¶ L’Abusé en court (c. 1494–95)

L’Abusé en court. [Lyon]: Martin Havard, [c. 1494–95].

Illustrated.

Provenance: George Hibbert. — George Charles Bright. — James T. Gibson Craig. — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (ChL 1589).

References: Ellis valuation, fol. 15b, no. 185 (£15). — ISTC (ia00016000 ) — Morgan Catalogue 3, no. 617.

Digital version: Gallica.

¶ Three titles (1491–c. 1510)

The following titles are bound together:

[1] Vergerio, Pietro Paolo [Petrus Paulus Vergerius]. De ingenuis moribus ac liberalibus studiis. Trans. Leonardo Bruni [Leonardus Brunus Aretinus]. Venice: Johannes Baptista Sessa, April 1491.

References: Ellis valuation, fol. 44 (£1 10s.). — ISTC (iv00136000). — Morgan Catalogue 2, no. 349.

[2] Astemio, Lorenz [Laurentius Abstemius]. Fabulae. Venice: Johannes Tacuinus, de Tridino, 1 June [1499].

References: ISTC (ia00012000). — Morgan Catalogue 2, no. 369.

Digital version: VdI.

[3] Salomonis et Marcolphi dyalogus. [Milan(?): c. 1505–1510].

References: Ellis valuation, fol. 47 (no price). — Morgan Catalogue 2, no. 395.

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Provenance: Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (ChL968). [The three works are catalogued separately: Vergerio; Astemio; Salomonis et Marcolphi dyalogus.]

¶ Llull — Order of chivalry (1892–93)

Llull, Ramón. The order of chivalry. Trans. William Caxton. Ed. F. S. Ellis. [and] L’Ordene de chevalerie. Trans. William Morris. Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1892–93.

Vellum copy. Inscribed “Sold to Henry Gamman, August 1897. S. C. Cockerell.” Clipped signature of Morris tipped in.

Provenance: Morris. — Henry Gamman (purchased from the Morris estate, August 1897; sold August 1899). — Marsden J. Perry. — Perry sale, American Art Association, Anderson Galleries (New York), 12 March 1936, lot 256 (sold for $80). — John M. Crawford. — Morgan Library (076902).

References: Bibliography, A13. — Marsden Perry List, no. 35.

¶ Caxton — History of Reynard the foxe (1892)

Caxton, William, trans. The history of Reynard the foxe. Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1892.

Vellum copy. Inscribed “Sold to Henry Gamman, August 1897. S. C. Cockerell.” Clipped signature of Morris tipped in.

Provenance: Morris. — Henry Gamman (purchased from the Morris estate, August 1897; sold August 1899). — Marsden J. Perry. — Perry sale, American Art Association, Anderson Galleries (New York), 12 March 1936, lot 240 (sold for $110). — John M. Crawford. — Morgan Library (076891).

References: Bibliography, A10. — Marsden Perry List, no. 28.

¶ St. Jerome — Vitas patrum (1495)

Jerome, Saint [Hieronymus]. Vitae sanctorum patrum, sive Vitas patrum [English] The lyff of the faders. Trans. William Caxton. Westminster: Wynkyn de Worde, [before 21 August] 1495.

Illustrated.

Provenance: Frederick Perkins. — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (ChL 1806).

References: ESTC (S109796). — ISTC (ih00213000). — Morgan Catalogue 3, no. 730.

Digital version: EEBO.

¶ Four titles (1500)

The following titles are bound together:

[1] (Mirabilia Romae vel potius) Historia et descriptio urbis Romae [and] Indulgentiae ecclesiarum principalium urbis Romae. Rome: Stephan Plannck, 7 March 1500.

Illustrated.

References: ISTC (im00604000). (ISTC lists several editions of this title published in 1500, but not that of 7 March 1500.) — Morgan Catalogue 2, no. 270.

[2] Andreas de Escobar. Modus confitendi. [Rome: Johann Besicken and Martinus de Amsterdam, c. 1500.]

Illustrated.

References: ISTC (ia00680500). (But note that ISTC lists four other editions of this title with the same imprint.) — Morgan Catalogue 2, no. 274.

[3] Interrogationes et doctrinae. [Rome: Johann Besicken and Martinus de Amsterdam, c. 1500.]

References: ISTC (ic00819300). — Morgan Catalogue 2, no. 272.

[4] Conjuratio malignorum spirituum. [Rome: Johann Besicken and Martinus de Amsterdam, c. 1500.]

