Rutland Psalter (BL Add. MS 62925)

July (reaping), f. 4r.

Colloquial name(s): Rutland Psalter

Official name(s): British Library, Additional MS 62925

Date: c. 1260

Origin: London(?), England

Online facsimile available via: British Library Digitised Manuscripts

This psalter is thought to have been made c. 1260, probably commissioned by the family of Edmund de Lacy, second Earl of Lincoln (b. c. 1230, d. 1258) as his obit is added to the calendar for 24th May (source). Several more obits were added later, including one for Richard de Talbot, second Baron Talbot (b. c. 1306, d. 1356), one for William Vaux, Sherriff of Northamptonshire and MP for Northamptonshire (b. c. 1410, d. 1460), one for Henry Gairstang (d. 1464), one for John Hawghe, Justice of the Common Pleas (d. 1488/9) and one for John Clifton, Prior of Reading Abbey 1486-90 (source).

The manuscript is illustrated with 7 full- or partial-page miniatures in gold and colours, 8 historiated initials and 24 calendar roundels of the signs of the zodiac and labours of the month (source). In the 15th Century, a Volvelle compass was added to f. 7r (source).

Basic descriptions of the images are provided by the British Library with the facsimile.