Sold Antiques

Original leaf from an exceptionally large medieval manuscript (448 x 320mm - 17 5/8 x 12 1/2''; text block: 320 x 220 mm - 12 1/2 x 8 3/4'') Lectern Bible on animal vellum. Two columns of thirty-nine lines, written in attractive gothic book hand. Rubricated chapter numbers, initials & marginalia in red & blue. Two two-line illuminated initials alternating in red and blue with delicate & elaborate penwork in red & blue & extending the length of the margin. Scribal error: Opening of Chapter 11 the scribe duplicated "dixit" and crossed the second out in a decorative manner. Northeastern France, (possibly Flanders), c. 1275.

Provenance: formerly in the Cleveland Art Museum (accession number 24.319 in ink at the lower left corner verso). Obtained from Otto Ege, and appeared in the De Ricci Census as Ege # 5. Another leaf from the same Bible is in the Toledo Museum (also accessioned in 1924). The De Ricci census noted that Ege had 60 leaves form the parent manuscript, which he obtained from Adler in Munich. Reference to the leaf is noted in Gwara Hand List as # 96.

The illuminated ''E'' begins Exodus 11:1 - 12:49: ''Et dixit...'' (And the Lord said to Moses: Yet one plague more will I bring upon Pharaoh and Egypt, and after that he shall let you go...And the blood shall be unto you for a sign in the houses where you shall be: and I shall see the blood, and shall pass over you...and this day shall be for a memorial to you: and you shall keep it a feast to the Lord...This is the observable night of the Lord, when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt: this night all the children of Israel must observe in their generations...).