References: ISTC (ic00833000). — Morgan Catalogue 2, no. 273.

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Provenance: Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library [missing since 1945]. — Unlocated.

¶ St. Augustine — De civitate dei (1486–87)

Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo [Saint Augustinus]. De civitate dei [French] De la cite de dieu. Trans. Raoul de Presles. Abbeville: Pierre Gérard and Jean Du Pré (printer of Paris), 1486–87.

Two parts, dated 1486 and 1487. Illustrated.

Provenance: John Hayford Thorold. — Thorold sale, Sotheby, 12 December 1884, lot 197. — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (ChL1602).

References: Ellis valuation, fol. 15b, no. 181 (£100). — ISTC (ia01247000). — Morgan Catalogue 3, no. 622 [HathiTrust].

¶ Bruni — De bello Italico (1471)

Bruni, Leonardo [Leonardus Brunus Aretinus]. De bello Italico adversus Gothos gesto. [Venice]: Nicolaus Jenson, [before July] 1471.

Quaritch bought heavily at the Crawford sale, and presumably the book came to Morris through him.

Provenance: Ambroise Firmin-Didot. — Firmin-Didot sale, 1881, no. 533 — W. H. Crawford (bought in Rome, 1884). — Crawford sale, 1887, no. 204. — Quaritch (?). — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (ChL750).

References: ISTC (ib01235000).— Morgan Catalogue 2, no. 291. — MS catalogue (2), no. 928 (with two X’s beside the title).

Digital version: BSB.

¶ Ponte — Invectiuum carmen (c. 1505)

Ponte, Carmen [Petrus Pontanus]. Invectiuum carmen adversus discipulos atque Magistros qui tanta vecordia concitantur ut propter colorum selectus discidii quidpiam promoveant. Paris: Guillaume Le Rouge for Denis Roce, [c. 1505].

Provenance: Richard Heber. — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (E2 48 A).

Reference: Morgan Catalogue 2, no. 559 (where it is dated c. 1512).

¶ Otto, von Passau — Die vierundzwanzig Alten (1484)

Otto, von Passau. Die vierundzwanzig Alten, oder Der goldne Thron [Dutch] Boeck des gulden throens. Haarlem: Jacob Bellaert, 25 October 1484.

Illustrated.

Provenance: Jules Capron of Ypres. — Capron sale, Brussels, 1875. — William Horatio Crawford. — Crawford sale, Sotheby, 12–25 March 1891, lot 2297 (sold to Quaritch for £5 5s.). — Quaritch. — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library [deaccessioned as a duplicate, 1981]. — Christie (New York), 8 April 1981, lot 74. — Kraus catalogue. — J. R. Ritman. — Biblioteca Philosophica Hermetica (Ritman Library, Amsterdam) [deaccessioned]. — Shapero Rare Books (London), offered for sale July 2014 (£40,000).

References: Ellis valuation, fol. 2b, no. 13 (£25). — ISTC (io00125000). — Morgan Catalogue 3, no. 658.

 

¶ Pope Gregory I — Moralia (1471)

Gregory I, Pope [Gregorius Magnus]. Moralia, sive Expositio in Job. Nuremberg: [Johann Sensenschmidt], 11 September 1471.

Provenance: Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 566 (sold to Proctor for £10). — Robert Proctor. — Unlocated.

Provenance: Capucins, Englebert, Bavaria. — James Elwin Millard. — Millard sale, Sotheby, 25 November 1890. — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 566 (sold to Proctor for £10). — Robert Proctor. — J. Pierpont Morgan (purchased from Bernard Quaritch, £13, June 1910). — Morgan Library (ChL392).

References: Ellis valuation, fol. 26b (£3). — ISTC (ig00427000). — MS catalogue (2), no. 929, p. 94 (with an X beside the title).

Digital version: BSB.

BSB

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Sotheby 1898:

¶ Bämler — two miniatures (1457)

Bämler, Johann. [Two miniatures.]

A bifolio from an unidentified manuscript: the crucifixion, and St. Leonard. Germany, 1457. (Bämler’s name and the date are on one of the leaves.)

Provenance: John Piggott. — Quaritch general catalogue, 1874, no. 48. — Quaritch catalogue 369, 1886, no. 35777 (£15). — Morris (purchased from Quaritch in 1895). — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.45).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1373–74, no. 45. — Ellis valuation, fol. 6, no. 96 (£40). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 105.

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Book of Kings (1200–1225) [MS]

Book of Kings (Bible) with commentary.

