The Melisende Psalter (BL Egerton MS 1139)

The Adoration of the Magi, f. 2v.

Colloquial name(s): The Melisende Psalter

Official name(s): British Library Egerton MS 1139

Date: 1131-43 (source)

Origin: Jerusalem, Eastern Mediterranean (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Digitised Manuscripts

Psalter (BL Royal MS I D X)

The Nativity, f. 1v.

Colloquial name(s): Psalter

Official name(s): British Library Royal MS 1 D X

Date: c. 1200-20 (source)

Origin: Oxford, central England (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Digitised Manuscripts

Psalter (Bodl. MS Gough Liturg. 2)

The Annunciation to the Shepherds, f. 14r.

Colloquial name(s): Psalter

Official name(s): Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Gough Liturgy 2

Date: c. 1200 (source)

Origin: England (source)

Online facsimile available via: LUNA (high quality facsimiles, but not all folios)

The Holkham Bible Picture Book (BL Add. MS 47682)

The Annunciation, f. 11v.

Colloquial name(s): The Holkham Bible Picture Book

Official name(s): British Library Additional MS 47682

Date: c. 1327-35 (source)

Origin: London(?), S.E. England (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Digitised Manuscripts

Petit Livre d'Amour (BL Stowe MS 955)

Curry combing a horse, f. 11r.

Colloquial name(s): Petit Livre d'Amour, Emblesmes et Devises d'Amour

Official name(s): British Library Stowe MS 955

Date: c. 1500 (ff. 1r-17v) and 18th C (ff. 19r-34r) (source)

Origin: Paris and Lyon, France (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Digitised Manuscripts

The Golf Book (BL Add. MS 24098)

September, men play a game similar to golf, f. 27r.

Colloquial name(s): the Golf Book

Official name(s): British Library Additional MS 24098

Date: c. 1540 (source)

Origin: Bruges, Netherlands

Online facsimile available via: British Library Digitised Manuscripts

The Cædmon manuscript (Bodl. MS Junius 11)

An angel guards the gate of Paradise as Adam and Eve leave, p. 46.

Colloquial name(s): The Cædmon manuscript, the Junius manuscript, the Junius manuscript of Oxford

Official name(s): Great Britain, Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS. Junius 11

Date: c. 1000 (source and source), c. 1000 or c. 930-60 (source)

Origin: Christ Church(?), Canterbury(?), England (source)

Online facsimile available via: LUNA (high-quality but not all folios) and Early Manuscripts at Oxford University (low-quality full facsimile)

St Albans Psalter

The fall (Genesis 3:1-6), p. 12

Colloquial name(s): St Albans Psalter, Albani Psalter, Psalter of Christina of Markyate

Official name(s): the majority of it has no official name as it is owned by St Godehard's Church, Hildesheim, Germany rather than a library; one leaf is kept in the Rheinisches Bildarchiv, Köln and a further leaf and cutting are now missing (source)

Date: possibly 1124-1129 (source)

Origin: St Albans Abbey, Hertfordshire, England (source)

Online facsimile available via: The St Albans Psalter Project - full facsimile (including the Köln leaf) with transcription and translation into modern English and modern German

Tickhill Psalter (NYPL Spencer collection Ms. 26)

The tree of Jesse, image ID ps_spn_cd15_218.

Colloquial name(s): Tickhill Psalter

Official name(s): New York Public Library, Spencer collection Ms. 26

Date: c. 1310 (source)

Origin: Augustinian Priory of Worksop (Radnor), Nottinghamshire, England (source)

Online facsimile available via: New York Public Library Digital Collections (a few illustrations)

Book of Dimma (TCD MS 59)

Evangelist portrait of St Matthew holding his gospel, p. 2.

Colloquial name(s): Book of Dimma

Official name(s): Trinity College Dublin MS 59 (formerly MS A.4.23)

Date: second half of 8th Century (source)

Origin: Roscrea(?), Ireland (source)

Online facsimile available via: Trinity College Dublin Digital Collections

St Augustine Gospels (Corpus Christi College, Parker Library, MS 286)

Twelve scenes from the Passion, f. 125r.

