Leaves from a Spanish Psalter-Hymnal
Three leaves from a Psalter-Hymnal in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [northern(?) Spain, first(?) quarter 13th century].
Attractive leaves from a deluxe early Spanish manuscript.

c.143 × 97 – 158 × 97mm (sizes vary). 22 lines, written above top line, using the ‘ę’ which had in northern Europe fallen out of use by the early 13th century, the text comprising Psalms 40:2–41:8, 81:8–83:5 and 118:176–122:1, every psalm and verse introduced by an initial in gold, the gold edged in blue on one leaf, and in black and red on the other two, the larger initials with foliate ornament (the upper and outer margins somewhat cropped, but generally in good condition).

Provenance:
(1) In the past the manuscript has been attributed to the diocese of Seville, but the city was under Muslim rule until the mid-13th century and it is thus perhaps unlikely that high quality Christian books were being produced there early in the earlier part of the century; an origin further north is perhaps more likely.
(2) In Franciscan ownership at an early date when Franciscan feasts were added to the calendar, and still in Franciscan ownership from the 14th century (when four leaves were added, including collects for Sts Francis and Louis of Toulouse), until at least 1526, as an imperfect copy of the printed Miracula et Officium of St Louis of that date was added.
(3) One leaf is reported to have a 16th- or 17th-century inscription ‘Ego Carolus De Augustinis sum Donus’.
(4) Sold anonymously at Sotheby’s, 10 July 1967, lot 73 (‘An unusual manuscript, richly decorated but in poor condition. Two interesting historiated initials survive’); bought by ‘Alston’ for £150; reoffered on 12 December 1967, lot 37; within a year leaves were being offered by Folio Fine Art, London.
(5) Colker MS 162: given to him in 1970 by his wife and son, who acquired them from Folio Fine Art.

For a list of leaves, reproductions of the historiated initials, further bibliography, etc., see P. Kidd, McCarthy Collection, II (2019), no 4.

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