Illuminated manuscript. Northern France, between 1200 and 1225. 274 leaves.

Provenance: Pope Alexander VII. — Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex. — Duke of Sussex sale, Evans, 31 July 1844, lot 452. — William Stuart. — Stuart sale, Christie, 6 March 1895, lot 146. — Morris. — Sotheby 1898, lot 167 (sold to Quaritch for £31). — Carl Edelheim. — American Art Association, 7 March 1900. — Henry W. Poor. — Poor sale, Anderson Galleries, 17 November 1908, part 1, lot 797 (sold for $141). — Walter Thomas Wallace. — Wallace sale, American Art, 22 March 1920, lot 921. — Edwin R. Cole. — Cole sale, Parke-Bernet, 26 November 1941, lot 357. — John M. Crawford. — Morgan Library (MSM.968) [gift from Crawford, 1975].

References: Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — Ellis valuation, fol. 2, no. 28 (£25). — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_2356).

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Sotheby 1898:

¶ Onasander — De optimo imperatore (c.1490) [MS]

Onasander. De optimo imperatore.

Illuminated manuscript. Naples, c. 1490. 69 leaves.

Provenance: William Bragge. — Bragge sale, Sotheby, 7 June 1876, lot 299 (sold for £22 to J. Molini). — J. Molini. — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 694 (sold to Quaritch for £23). — Robert Hoe. — Hoe sale, Anderson Galleries, 24 April 1911, lot 2159 (sold for $600 to J. Martini). — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.449).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1451, no. 449. — Needham, Paul. Twelve Centuries of Bookbindings: 400–1600. New York and London: Pierpont Morgan Library and Oxford University Press, 1979. (See no. 28.) — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_6004).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Sotheby 1898:

¶ Giovanni, da Udine — Compilatio historiarum (c. 1476) [MS]

Giovanni, da Udine. Compilatio historiarum.

Illuminated manuscript. Basel, c. 1476. 22 leaves.

Bound with 257 proofs (33 leaves) of the woodcuts used in Spiegel der Menschlichen Behaeltniss (Basel: Bernhart Richel, 31 August 1476).

Provenance: Cardinal Loménie de Brienne. — Loménie de Brienne sale, de Bure (Paris), 12 March 1792, part 1, lot 4 (sold to Belin). — Theophile Belin. — Marquess of Blandford. — Blandford sale (Bibliotheca Blandfordiensis), 1813, part 1, p. 4. — Frederick Perkins. — Perkins sale, Sotheby, 10 July 1889, lot 1002 (sold to Quaritch). — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.158) [the manuscript]. — Morgan Library (MS M.158) [the proofs].

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1395–96, no. 158. — Ellis valuation, fol. 4b, no. 45 (£100). — Morgan Catalogue 1, no. 224. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_14355).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

¶ Psalter and book of hours (c. 1265) [MS]

Psalter [and] book of hours.

Illuminated manuscript. France, probably Thérouanne, c. 1265 and 15th century. 258 leaves.

Provenance: P. Vande Camée. — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.97).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1384, no. 97. — Ellis valuation, fol. 5, no. 74 (£100). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 28. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_14305).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Bible (13th century) [MS]

Bible.

Illuminated manuscript. 3 vols. France, late 13th century. 224 + 216 + 233 leaves.

Provenance: Morris (purchased from Leighton, December 1895). — Richard Bennett. — [We believe this passed through the Sotheby 1898 sale, probably bought by Pickering & Chatto, but so far we have been unable to identify it there.] — Pickering & Chatto (sold to J. Pierpont Morgan, 1 July 1901, for £1,200). — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.109–11) [gift from Morgan, 1924].

References:  Ellis valuation, fol. 1, no. 13 (£650 ). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1387, nos. 109–11. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_9293).

¶ Pontifical (c. 1260–1270) [MS]

Pontifical.

Illuminated manuscript. Rome, c. 1260–1270. 226 leaves.

Provenance: Morris. — Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 696 (sold to Deacon for £30). — Laurence W. Hodson. — Hodson sale, 3 December 1906, lot 468 (sold to Cockerell for £55). — Sydney Cockerell. — John Gribbel. — Gribbel sale, part 1, Parke-Bernet (New York), 31 October 1940, lot 458 (sold to John A. Saks). — John A. Saks. — Morgan Library (MS M.976) [gift from Saks, 1977].