Colloquial name(s): St Augustine Gospels, referred to by the Church of England as the Canterbury Gospels (not to be confused with BL Royal I E VI which is sometimes also referred to as the Canterbury Gospels)

Official name(s): Great Britain, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library, MS 286)

Date: 6th or 7th Century (source)

Origin: Italy (source)

Online facsimile available via: Parker Library on the web (click on the 'Images' link)

Les voeux du paon (Morgan MS G.24)

Cassamus upsets a chess game, f. 25v.

Colloquial name(s): Les voeux du paon

Official name(s): Pierpoint Morgan Library, MS G.24

Date: c. 1345-50 (source)

Origin: probably Tournai, Belgium (source)

Online facsimile available via: CORSAIR (all illustrations) and the Morgan Library & Museum online collection of Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts (almost all folios)

Artus de Bretagne (BNF Fr. 761)

The Count of Brueil and his barons deliver a message to three noble women, f. 32r.

Colloquial name(s): Artus de Bretagne

Official name(s): Bibliothèque nationale de France, Français 761

Date: 1325-50 (source)

Origin: Paris, France (source)

Online facsimile available via: Bibliothèque nationale de France Gallica digital library

Poésies (BNF Fr. 1586)

Noble men and women dance, f. 51r.

Colloquial name(s): Poésies

Official name(s): Bibliothèque nationale de France, Français 1586

Date: c. 1350-55 (source and source, Mandragore)

Origin: Paris, France (source and source, Mandragore)

Online facsimile available via: Bibliothèque Nationale de France Gallica digital library and Bibliothèque Nationale de France Mandragore digital library (enter 'Guillaume de Machaut' into the 'Auteur' box and select 'Chercher', then select 'Français 1586' and select 'Images').

Tacuinum sanitatis (NYPL, Spencer collection, Ms. 65)

Embroidery, f. unknown, image ID 1261534.

Colloquial name(s): Tacuinum sanitatis

Official name(s): New York Public Library, Spencer collection, Ms. 65

Date: c. 1460 (source), c. 1470 (source)
Origin: Lodi region, Italy, by Giovanni Cadamosto of Lodi's workshop (source), Ferrara(?), Italy (source)

Online facsimile available via: The New York Public Library Digital collections

Tacuinum sanitatis (ÖNB, Ms. 2396)

Liquorice (liquiricia), f. 13v.

Colloquial name(s): Tacuinum sanitatis, by Ibn Butlân

Official name(s): Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Ms. 2396 [formerly Eug. Q. 59]

Date: 1476-1500 (source), 1480-99 (source)
Origin: unknown

Online facsimile available via: Österreichische Nationalbibliothek

Tacuinum sanitatis (Bibliothèque municipale, Rouen, Ms. 3054)

Lettuce, f. unknown.

Colloquial name(s): Tacuinum sanitatis, by Ibn Butlân

Official name(s): Bibliothèque municipale, Rouen, Ms. 3054 [formerly Leber 1088]

Date: 1450s (source)
Origin: unknown

Online facsimile available via: Wikimedia commons - only a few folios are currently available online

Medical encyclopaedia (ÖNB, Cod. 5264 Han)

Reaping. f. 114r.

Colloquial name(s): none

Official name(s): Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Cod. 5264 Han [formerly Med. 2]

Date: c. 1470 (source), third quarter of the 15th C (source)
Origin: Lodi region, Italy, by Giovanni Cadamosto of Lodi's workshop (source)

Online facsimile available via: Österreichische Nationalbibliothek

Libro de componere herbe et fructi (BNF Italien 1108)

Merchant of beef, f. 60r.

Colloquial name(s): Libro de componere herbe et fructi

Official name(s): Bibliothèque nationale de France, Italien 1108

Date: c. 1470 (source), 1471 (source, Mandragore)
Origin: Lodi region, Italy, by Giovanni Cadamosto of Lodi's workshop (source), N. Italy (source, Mandragore)

Online facsimile available via: Bibliothèque nationale de France Mandragore digital library (enter 'Italien 1108' into the 'Cote' box and select 'Chercher' then select 'Images') and via Bibliothèque nationale de France Gallica digital library

Tacuinum sanitatis (BNF Latin 9333)

Wool clothing (vestits lanea), f. 103r.

