Very Large, Exceptionally Fine, and Remarkably Beautiful

FROM AN EXTREMELY LARGE ANTIPHONER IN LATIN.

(Northeastern Italy [Verona or Mantua?]: ca. 1470). 532 x 379 mm. (21 x 15"). Six four-line staves of music with text beneath in a pleasing rounded gothic hand.

Rubrics in red, a variable number of large initials in blue or red with elaborate penwork in red or purple. ◆The usual slight yellowing on the hair side of the leaf, occasional fading of the text, other trivial imperfections, but generally IN EXCEPTIONALLY FINE CONDITION.

These are very well-preserved leaves from an antiphonal (also called an antiphonary or antiphoner), the service book that contains the sung portions of the Divine Office, the cycle of daily devotions performed by members of the clergy and by members of religious orders. All of the leaves offered here come from a large fragment of a one-volume Temporale that would have been part of a vast multi-volume antiphonal. The texts include Saturday offices from the beginning of the year until Easter. Although the leaves show some traces of use, they are generally in a remarkable state, with especially smooth vellum and lovely initials with colorful pen and ink decoration.
(ST12460B)

Price: $175.00