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

This psalter is famous for its large round map of the world, on f. 9r. It consists of a psalter with additional hymns and prayers, in addition to the map, plus some miniatures that have been added (ff. 3r-8r) (source). It is known to have been written after 1262 as the calendar includes the feast of Richard of Chichester on 3rd April (source). It is considered to have been made in London or Winchester due to the original entries in the calendar that were later erased (ff. 10v-16v) and the style of illumination (source). However, the litany does include Worcester saints (source). The map is considered to have perhaps been copied from a wall map in the palace of Henry III (b. 1207, d. 1272) at Westminster (source).

The manuscript contains a number of historiated initials marking the major divisions of Psalms, in addition to the six full-page miniatures that were added to the front. The historiated initials are considered to be similar in style to the work of the Sarum Master and the artist of the Stockholm Psalter (source).

A complete list and description of the miniatures are provided by the British Library and are as follows:

3v	The Adoration of the Magi.
4r	The Nativity, with Mary sleeping and Christ in a chalice-shaped manger.
5v	The Resurrection, with Christ stepping out of the tomb.
6r	The Crucifixion, with Mary and Mary Magdelene.
7v	The Annunciation.
8r	Christ in Majesty.
18r	Historiated initial containing David harping.
39v	Historiated initial containing a kneeling man pointing at his eyes.
54v	Historiated initial containing a pilgrim with a staff.
68r	Historiated initial containing a man (Saul) falling on his sword to commit suicide, with two devils on his back.
68v	Historiated initial containing a fool standing before a seated man.
82v	Historiated initial containing Jonah coming out of the whale, in the nude, clutching a branch.
100r	Historiated initial containing Christ between two angels (above), two musicians (below).
116v	Historiated initial containing three clerics singing before a lectern.
118v	Historiated initial containing a Benedictine monk kneeling at an altar with Christ leaning down from above.