Communal collections box 55

Scope and Contents

This Egyptian papyrus fragment from the Book of the Dead is written in Hieratic and is from the Ptolemaic period (323 B.C.E. to 30 B.C.E.). Hieratic is always written from right to left.  It is a portion of a roll formerly owned by Reverend W. Frankland Hood and later by William Randolph Hearst. 75mmX140mm.

Scope and Contents

Latin (gothic script) handwritten in black ink on vellum. Chapter headings and initials are written in blue and red ink. Prickings, ruling, and errata are visible on the vellum. The large, decorated initial “P” resembles that of French Cistercian manuscripts. 2 columns, 60 lines per column, 225mmX326mm.

Scope and Contents

Latin (small gothic bookhand) handwritten in brown ink on vellum. Flourished initials in blue and red ink. Chapter headings written in red and blue ink. Ruling and skin pores visible on the vellum. 2 columns, 50 lines per column, 143mmX200mm.

Scope and Contents From the Winchester School of Illumination. Latin (gothic script) handwritten in brown ink on vellum. Chapter headings are written in blue and red ink. Zoomorphic initial with a pelican in the center of the gilt “O.” The pelican is an allegorical symbol, as it would strike its breast to feed its young with its blood to prevent starvation. Blue and pink vines and leaves stem from the zoomorphic initial. Prickings and ruling are visible on the vellum. 2 columns, 22 lines per column,...

Scope and Contents Byzantine musical notation written in black and red ink on paper. Greek is written in black and red ink under the musical notation. Three red decorated initials are present. Blind ruling is visible on the paper. 1 column, 11 lines on the verso and 12 lines on the recto, 140mmX203mm.Special thanks to Dr. Diane Touliatos from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Professor Maria Mavroudi from Berkeley for accurately identifying this leaf and providing the following...

Scope and Contents

Latin (gothic script) handwritten in brown ink on vellum. Ruling and rubrication are visible on the vellum. There are six floriated initials all gilt with blue, pink, and red ink. This suffrage was probably read during Matins. 2 columns, 30 lines per column, 127mmX175mm.

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Latin (gothic script) handwritten in black ink on vellum. Chapter headings and two decorated initials written in blue and red ink. Rubrication and ruling visible on the vellum. 2 columns, 46 lines per column, 310mmX440mm

Scope and Contents Hymn for All Saint’s Day handwritten with black ink in Latin (gothic script) on vellum. There are eight, four line staves in red ink with notation (neumes) in black ink on both the verso and recto sides of the page. Two floriated initials “O” and “A” are decorated with flowers and fruit in blue, pink, green, and white ink with a gold background. The decorated initials are in red borders that appear to have been stenciled in at a later date. There are three places with punctures, where the...

Scope and Contents Leaf from Miracle on the Sea of Galilee from the Book of Matthew written with black ink in Latin (small gothic bookhand) on vellum. The breviary from where this leaf comes states in the colophon of the once intact book that the manuscript was completed December 22, 1464 and that the scribe’s name was Bartholomew. The once intact book was created at Lucca, a Cistercian Abbey in the Diocese of Minden. Rubrication and several large initials in blue and red ink are throughout the leaf. 2...

Scope and Contents Prayer from a Book of Hours written with black ink in Latin (gothic script) on vellum. Decorated gilt initial with blue and pink background with vine work and three peacock feather plumes sprouting from the decorated initial. Several decorated crosses: two gilt with purple decoration and three blue with red decoration within the text. One gold cross acts as the “M” in “Omega.” Rubricated portion “Before you depart your house early in the morning, speak this.” Appears to be a prayer...

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Persian written in black ink on paper. Gold borders and pink, blue, red, and gold flowers are painted on the paper. The contents include poems by Nizami (12th Century) and Jami (15th Century), two of the greatest Persian poets. 140mmX210mm.

Special thanks to Dr. Muhammad Isa Waley, Lead Curator, Persian, of the British Library for accurately identifying this leaf.

