II Esdras 11-13 Bible leaf, circa 1240

1240
1200-1250

The initials on this Bible leaf seem to correspond to those of Paris circa 1240.
12.3 x 11 mm

II Esdras, Chapters 11 (partial), 12 and 13. II Esdras in the Latin Vaulgate is equivalent to Nehemiah in most English versions and Hebrew versions. The research materials indicate that this leaf is from a Dominican Bible.

Latin

Medieval Manuscripts

MSC0542

xfMMs.Bi4

http://aspace.lib.uiowa.edu/repositories/2/resources/514

Foliation: 331., upper right corner, recto.

Ruling: Ruling around text block only; it does not extend into the margins, except at the top of the page for the title.

Gothic bookhand
5 lines per cm; brown ink.

Initials and Capitals: Two flourished initials head each chapter. On the recto in the left margin, there is a red "h" with blue flourishes up and down the entire text. On the verso, there is a blue "I" with red flourishes up and down the left margin.

Page Titles: Page headings in alternating blue and red letters, abbreviated and minimally flourished. Recto - "dRE II." Verso - "EX."

Rubrication: No rubrication inside the text. This tends to indicate an earlier date, although the size certainly suggests mid-13th century. The "explicit" of Esdra II and the "incipit" of Esdra III on the verso are in red.

Marginal Notation Notes: On the recto only two small marks in the far left margin indicating the chapter number (12) and the letter that needs to be rubricated (h) at the head of the chapter. On the verso, these must have been cropped as they are not visible for Chapter 13.

University of Iowa. Libraries. Special Collections Department

Conservation Note: University of Iowa Libraries, Conservation Lab, conservator unidentified.

Scanned with Ricoh Aficio 3228C at 400 ppi, full color. Archival tiff available.

References: Christopher de Hamel, The Book: A History of the Bible (London: Phaidon, 2001). Patricia Stirneman, "Fils de la vièrge: L'initiale à filigranes parisiennes 1140-1314," Revue de l'art 90 (1990): 58-73.

2008-02-25

Material in the public domain. No restrictions on use.

Contact the Special Collections Department at The University of Iowa Libraries: http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/sc/contact

xfMMs.Bi4

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