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — Ellis valuation, fol. 4, no. 66 (£60). — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_2363).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Sotheby 1898:

¶ Book of hours (c. 1405–1415) [MS]

Book of hours.

Illuminated manuscript. Gloucester, c. 1405–1415. 188 leaves. With inscription: “This Book was found hid under the floor of the gallery of Linsted Lodge, and was given by lady Teynham to Lord Dacre, October 12th, 1785.”

Provenance: Lady Teynham. — Thomas Barrett Lennard, Baron Dacre (gift from Lady Teynham). —  Lennard sale, 11 July 1888 (?). — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.99).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1384, no. 99. — Ellis valuation, fol. 3, no. 48 (£100). —Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 95. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_10296).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Book of hours (c. 1300) [MS]

Book of hours

Illuminated manuscript. France, possibly Thérouanne, c. 1300. 66 leaves.

Provenance: Anne and Françoise de Saligny. — Jaques Rosenthal. — Potier catalogue, 22 March 1869, no. 35 (500 francs). — Labitte catalogue, 21 March 1881, no. 62 (555 francs). — Em. Paul, L. Huard et Guillemin catalogue, 23 March 1887, no. 8. — Edwin H. Lawrence. — Lawrence sale, Sotheby, 9 May 1892, lot 286. — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.60).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1377, no. 60. — Ellis valuation, fol. 3, no. 46 (£90). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 31. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_10163).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Psalter (c. 1255–1256) [MS]

Psalter.

Illuminated manuscript. Bruges, Belgium, c. 1255–1256. 165 leaves.

Provenance: Perhaps the Convent of the Poor Clares in Bruges (Abbaye des Clarisses). — Henry Gee Barnard. — Morris (purchased from Ellis & Elvey, 2 October 1895, for £325). — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.106).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1386, no. 106. — Ellis valuation, fol. 7, no. 106 (£400). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 26. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_14293).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Vescy psalter (c. 1290–300) [MS]

Vescy psalter.

Illuminated manuscript. England, possibly London, between 1290 and 1300. 206 leaves.

With note by Morris: “Though this book is without figure-work, the extraordinary beauty and invention of the ornament make it most interesting; and the said ornament is thoroughly characteristic of English work: the bold folded-over leaf in the great B on the first page of the text is an undeniable token of an English hand. The great thickness of the black boundary lines is worth noting, and no doubt is the main element in producing the effect of the colour, which is unusual. The beauty of the simple blue and gold Calendar will scarcely be missed by any one taking up the book.”

Note by Cockerell: “The book has been cut down by the brutality of an eighteenth-century binder, so that some of the ornament, especially on the first page, has been sheared off.”

Provenance: William Baron de Vescy. — Lady Sara Ufford (Vescy’s daughter). — John Giffarde. — Robert Hare. — Quaritch. — Morris (purchased from Quaritch, 1892). — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.100).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1385, no. 100. — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 18. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_14334)

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Psalter (c. 1270s) [MS]

Psalter (the Beauvais psalter).

Illuminated manuscript. France, probably Paris or Beauvais, c. 1270s. 280 leaves.

The following note by Morris is tipped in on a flyleaf : “The calendar is exceedingly handsome from its wealth of gold; the roundels are very good. These ten leaves of designs, clearly done by a different hand from the other figure-work, are of the best French work, at once elegant and serious. The historiated letters are clear and bright in colour, which tends towards the English in character, the figures large in scale for their spaces, and quite firmly drawn; there is a particular charm about these letters, which take up a good space on the page. The ordinary illuminated letters are by his hands at least; the best of which is very happy; another is a little shaky in his outlines, but his colour very beautiful: these letters have suffered from the tarnishing of the white lead, which is not used in the historiated ones. The writing throughout the book is big, and bold, and as good as can be.”

Provenance: Henry G. Barnard. — Ellis & Elvey (sold to Morris for £375 in December 1895). — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.101).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1385, no. 100. — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 20. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_14288). — WMAB, p. 102.

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

Psalter (13th century) [MS]

Psalter.

Illuminated manuscript. Beauvais or Paris, 13th century. 164 leaves.

Tipped in note by Morris: “This book has a complete and satisfactory scheme of ornament, which is nowhere departed from, and the colour of which is thoroughly harmonious. Many of the dragon-scrolls end in daintily painted little heads, drawn with much expression and sense of fun; and the hair of them beautifully designed, and drawn very firmly. The figure-work in the eight historiated letters is everywhere up to the average of its date, but on the first page in the Beatus and symbols of the Evangelists goes a good deal beyond that. Altogether an admirable specimen of the work of the later thirteenth century.”