Colloquial name(s): Tacuinum sanitatis, by Ibn Butlân

Official name(s): Bibliothèque nationale de France, Latin 9333

Date: 1445-51 (source and source)
Origin: Rhineland, Germany (source)

Online facsimile available via: Bibliothèque nationale de France Gallica digital library

Historia Plantarum (Biblioteca Casanatense, Ms. 459)

F. unknown (p. 541).

Colloquial name(s): Historia Plantarum

Official name(s): Biblioteca Casanatense, Ms. 459

Date: 1395-1400 (source), c. 1400 (source)
Origin: Lombardy region, Italy (source), Milan, Italy (source)

Online facsimile available via: Biblioteca Casanatense MiBACT and World Digital Library

Now posting twice-weekly!

Hi all,

Just a quick announcement. As I've been getting quite a back-log of manuscripts that I'd love to share with you all, this blog is going to change to bi-weekly posts. So, you'll get a new manuscript every Monday and Friday of the week.

Enjoy!

Theatrum sanitatis (Biblioteca Casanatense, Ms. 4182)

Autumn, folio no. unknown.

Colloquial name(s): Tacuinum sanitatis, by Ibn Butlân

Official name(s): Biblioteca Casanatense, Ms. 4182

Date: 1390-1400 (source)
Origin: Lombardy region, N. Italy, by Giovannino de Grassi's workshop (source)

Online facsimile available via: Wikimedia commons - not all folios are currently available online

Tacuinum sanitatis (ÖNB, Cod. Ser. N. 2644 Han)

Linen clothing (vestis linea), f. 105v (p. 214).

Colloquial name(s): Tacuinum sanitatis, by Ibn Butlân

Official name(s): Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Cod. Ser. N. 2644 Han (sometimes referred to by its old name, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, codex Vindobonensis series nova 2644)

Date: 1390-1400 (source, source and source)
Origin: Lombardy region, N. Italy, by Giovannino de Grassi's workshop (source)

Online facsimile available via: Österreichische Nationalbibliothek

Tacuinum sanitatis (Bibliothèque de l'Université de Liège, Ms. 1041)

Fig tree (fichus), f. 2r.

Colloquial name(s): Tacuinum sanitatis, by Ibn Butlân

Official name(s): Bibliothèque de l'Université de Liège, Ms. 1041

Date: 1380-1400 (source and source)
Origin: Italy (source), Veneto region of Italy (source)

Online facsimile available via: Université de Liège DONum (Dépôt d'Objets Numérisés) - only a few folios are currently available online

Tacuinum sanitatis (BNF Nouvelle acquis. lat. 1673)

Silk clothing, f. 95r (p. 189).

Colloquial name(s): Tacuinum sanitatis, by Ibn Butlân

Official name(s): Bibliothèque nationale de France, Nouvelle acquisition latine 1673

Date: 1390-1400 (source, Mandragore) or 1380-90 (source)
Origin: Pavia or Milan, Lombardy, N. Italy, by Giovannino de Grassi's workshop (source and source, Mandragore)

Online facsimile available via: Bibliothèque nationale de France Mandragore digital library (enter 'Tacuinum sanitatis' into the 'Titre d'usage' box and select 'Chercher', then select 'Nouvelle acquisition latine 1673' and select 'Images').

Treatises (BL Yates Thompson MS 11)

Mass, f. 6v.

Colloquial name(s): Treatises

Official name(s): British Library, Yates Thompson MS 11

Date: c. 1290 (source)

Origin: Lorraine, N.E. France or central France (Paris or Maubuisson?) (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

Apocalypse, in French (BL Yates Thompson MS 10)

The horsemen of the Apocalypse, f. 15v.

Colloquial name(s): Apocalypse, in French
Official name(s): British Library Yates Thompson MS 10

Date: c. 1370 - c. 1390 (source)
Origin: Paris, France (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

Egerton Genesis Picture Book (BL Egerton MS 1894)

Scenes from stories from Lamech to Noah, f. 2v.

Colloquial name(s): The Egerton Genesis Picture Book

Official name(s): British Library Egerton MS 1894

Date: 3rd quarter of the 14th Century (source)

Origin: England (Norfolk?) (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

Apocalypse, in German (BL Add. MS 15243)

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, f. 12r.

