ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS FROM SIR JOHN ILOTT

Turnbull Library Record, Volume XIV, 1 March 1960, Page 4

ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS FROM SIR JOHN ILOTT

Over the years, both before and since he became the first President of the Friends of the Turnbull Library in 1939, Sir John Ilott has been a practical and generous friend, evincing his interest in many ways. Of this his latest proof was the presentation of a group of extremely interesting and beautiful MSS. of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.

The Library is especially conscious of the nature of this gift, for these volumes have been for more than thirty years among the cherished tomes of their owner's distinguished library. For anyone who has a feeling for books, and books of such antiquity, association and elegance, to part with them calls for both sacrifice and a generous public spirit. The character of the Turnbull Library, founded in the choice collection of Alexander Turnbull, is suited to the care and preservation of such treasures. The Library will do its best to honour this handsome gift.

In addition to the MSS. themselves, Sir John included some other items, choice printed books, and some notable for binding, supplementing a group that he had transferred a few years ago.

The rather formal catalogue descriptions that follow do not fairly do justice to the quality of these volumes, but they provide a record that can be of use to the scholar.

Biblia Sacra Latina. MS. on vellum. French XlVth Cent. 270 leaves. IV*" by SV&". Written in small gothic letters of extraordinary regularity and perfection in two columns of 53 lines. Decorated with several finely painted large initial letters, begins and ends imperfectly. The Prologue of St. Jerome is supplied in a neat XVth Century hand. Modern green morocco leather. In a book box.

Missale Romanian cum Kalendario . Illuminated MS. on vellum. England XVth Cent. 294 leaves. 10 3 A" by 7". Gothic characters. Two columns of 39 lines. Calendar in red and black begins with July. Some pages decorated with full borders of bar pattern with floral scrolls. Numerous small capitals in burnished gold on decorated coloured ground. Oak boards halfcovered stamped pigskin. In a book box.

Boethius Consolatio. Philosophiae. MS. on vellum. Italian. 70 leaves. 1134" by 814 ". Written in bold Gothic characters. On first page is a large initial containing a miniature portrait of the author in colours with margins of burnished gold. Folio 27 long leafs to a page modern calf. XVth century.

Horae B.M. Virginis cum Kalendario. MS. on 100 leaves of vellum. 614'' by 414". Written in black and blue by a French scribe including three full page miniatures with borders and eight illuminated borders and seven illuminated initials. Many capitals painted on scrolled grounds in gold and blue, broad margins. Imperfect board in modern stamped calf. Saec. XV.

Horae B.M. Virginis cum Kalendario. Illuminated MS. on vellum. Italian XVlth Cent. 251 leaves. 7 3 /ie" by 514". Written in bold Gothic characters, 17 long lines to a page. Calendar in red and black. Running titles in red text. Rules of brown and gold. Illustrated with 60 large and small miniatures finely painted in gold and brilliant colours. Modern polished calf gilt g.e. In a lined book box.

The Last Records of a Cotswold Community by C. R. Ashbee. Limited edition of 75 copies on Essex House paper. 1904. A good example from the Essex House Press.

Anglo Saxon Review. 4 vols. Superb bindings, being reproductions of famous examples.

The Psalter Psalm, edited from the Bible of MDXL. by Janet E. Ashbee. Woodcuts designed and drawn by C. R. Ashbee. One of 250 copies on paper and 10 on vellum—No. 9. A beautiful example from the Essex House Press. Fine binding in pigskin.