Provenance: William Bragge. — Bragge sale, Sotheby, 7 June 1876, lot 368 (sold to S. Addington for £100). — Samuel Addington. — Addington sale, Sotheby, 24 May 1886, lot 462 (sold to Ellis). — Charles Fairfax Murray (purchased from Ellis, 10 June 1888). — Charles Butler. — Morris (purchased from Butler, probably before 1894). — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.98).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1384, no. 98. — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 23. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_8188).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Breviary (c. 1350) [MS]

Breviary.

Illuminated manuscript. Paris, c. 1350. 590 leaves.

Provenance: Edwin H. Lawrence. — Lawrence sale, Sotheby, 9 May 1892, lot 88 (sold to Quaritch). — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.75).

References: Ellis valuation, fol. 2, no. 32 (£200). — Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1380, no. 75. — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 12. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_11362).

Images: Morgan Library.

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Psalter (late 13th century) [MS]

Psalter.

Illuminated manuscript. France, possibly Saint-Omer, late 13th century. 190 leaves.

Provenance: Musée Napoléon. — Jean Paradis. — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.79).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1380, no. 79. — Ellis valuation, fol. 5, no. 76 (£100). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 24. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_14292).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Book of hours (c. 1420) [MS]

Book of hours.

Illuminated manuscript. Belgium, perhaps Bruges, c. 1420. 318 leaves.

Provenance: Morris (purchased in 1895 from Germany). — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.76).

References: de Ricci, 2:1380, no. 76. — Ellis valuation: fol. 4, no. 51 (£40). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 85. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_10306).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Worksop bestiary (c. 1185) [MS]

Worksop bestiary

Illuminated manuscript. England, possibly Lincoln or York, c. 1185. 120 leaves.

Cockerell’s diary records the details of his trip to Stuttgart in April 1896 to purchase the bestiary from Rosenthal; it is clear that Morris left it up to Cockerell to negotiate the price. When he returned to England, Cockerell took it immediately to Kelmscott Manor and noted in his diary, 4 May, “F. S. Ellis there & the book voted by everyone a magnificent one. W.M. greatly pleased.” It was exhibited at the Society of Antiquaries in June 1896.

Provenance: Philip, Canon of Lincoln. — Augustinian Priory of Radford (also called Worksop Priory), Nottinghamshire. — Duke of Hamilton. — Royal Museum of Berlin (privately purchased from Hamilton Collection, 1883). — Sotheby, 23 May 1889, lot 2 (sold to Trübner [or Ellis?] for £500). — Jacques Rosenthal (dealer, Munich). — Morris (purchased from Rosenthal, 30 April 1896, for £900). — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.81).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1381, no. 81. — Ellis valuation, fol. 6, no. 95 (£900). — Morgan Catalogue, 4, no. 107. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_6054).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Windmill psalter (late 13th century) [MS]

Windmill psalter.

Illuminated manuscript. England, possibly London, late 13th century. 167 leaves.

With the following note by Sydney Cockerell: “This was the last book bought by William Morris. He already owned 4 leaves of it, and did not know of the existence of the rest until the two portions were exhibited side by side at the rooms of the Society of Antiquaries in June, 1896.” Morris gave the manuscript its name in honor of an image of a windmill that appears in the text. Cockerell recorded in his diary (29 August 1896) that Morris, by now terminally ill, “looked at the Windmill Psalter in the afn. & was pleased with it,” and as Morris approached death, Cockerell, in a letter to Philip Webb (13 September 1896), reported that it was “the one he loves best” (British Library Add. Ms. 52760, fol. 18).

Marginal notes by Cockerell in Morgan Catalogue 4: (1) “The price paid by Morris to Lord Aldenham for his portion of the book was £1000. He obtained the four other leaves from C. Fairfax Murray in exchange for an Italian historical MS (all pictures) of the 15th century. I bought the Italian pictures (8 leaves) at the Fairfax Murray sale at Sotheby’s July 24 1919 lot 50.” (2) “It originally also contained the Office of the Dead. I bought a leaf of this in a volume of fragments from the Phillipps collection.”

When Morgan acquired the manuscript from Bennett in 1902, it included two letters, one from F. S. Ellis to Lord Aldenham (?), 22 February 1878, and the other from John Ruskin, 30 April 1880.

