¶ Exemplification (1564) [MS]

Exemplification.

Illuminated manuscript. Spain, perhaps Seville, 1564. 27 leaves.

This manuscript has a mysterious history. Since it does not appear in the 1898 Sotheby sale and is not mentioned in Bennett’s privately printed catalogue of his collection, it seems likely that Morris gave or sold the manuscript to a friend before his death. The full entry in Clapinson and Rogers (see below) reads: “53031 Exemplification, on vellum, of an inspeximus by Philip II of charters of the monastery of St. Mary of Graces and the Redemption of the Captives, Seville, 1564. i + 27 leaves. Owned by William Morris; bought from Mrs. S. Vansluis, 1951. MS. Spanish c. 15.”

Provenance: Morris. — Mrs. S. Vansluis. — Bodleian Library (MS. Spanish c. 15) [purchased from Vansluis, 1951].

Reference: Clapinson, Mary, and T. D. Rogers. Summary Catalogue of Post-Medieval Western Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library Oxford: Acquisitions, 1916–1975. 3 vols. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1991. (See 2:1170.)

Photographed by WSP at the Bodleian Library

 

 

¶ Malory — Byrth, lyf, and actes of Kyng Arthur (1817)

Malory, Sir Thomas. The byrth, lyf, and actes of Kyng Arthur; of his noble knyghtes of the rounde table, theyr mervellous enquestes and adventures; thachyeuyng of the Sanc Greal and in the end le morte darthur. Ed. Robert Southey. 2 vols. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1817.

Wood-engraving on title-page and historiated initials; based on Caxton’s edition. Signed “William Morris | Exeter College Oxon” and below, in slightly different ink, “to Emery Walker Oct: 30th 1888.” Donated to the Bodleian by (Charlotte) Dorothy Walker, whose undated note is tipped in: “This is the copy that William Morris bought in Birmingham, Burne-Jones having told him that he had been reading it in the Bookseller’s shop—all the Morris set read it from this copy. | Given by W.M. to E.W. when Mr Morris got a better copy in 1888.” (The library stamp is dated 19 September 1978.)

The other copy of this title that we have listed (large paper) is presumably the one that Morris acquired in 1888.

Provenance: Morris. — Emery Walker (gift from Morris, 30 October 1888). — Dorothy Walker. — Bodleian Library (Arch. AA d.159 ) [gift from Dorothy Walker].

Reference: Roberts, R. J. “William Morris’s Library” (letter). Burlington Magazine 120 (December 1978): 850.

[Photographed by WSP.]

¶ Gregory IX — Decretales cum glossis (1241) [MS]

Gregory [Gregorius] IX, Pope. Decretales cum glossis.

Illuminated manuscript. Modena, 1241. 216 leaves. (There is evidence that the Morris book label has either fallen out or been removed.)

Provenance: Richard Poer-Trench, Earl of Clancarty. — Sotheby, 2 September 1894, lot 95. — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 560 (sold to Quaritch for £24). — Quaritch catalogue, July 1899, no. 11 (£315). — Quaritch catalogue, 1 January 1902, no. 32 (£315). — Quaritch catalogue, February 1903, no. 6 (£315). — De Marinis catalogue, 1909, no. 231. — Sotheby, 31 July 1933, lot 425. — Quaritch catalogue, 1933, no. 27 (£120). — Quaritch catalogue, 1941, no. 16 ($480). — Bodleian Library, University of Oxford (Lat. th. b. 4).

References: Ellis valuation, fol. 7, no. 107 (£25). — Kuttner, S., and Beryl Smalley. “The ‘Glossa Ordinaria’ to the Gregorian Decretals.” English Historical Review 60 (January 1945): 97–105. — Schoenberg (SDBM_50149).

[Photographed by WSP.]

---

Sotheby 1898:

¶ Fenestella — De magistratibus Romanorum (15th century)

Fenestella, Lucius [A. D. Floccus]. De magistratibus Romanorum.

Illuminated manuscript. Venice, third quarter of 15th century. 44 leaves.

Provenance: Erizzo family, of Venice. — Leighton catalogue, A List of Interesting Books (1889), item 727 (£5 15s.) — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 297 (sold to Buchanan for £13). — T. R. Buchanan. — Bodleian Library (MS. Buchanan e. 15) [given to the Bodleian by his widow, Mrs. E. O. Buchanan, 1941].

References: Ellis valuation, fol. 3, no. 42 (£15). — Kidd, pp. 97–101. — Schoenberg (SDBM_231653).

---

Sotheby 1898:

¶ Poggio — De varietate fortune (1455) [MS]

Poggio, Bracciolini [Joannes Poggius Florentinus]. De varietate fortune.

Illuminated manuscript. Florence, 1455. 123 leaves.

Provenance: Fruosino and/or his son Girolamo da Panzano. — Dominican convent of San Marco, Florence. — Guglielmo Libri (?). — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 863 (sold to Buchanan for £12 12s.). — T. R. Buchanan. — Bodleian Library (MS. Buchanan d. 4) [given to the Bodleian by his widow, Mrs. E. O. Buchanan, 1941].

References: Ellis valuation, fol. 5, no. 70 (£5). — Kidd, pp. 9–12. — MS catalogue (2), no. 856 (where it is dated 1477). — Schoenberg (SDBM_231332).

[Photographed by WSP at the Bodleian Library.]

---

Sotheby 1898:

¶ Bruni — Historiarum Florentini populi (c. 1440–50) [MS]

Bruni, Leonardo [Leonardus Aretinus]. Historiarum Florentini populi libri XII [and] Rerum suo tempore gestarum commentarius.

Illuminated manuscript. Florence, c. 1440–50. 261 leaves.

Provenance: John Adrian Louis Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun and 1st Marquis of Linlithgow. — Hopetoun sale, Sotheby, 25 February 1889, lot 288 (sold to Leighton for £12 10s.) — Leighton. — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 131 (sold to Buchanan for £25). — T. R. Buchanan. — Bodleian Library (MS. Buchanan c. 1) [given to the Bodleian by his widow, Mrs. E. O. Buchanan, 1941].

References: Ellis valuation, fol. 1, no. 6 (£10 10s.). — Kidd, pp. 1–7. — Schoenberg (SDBM_231330).

[Photographed by WSP at the Bodleian Library.]

---

Sotheby 1898:

¶ Seneca — Des motz Dorez des quatre vertus cardinales (1531)

Seneca, Lucius Annaeus. Jesus Maria Seneque, des motz Dorez des quatre vertus cardinales de Latin translate en francoys. Trans. Claude de Syssel. Lyon: Francoys Juste, 1531.

Illustrated.

Provenance: George Mainwaringe [?]. — Morris. — Sotheby 1898, lot 1009 (sold to Henry Wellcome for £4 4s.). — Henry Wellcome. — Adrian McLaughline. — Brian Lawn. — Bodleian Library (Lawn f.104).

---

Sotheby 1898:

¶ Ochsenbrunner — Priscorum heroum stemmata (1494)

Ochsenbrunner, Thomas. Priscorum heroum stemmata. Rome: Johann Besicken and Sigismundus Mayer, 18 February 1494.

Inscriptions on flyleaf: “Philip Webb from W.M.” and “Emery Walker from P.W. 1915.” Illustrated.

Provenance: Morris. — Philip Webb. — Emery Walker. — Dorothy Walker. — Bodleian Library (Don. e.56) [gift from Dorothy Walker, presented through the Friends of the Bodleian, October 1934].

Reference: ISTC (io00007000).

Digital version: BSB.