Lavishly illuminated original Psalter Leaf written with black ink in Latin on vellum.
Northern England, c. 1260-70. Size: 9.25 x 6.5 inches (233x167 mm).
Single column of 21 lines in an elegant formal gothic bookhand script. One large illuminated initial “E” in burnished gold on blue and dark pink with white penwork; one large illuminated initial “N” in dark blue and red on burnished gold ground. One-line illuminated initials alternating in blue and gold; illuminated line-extenders in floral and geometric bands of red or blue ink - two of the extenders are presented as golden fish!
The first one-line illuminated “D” begins Psalm 59 (King James 60) 6-14: “Dedisti…” (Thou hast given a warning to them that fear thee: that they may flee from before the bow…).
The multi-line illuminated “D” begins Psalm 60 (KJ 61) complete: “Exaudi…” (Hear, O God, my supplication: be attentive to my prayer. To thee have I cried from the ends of the earth…).
The multi-line illuminated “N” begins Psalm 61 (KJ 62) 1-6: “Nonne…” (Shall not my soul be subject to God? For from him is my salvation…).
Provenance: “The parent manuscript was owned by Bruce Ferrini and offered by him and Les Enluminures in their “Important Illuminated Manuscripts” (2000), no.14 at $1,000,000 (described there as from northern France, and the last part of the reign of Philip Augustus…) When it went unsold, Ferrini began to sell individual leaves (with leaf in a private collection by July 2002)….In 2016, the emergence of a leaf with an initial allowed the re-attribution of the work to northern England (see Sotheby’s, 5 July 2016, lot 5), noting that the closest parallels were Psalters from Northern England, such as the Evesham, Oscott, York and Rutland Psalters, all dating to c.1250-1270.” – provenance note from Bloomsbury, 6 July 2021 Auction , Roger M. Martin Collection of Western Manuscripts and Miniatures, lot 31.
Fine and rare large example of English illumination of the 13th century, slight chipping to gold in places, else outstanding condition.
Shipped unmatted
