initials. The drolleries in the margins greatly contribute to the visual appeal of the illumination. The manuscript was created at a time when in France the marginal illumination of manuscripts of theological content developed into a highly creative style of decoration incorporating subjects drawn from daily life. Themes from the Scriptures or episodes in the lives of saints appear side by side with secular anecdotal details to create an inspiring contrast.David playing bells (fol. 74) is a good example of this type of marginal illumination. The historiated initial includes imagery that precisely corresponds to the conventional illustration pattern of this manuscript genre, yet already here a small joculator is climbing about on the ground. In the ivyleaf border a grotesque creature with a human head wearing a crown satirically alludes to the figure of King David while the ape sitting on the foliage extensions in the upper part of the outer margin symbolizes primitive desires. Thus the images in the margins offer witty comments on the theological subjects of the primary illumination. In view of this mingling of conventional pictorial elements with motifs lending a critical, playful or satirical connotation one might expect manuscripts incorporating marginal illumination of this kind to have been made exclusively for a lay clientele. Clerical dignitaries, however, likewise owned manuscripts incorporating this type of extravagant ornament. Not much information is available about illumination in Burgundy at that time.There are only a few manuscripts that can undoubtedly be located to this area. Among the codices published in reference literature that are of interest in the context of our psalter are a breviary made for the use of Saint-Bénigne in Dijon (Dijon, Bibliothèque municipale, ms. 113) and another breviary in Baltimore (Walters Art Gallery,W. 109) made for the same diocese. Both manuscripts were recently dated to around 1300 (Leroquais once connected them with the name of Étienne de Broignon (d. 1294), a cellarer who is also recorded as an illuminator in a register of Saint-Béninge). In both breviaries we find the same type of ivyleaf decoration in the borders composed of spiky tendrils terminating in trefoil motifs. Although it is difficult to classify this stylistic variant of border decoration it could be postulated on the basis of close parallels that the psalter in question was also produced in a workshop in Burgundy. This place of origin is also suggested by the hesitant way in which the page layout corresponds to the border decoration, with tendrils spaciously surrounding the written space. On the other hand one could assume Paris as the place of origin. Further research could substantiate one or other of these propositions.

LITERATURE: Sales cat. Sotheby’s, 10 Nov. 1886, lot 249. Haseloff 1938; Leroquais 1940-41; Randall 1989, cat. no. 48; Zaluska 1991; exh. cat. Paris 1998, no. 221; Büttner 2004.