Colloquial name(s): Apocalypse, in German
Official name(s): British Library, Additional MS 15243

Date: c. 1350 - c. 1370 (source)
Origin: Germany (Thuringia, possibly Erfurt) (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

Meliadus or Guiron le Courtois (BL Add. MS 12228)

Knights and their retinue, f. 157r.

Colloquial name(s): Meliadus or Guiron le Courtois
Official name(s): British Library Additional MS 12228

Date: 1352-1362 (source)
Origin: S. Italy (Naples?) (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

Somme le Roi (BL Add. MS 28162)

'David et Golias' (left), labour (right), f. 8v.

Colloquial name(s): Somme le Roi
Official name(s): British Library Additional MS 28162

Date: c. 1290 - c. 1300 (source)
Origin: France (Paris? or North-East) (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

The Map Psalter (BL Add. MS 28681)

A pilgrim with a staff, f. 54v.

Colloquial name(s): The Map Psalter

Official name(s): British Library, Additional MS 28681

Date: 1262-1300 (source)

Origin: England, S.E.(?) (London/Westminster?) (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

Le Roman de Tristan en prose (BL Add. MS 23929)

Merlin gives the baby Tristan to Gorvernal, f. 39r.

Colloquial name(s): Le Roman de Tristan en prose
Official name(s): British Library Additional MS 23929

Date: 1300-1425 (source)
Origin: N. Italy (Padua or Bologna?) (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

Epistre au roi Richart (BL Royal MS 20 B VI)

Philippe de Mézières presents his book to Richard II, f. 2r.

Colloquial name(s): Epistre au roi Richart (Letter to King Richard II), by Philippe de Mézières

Official name(s): British Library Royal MS 20 B VI

Date: 1395 (source)

Origin: Paris, Central France (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

Les Responses des cent Balades (Bibliothèque Cantonale et Universitaire de Lausanne, Ms 350)

Man and woman ride out of a castle, f. 1r.

Colloquial name(s): Les Responses des cent Balades

Official name(s): Lausanne, Bibliothèque Cantonale et Universitaire de Lausanne, Ms 350

Date: later than 1425, c. 1430 (source - click on the "description" tab in the right-hand box)

Origin: probably Burgandy (source - click on the "description" tab in the right-hand box)

Online facsimile available via: e-codices - Virtual Manuscript Library of Switzerland and in Mirador viewer 

Ab urbe condita (BL Royal MS 15 D VI)

Pierre Bersuire presenting the book to John II, f. 7r.

Colloquial name(s): Ab urbe condita (Les decades de Titus Livius), Livy translated by Pierre Bersuire
Official name(s): British Library Royal MS 15 D VI

Date: 1390-1400 (source)
Origin: Paris(?), Central France (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

Decretals of Gregory IX (BL Royal MS 10 D VII)

Marriage ceremony, f. 233r.

Colloquial name(s): Decretals of Gregory IX, by Raymond of Peñafort, with glossa ordinaria of Bernard of Parma

Official name(s): British Library Royal MS 10 D VII

Date: after 1281-1300 (Part 1); 1300-1324 (Part 2) (source)

Origin: Paris, Central France (Part 1); England (Part 2) (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

Libellus geomancie (BL Royal MS 12 C V)

Astrological table illustration, f. 19v

Colloquial name(s): Libellus geomancie (Book of Astrological Tables)

Official name(s): British Library, Royal MS 12 C V

Date: 1391-1400 (source)

Origin: England (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

Quadripartitum, Centiloquium, medical aphorisms (BL Royal MS 12 F VII)

Ptolemy making a prediction, f. 122r.

Colloquial name(s): Quadripartitum, Centiloquium, medical aphorisms, written by Ptolemy with commentry of Haly Abenrudianus and Johannes filius Mesue

Official name(s): British Library, Royal MS 12 F VII

Date: 1300-1325 (source)

Origin: England (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

Psalter fragments (BL Royal MS 13 D I*)

Historiated initial of the biblical King David with a fool, f. 18r.

Colloquial name(s): Psalter fragments
Official names(s): British Library, Royal MS 13 D I*

Date: 1350-1375 (source)
Origin: England (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

Hardenberg's Codex (GKS 1154 2º)

King and bishop, f. 6r.

