11-18-201211-18-2012
Skinner Auctions
Skinner AuctionsBoston MA
2621BBoston
November 18, 2012 11:00 AMCalender
401

Medieval Text Manuscript, Delectus Opusculorum

Sell one like this
$32,400$27,000
Auction: Books & Manuscripts - 2621BLocation: BostonDate / Time: November 18, 2012 11:00AM

Description:

Medieval Text Manuscript, Delectus Opusculorum. Italian rotunda gothic book script, c. 1450.
Compilation of six short works of mystic devotion: Isaac the Syrian, Abbot of Spoleto, Italy. (mid-6th century) Ysaac abbatis de Syria liber singularis; Bernard of Clairvaux. (1090-1153) De Contemptu Mundi Liber; [Bernardinus de Siena (1380-1444)] Liber de Stimulis Amoris in Salvatorem: et Exposition super Pater Noster; Egidio Perugini, De Humana Sapientia, sive de Divinis Fontibus; [Richard of Saint Victor] (d. 1173) De Gradibus Caritatis; and Saint Anselm (d. 1109) De Christi Passione et De Beate Virginis Passione; 218 leaves (436 pages),signatures mostly in 10s and 12s, collated, complete with blanks at the end of each work; illuminated seven-line initial depicting the author presenting his book to Christ at the start of the first work, the second work has a small drawing of a saint at the incipit, and third work begins with a small drawing of a monk; initials and headlines in red and blue throughout, later 18th century manuscript index and notes added; light worming to first few leaves; catchwords on the verso of the last leaf of each gathering throughout; 18th century limp vellum binding.
This is an agreeable compendium of short medieval devotional works, mainly misattributed in their authorship. Many works were composed as psedou-Aquinas, or pseudo-Bonaventure in the middle ages, and it seems like that this is an apt example of that practice: a small book that merits further examination.
Estimate $15,000-17,000

Keywords

Spoleto, Italy, Egidio Perugini, Syria, Beate Virginis Passione, Christi Passione