c 1250-75 Bible Leaf, Elaborate initials - Ruth & I Kings/Samuel

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Original leaf from a medieval manuscript pocket Bible. Latin gothic micro-minuscule script, hand written in dark brown ink on animal vellum.(185 x 124mm – 7 ¼ x 4 7/8’’)

There are two large multi-line illuminated initials in deep blue and red with elaborate red and blue penwork internally and externally and extending along the margin. 47 lines of text in double columns (9 lines per inch!). 

France (Paris), c. 1250-75

The text begins part of Ruth 4:9-22: “Hodie…” (You are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and Chelion’s, and Mahalon’s, of the hand of Noemi…). 

The elaborate illuminated “V” begins the Prologue to I Kings (King James Version I Samuel): “Viginti et duas…” (There are twenty-two letters among the Hebrews, as is also witnessed by the language of the Syrians and Chaldeans, which is for the most part similar to the Hebrew…). This Prologue is considered the most useful of Jerome’s Old Testament introductions and certainly the longest. 

The elaborate illuminated “F” opens I Kings (KJ I Samuel):  “Fuit…” (There was a man of Ramathaimsophim, of Mount Ephraim, and his name was Elcana, the son of Jeroham…). 

This leaf, from a “portable” Bible during the period of the Crusades, would have been used in the abstract study of theology or the preaching of the Gospel around the medieval countryside.

A very pleasing medieval portable Bible leaf with skillful professional calligraphic text and two very flamboyant large initials in very fine condition.

Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat

  • Inventory# IM-12769
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