Provenance: Henry Hucks Gibbs, 1st Baron Aldenham (purchased about 1860). — Morris (purchased from Lord Aldenham, 6 July 1896, for £1,000). — Bennett. — Morgan Library (MS M.102).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1385, no. 102. — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 19. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_14335).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Bible (c. 1260–1270) [MS]

Bible.

Illuminated manuscript. France or England, c. 1260–1270. 411 leaves.

Provenance: Perhaps religious houses in Frome and Edindon. — Thomas Hayward Southby. — Southby sale, Sotheby, 10 December 1890, no. 173 (sold to Quaritch). — Quaritch catalogue 118, 1 December 1891, no. 86 (£70). — Quaritch catalogue 138, 1893, no. 18 (£70). — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.138).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1392, no. 138. — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 3. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_7351).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Manuale Augustini (1462) [MS]

Manuale Augustini.

Illuminated manuscript. Italy, 1462. 53 leaves.

Provenance: Charles-Adrien Picard. — Marquis de Migieu. — Migieu sale, 1760, no. 157. — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.154).

References: Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:395, no. 154. — Ellis valuation, fol. 1, no. 10 (£3). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 99. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_14427).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Columella — De re rustica (1469) [MS]

Columella, Lucius Junius Moderatus. De re rustica.

Illuminated manuscript. Italy, probably Milan, 1469. 185 leaves.

Provenance: Del Carretto family. — The Sandri, counts of Monbasilio. — Duke of Hamilton. — Royal Museum of Berlin (purchased privately from the Hamilton Collection, 1883). — Hamilton sale, Sotheby, 23 May 1889, lot 50 (sold to Charles Butler for £80). — Charles Butler (sold to Morris through Charles Fairfax Murray). — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.139).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1392, no. 139. — Ellis valuation, fol. 3, no. 38 (£200). —  Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 109. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_6071).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

 

¶ Book of hours (c. 1375) [MS]

Book of hours.

Illuminated manuscript. France, perhaps Verdun and Paris, c. 1375. 229 leaves. Marginal note by Sydney Cockerell in Morgan Catalogue 4: “Valued at £84 by the Morris Executors, no doubt the price paid by Morris.”

Provenance: George J. R. Gordon. — Quaritch general catalogue, 1880, no. 50. — Quaritch catalogue 332, November 1880, no. 39 (£160). — Quaritch general catalogue, VIII, 1884, no. 17381. — Quaritch catalogue 369, September 1886, no. 35712 (£160). — Quaritch catalogue 93, 1888, no. 206. — Quaritch catalogue 118, December 1891, no. 528 (£100). — Quaritch catalogue 138, December 1893, no. 93 (£84). — Morris (purchased 22 April 1895). — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.90).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1383, no. 90. — Ellis valuation, fol. 3, no. 47 (£84). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 68. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_7316).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Psalter (c. 1250) [MS]

Psalter

Illuminated manuscript. Reading, England, c. 1250. 169 leaves.

Occasionally referred to as the Nottingham psalter (where it was once thought to have been created). Sydney Cockerell, while cataloguing Morris’s library, commented in his diary, 14 February 1894, on “the beautiful ‘Nottingham’ Psalter.” The following day he noted, “Stayed at K.H. [Kelmscott House] till 7.30 absorbed in the wonderful 13th century Psalters.”

Provenance: Benedictine Abbey of Reading. — Mareschal family. — Various other early owners (see list in Morgan catalogue). — Thomas Bateman. — William Bateman. — Bateman sale, Sotheby, 25 May 1893, lot 1412 (sold to Quaritch). — Morris (purchased by early 1894). — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.103).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1385, no. 103. — Ellis valuation, fol. 5, no. 69 (£7). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 17. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_10741).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Huntingfield psalter (c. 1212–1220) [MS]

Huntingfield psalter.

Illuminated manuscript. Oxford, c. 1212–1220. 165 leaves.

Sydney Cockerell’s diary, 2 May 1895: “W.M. went up to Quaritch’s with Mr Ellis, to buy the Huntingfield Psalter.” It was exhibited at the Society of Antiquaries in June 1896. Cockerell’s annotation in Morgan Catalogue: “The verse-initials of this book are identical in style with some of those in the New College Oxford Psalter partly illuminated by W. de Brail[e]s.”