Colloquial name(s): Hardenberg's Codex

Official name(s): Det Kongelige Bibliotek GKS 1154 2º

Date: first half of 14th C (ff. 1r-60v), towards end of 14th C (ff. 61r-91v), 16th C (ff. 92r-100v) (source)

Origin: Norway (source)

Online facsimile available via: Det Kongelige Bibliotek e-Manuskripter and Det Kongelige Bibliotek - in both cases, click on the left hand links to see folios.

The Prayer Book of Bonne of Luxembourg (Met. Museum acc. no. 69.86)

The Three Living and the Three Dead, f. 321v and 322r.

Colloquial name(s): The Prayer Book of Bonne of Luxembourg, Duchess of Normandy

Official name(s): The Metropolitan Museum, New York, The Cloisters Collection, accession number 69.86

Date: before 1349 (source)

Origin: Paris, France (source)

Online facsimile available via: Good-quality photographs are available of select pages via the Metropolitan Museum's Online Collections (click on 'additional images' and 'more images').

Lancelot-Grail (BL Add. MS 10292, 10293, 10294 and 10294/1)

Joseph and his father talk to Queen Sarracinte (Seraqueite).
BL Add. 10292, f. 17r.

Colloquial name(s): Lancelot-Grail (The Prose Vulgate Cycle)

Official name(s): British Library Additional MS 10292, 10293, 10294 and 10294/1

Date: 1316 (source, source, source, source)

Origin: N. France (Saint-Omer or Tournai) (source, source, source, source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Digitised Manuscripts - BL Add. MS 10292, 10293, 10294 and 10294/1

The De Lisle Hours (Morgan MS G.50)

The Three Living, f. 6v.

Colloquial name(s): The De Lisle Hours

Official name(s): Pierpont Morgan Library, MS G.50

Date: 1316-1331 (source)

Origin: possibly York, England (source)

Online facsimile available via: Corsair - The Online Catalog of The Pierpont Morgan Library - click on 'Browse CORSAIR for images of this manuscript'

Breviari d'Amor (BL Royal MS 19 C I)

Temptation to sin by fine clothing, f. 203v.

Colloquial name(s): Breviari d'Amor, by Matfre Ermengaud

Official name(s): British Library, Royal MS 19 C I

Date: 1300-1325 (source)

Origin: Occitan/Provencal France (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

The St. Omer Psalter (BL Yates Thompson MS 14)

Jonah and the whale, f. 70v.

Colloquial name(s): The St Omer Psalter

Official name(s): British Library, Yates Thompson MS 14

Date: c. 1330-1340 (source)

Origin: east England (Mulbarton, Norfolk?) (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts and British Library Digitised Manuscripts

La Bible Historiale Complétée (BL Royal MS 1 A XX)

Virgin and Child, f. 23.

Colloquial name(s): La Bible Historiale Complétée, by Guyart des Moulins
Official name(s): British Library, Royal MS 1 A XX

Date: 1312 (source)
Origin: Paris, France (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

The Howard Psalter & The De Lisle Psalter (BL Arundel MS 83)

Lignum vitae (The Tree of Life), based on Bonaventura, f. 13r.

Colloquial name(s): The Howard Psalter (ff. 1r-116v) and The De Lisle Psalter (ff. 117r-135v)

Official name(s): British Library Arundel MS 83

Date: c. 1308-1340 (source)

Origin: East Anglia, England (Howard Psalter) and London(?), England (De Lisle Psalter) (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Digitised Manuscripts

The Book of Kells (TCD MS 58)

F. 1v.

Colloquial name(s): The Book of Kells
Official name(s): Trinity College Dublin MS 58

Date: 9th Century (source)
Origin: scriptorium of the monastery on Iona (source)

Online facsimile available via: Trinity College Dublin Digital Collections

Lancelot du Lac (BL Royal MS 20 D IV)

Galahad, f. 53.

Colloquial name(s): Lancelot du Lac
Official name(s): British Library, Royal MS 20 D IV

Date: 1300-1325 (Part 1); c. 1360-c. 1380 (Part 2) (source)
Origin: NE France (Arras?) (Part 1); Pleshey Castle, S. England (Part 2) (source)

Online fascimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts and British Library full facsimile