c 1260 Bible Leaf with Original Widow's Mite coin - Mark

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Original leaf from a medieval illuminated manuscript pocket Bible, written in Northern France (probably Paris), c. 1260. Latin gothic micro-minuscule script, ruled in red & written in brown ink in two columns of 43 lines on animal vellum. (156x103 mm – 6 ¼ x 4‘‘). Included with the leaf is an original authenticated Biblical coin known as a Widow's Mite.

Rubricated chapter numbers; two multi-lined illuminated Lombard style initials & elegant marginal penwork in red & blue. Calligraphy is excellent, & the vellum is of the finest quality, extremely thin & smooth. The gothic text is written in remarkably tiny gothic script - ten lines of text to the inch! of very well formed letters.

This leaf contains important New Testament text including the story of the Widow's Mite from Mark 11:26 – 13:13 (PARABLES; CAESAR’S TRIBUTE; FIRST TWO COMMANDMENTS; WIDOW’S MITE) “Quod si…” (But if you will not forgive, neither will your Father that is in heaven, forgive you your sins…And Jesus answering, said to them Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s & to God the things that are God’s…. The first commandment of all is, Hear O Israel: the Lord thy God is one God. And thou shalt love the Lord they God with thy whole heart, & with thy whole soul & with thy whole mind & with thy whole strength….And the second is like to it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself … Amen I say to you, this poor widow hath cast in more than all they who have cast into the treasury. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want cast in all she had…Nation shall rise against nation & kingdom against kingdom & there shall be earthquakes in divers places & famines…).

Provenance: parent book was a “portable” Bible of Crusades period, used in study of theology or preaching of the Gospel. It was in England by 17th century; ex coll. Lord Saltoun & later in collection of Wm Foyle (1885-1963) at Beeligh Abbey. The bible containing this leaf was very high-quality, illuminated in Paris & similar to work associated by Branner with the Dominican Painter (see R. Branner, Manuscript Painting in Paris during the Reign of Saint Louis). 

An attractive and historical medieval Bible leaf in nice condition. The last two images show the Widow's Mite coin included with purchase of this leaf.

Bible leaf presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat         

  • Inventory# IM-7336
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