Provenance: Lucia and Rogerus de Huntingfeld. — Brudenell family. — Quaritch catalogue, 1890, no. 6. — Quaritch catalogue 103, 1890, no. 82 (£800). — Quaritch catalogue 118, 1 December 1891, no. 813 (£800). — Quaritch catalogue 138, December 1893, no. 11. — Morris (purchased from Quaritch, 2 May 1895). — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.43).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1373, no. 43. — Ellis valuation, fol. 5, no. 73 (£800 ). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 16. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_7349).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Psalter (c. 1290–1305) [MS]

Psalter.

Illuminated manuscript. Liège, Belgium, c. 1290–1305. 168 leaves.

Provenance: Margaret des Pres. — Manuel John Johnson. — Johnson sale, Sotheby, 27 May 1862, lot 52 (sold to Edwin H. Lawrence). — Edwin H. Lawrence. — Lawrence sale, London, 1892, lot 534 (sold to Quaritch). — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.155).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1395, no. 155. — Ellis valuation, fol. 5, no. 75 (£180). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 29. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_6708).

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Guillaume, de Lorris — Roman de la rose (c. 1380) [MS]

Guillaume, de Lorris, and Jean Meun. Roman de la rose.

Illuminated manuscript. Paris, c. 1380. 189 leaves.

Morris showed the manuscript to friends at dinner on 4 July 1895 (Cockerell diary).

Provenance: Iohannes Marous (Jean Marot?). — Pierre Vischer (purchased in 1773). — Baron de Neubourg. — de Neubourg sale, Merlin (Paris), 4 November 1839, lot 591. — G. Libri. — Libri sale, Victor Tilliard (Paris), 12 April 1855, lot 1815. — Ambroise Firmin-Didot. — Firmin-Didot sale, Hôtel Drouot (Paris), 6 July 1878, lot 34 (sold to Quaritch). — Quaritch catalogue, December 1878, no. 9. — Quaritch catalogue, 1880, no. 15265. — Quaritch catalogue 332, November 1880, no. 32 (£480). — Quaritch catalogue, 27 February 1882, lot 49. — Quaritch catalogue 369, September 1886, no. 35709 (£480). — Quaritch catalogue 103, April 1890, no. 361 (£480). — Quaritch catalogue 138, December 1893, no. 42 (sold to Morris, 20 June 1895). — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.132).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan). — Curatorial description (Morgan). — de Ricci, 2:1391, no. 132. — Ellis valuation, fol. 6, no. 91 (£250). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 112. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_7313).

Images: Morgan Library.

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ St. Catherine of Siena — Orchard of Syon (c. 1470) [MS]

Catherine of Siena, Saint. The orchard of Syon.

Illuminated manuscript. England, c. 1470. 186 leaves.

Provenance: John Crosse. — W. Mutlowe. — Joseph Ames. — Ames sale, Abraham Langford (London), 5 May 1760, lot 342 (sold to Richard How). — Richard How. — How sale, London, 3 March 1890, no. 1317 (sold to Quaritch). — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.162).

References: Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1396, no. 162. — Ellis valuation, fol. 3, no. 34 (£60). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 98. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_10136).

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Aldobrandino, da Siena — Le régime du corps [MS]

Aldobrandino, da Siena. Le régime du corps.

Illuminated manuscript. France, perhaps Rouen, c. 1440-1450. 129 leaves.

Provenance: Thwayte (16th century). — Earl of Westmorland. — Westmorland (anonymous) sale, Sotheby, 13–15 July 1887, lot 698. — Quaritch catalogue 103, April 1890 (£100). — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.165).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1397, no. 165. — Ellis valuation, fol. 6, no. 89 (£120). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 108. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_10069).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Psalter (1490–1500) [MS]

Psalter (Psalterium maius Beatae Mariae Virginis)

Illuminated manuscript. France, 1490–1500. 89 leaves.

Provenance: Edwin Henry Lawrence. — Lawrence sale, Sotheby, 9 May 1892, lot 69 (sold to Quaritch). — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.186).

References: Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1401, no. 186. — Ellis valuation, fol. 2, no. 30 (£36). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 96. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_11361).

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Breviary (14th century) [MS]

Breviary.

Illuminated manuscript. Probably Taranto, between 1350 and 1400. 491 leaves.

Provenance: James T. Gibson Craig (purchased in Rome, 18 January 1872). — Craig sale, part 1, Sotheby, 27 June 1887, lot 380 (sold to Leighton). — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.200).

References: Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1403, no. 200. — Ellis valuation, fol. 3, no. 33 (£60). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 15. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_14237).

Images: Morgan Library.