Scope and Contents

Leaf from Buddhist scriptures printed from wooden blocks on China paper in blank ink in Chinese. Chain lines are present and there is no watermark. 5 columns of characters, 5”X14.25”

Scope and Contents 2 leaves from the Nuremberg Chronicle, Folios 67r and 67v, 248r and 248v.  Folio numbers present on the recto side in roman numerals. Folio 268 has a double cross watermark. The woodcuts have not been colored. Chain lines are present. 12”X17.25” Folio 67r and 67v: The murder of Abner by Joab. “A severe battle soon afterward occurred at Gibeon, between the army of David under Joab, and the army of Ish-bosheth under Abner, in which the latter was utterly defeated. Abner was afterward...

Scope and Contents

Printed in Latin in Tortis’ round, gothic type on paper with black ink. Red and blue initials and chain lines are present. It is an incunable and has rubricated text. Larger red initials are printed throughout. There is no watermark present. This leaf is from the Second Book. Folio number is printed on the top recto side in Arabic numerals, 50. Signature Sii is printed on bottom recto side. 2 columns, 82 lines; 11.75”X17”

Scope and Contents Leaves from the 8th English edition of the Golden Legend by Jacobus de Voragine, printed in London by Wynkyn de Worde, August 27, 1527. Printed on paper in English in Black Letter with black ink. Chain lines are present and there is no watermark. Leaf one (acquired by Purdue Libraries circa 1950s): Excerpt from “The lyfe of Saynt Austyn.” On the recto side is the “Life of Saynt Aldhelm” prior to “The lyfe of Saynt Austyn.” Folio 126 (in roman numerals) is printed on the top...

Scope and Contents Two conjugate leaves from Sidonia the Sorceress printed by William Morris at the Kelmscott Press in London, 1893. Printed in black and red ink in English in Golden type on paper. Four decorated initials are printed in black ink along with printed tree leaves appearing at the end of sentences.  A flower and leaf watermark and chain lines are present. Signature c4 is printed on the left side of page 23. Pages 23, 24, 25, 26 all printed in Arabic numerals at the end of the text on the right or...

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Probably late 19th or early 20th Century artwork on paper. The origin is most likely North America. Possibly printed or stenciled and then gone over in hand with silver ink. The border is hand decorated with daffodils. The reverse has a painted monogram reading either “CHG” or “EHG”. This piece is likely to be the work of watercolor artist and illustrator Edmund H. Garrett. 9.75”X13.75”

Scope and Contents

Medieval manuscript leaf on vellum from Italy (hair side recto, skin side verso) written in heavily abbreviated Latin in Gothic hand with text from the Rosarium Decretorum of Guido de Baysio, a commentary on Gratian's Decretum. Leaf text is a discussion of Gratian's 27th Causa, which outlines punishments for adultery between monks and nuns. Red and blue initials and paragraph breaks throughout. Multiple instances of marginalia including several manicules.

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Qur'an leaf in Cufic writing in black ink with red notations.

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Leaf of a Russian Book of Hymns, Cyrillic script, with "singing hooks" in the style of Eastern Orthodox musical notation. Characters in black ink with red notations; includes one decorated character in green, pink, yellow, and gold.

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The Ancient and Medieval Manuscript Leaves collection contains leaves from a variety of primarily religious texts in multiple languages. Most of the leaves are vellum; however, a few of the leaves are paper. The collection demonstrates a variety of medieval texts, languages, inks, and artistic styles. This particular collection is an excellent teaching tool for many classes in the humanities.

Scope and Contents The Rare Book Leaves collection contains leaves from Buddhist scriptures, Golden Legend, Sidonia the Sorceress, Nuremberg Chronicle, Codex de Tortis, and an illustrated version of Wordsworth’s poem Daffodils. The collection demonstrates a variety of printing styles and paper. This particular collection is an excellent teaching...