Morgan Library

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Book of hours (13th century) [MS]

Book of hours

Illuminated manuscript. Paris, 1230s. 140 leaves.

Provenance: Léon Gruel. — Gruel sale, Durel, 6 June 1891, lot 1. — Morris (purchased 5 August 1895 for £450). — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.92).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1383, no. 92. — Ellis valuation, fol. 7, no. 101 (£460). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 74. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_10162).

Images: Morgan Library.

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Morgan Catalogue 4:

¶ Josephus — Antiquitates Judaicae (13th century)

Josephus, Flavius. Antiquitates Judaicae.

Illuminated manuscript. 2 vols. Dijon, late 13th century. 178 + 170 leaves.

Provenance: Carthusian monastery, Dijon. — Alexander Hamilton Douglas, Duke of Hamilton. — Royal Museum of Berlin (privately purchased 1883). — Sotheby, 23 May 1889, lot 8 (sold to Rev. John Cohen Jackson for £150). — Jackson. — Jackson sale, Sotheby, 13 December 1895, lot 264 (sold to Bernard Quaritch for $200). — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 732 (sold to Bernard Quaritch for £300). — Richard Hoe. — Hoe sale, Anderson Galleries, 24 April 1911, lot 2145 (sold to Quaritch for $2,900). — Olschki (dealer). — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.533 and MS M.534) [donated by J. Pierpont Morgan in 1924].

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1467, nos. 533–54. — Ellis valuation, fol. 6, no 92 (£210). — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_22410).

Images: Morgan Library.

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Sotheby 1898:

¶ Psalter/hours [MS]

Psalter [and] hours.

Illuminated manuscript. Paris, 1228–1234. 241 leaves.

Provenance: Restwold family of Berkshire. — Henry Farrington. — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.153).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1395, no. 153. — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 21. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_14287).

Images: Morgan Library.

¶ Psalter/hours (c. 1280s) [MS]

Psalter [and] hours.

Illuminated manuscript. Liège, Belgium, c. 1280s. 298 leaves.

Provenance: Peter van den Hove of Brabant. — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (MS M.183).

References: Additional bibliography (Morgan Library). — Curatorial description (Morgan Library). — de Ricci, 2:1400, no. 183. — Ellis valuation, fol. 5, no. 77 (£250). — Morgan Catalogue 4, no. 27. — Schoenberg (SDBM_MS_14306).

Images: Morgan Library.

¶ Les prophecies de Merlin (1503?)

Les prophecies de Merlin. Paris: Antoine Verard, 1498 [really after July 1503].

Vol. 3 only. The book is apparently misdated because the colophon of the first edition (1498) [ISTC] is reprinted.

Provenance: De Bourgevin de Vailart de Moligny. — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (E1 12A).

References: Ellis valuation, fol. 17b, no. 213 (£40). —  Morgan Catalogue 2, no. 549.

¶ Caesar — Commentarii (1471)

Caesar, Julius. Commentarii. Venice: Nicolaus Jenson, 1471.

Provenance: Lord Auchinleck (Alexander Boswell). — Julia (Boswell) Mounsey. — Boswell sale, Sotheby, 23–26 June 1893, lot 242 (sold to Bernard Quaritch for £8 10s.). — Quaritch. — Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (ChL749).

References: ISTC (ic00017000). — Morgan Catalogue 2, no. 290.

Digital version: Bibliothèque Mazarine.

¶ Lucan — Lucan, Suetone, et Salluste (1490)

Lucan [Marcus Annaeus Lucanus]. Lucan, Suetone, et Salluste. Paris: Pierre Le Rouge, for Antoine Vérard, 22 December 1490.

Illustrated.

Provenance: Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (ChL1461).

References: ISTC (il00312000). — Morgan Catalogue, 2, no. 498.

¶ Sacro Bosco — Sphaera mundi (1490)

Sacro Bosco, Joannes de. Sphaera mundi. Venice: [Bonetus Locatellus], for Octavianus Scotus, 4 October 1490.

Provenance: Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (ChL946).

References: ISTC (ij00409000). — Morgan Catalogue 2, no. 347.

Digital version: BSB.

¶ St. Antoninus — Confessionale (1472)

Antoninus, Saint [Antoninus Florentinus]. Confessionale: Curam illius habe. Bologna: [Balthasar Azoguidus], 1472

Provenance: Morris. — Richard Bennett. — J. Pierpont Morgan. — Morgan Library (ChL1195).

References: ISTC (ia00782000). — Morgan Catalogue 2, no. 448.