A 12th Century Peter Lombard Leaf, Nearly Contemporaneous with the Writing of the "Sentences" Itself

WITH TEXT IN LATIN FROM THE "SENTENTIAE" OF PETER LOMBARD.

A MEDIEVAL ILLUMINATED VELLUM MANUSCRIPT LEAF, RECOVERED FROM A BINDING.

(Germany(?): late 12th or early 13th century). 335 x 224 mm. (13 1/4 x 8 7/8"). Double column, 29 lines, in an elegant proto-gothic book hand.

Rubrics in red, 11 two- to three-line initials in red. Recovered from a binding and so the vellum creased and soiled (the verso more soiled than the recto), but everything entirely legible, and a substantial leaf from a once handsome manuscript that remains in pleasing condition.

Later serving as a cover for a book, this leaf comes from a nearly contemporaneous copy of Peter Lombard's "Sentences," considered the most important theological book of the 12th century. Written between 1155 and 1158 and arranged topically, Lombard's "Sententiae" summarize past learning about Christian doctrine by quoting authorities in an attempt to resolve textual disagreement by dialectical analysis. As a source collection that continued to spark discussion, Lombard's great work enjoyed sustained success as a theological textbook until the 17th century and inspired numerous commentaries, including those of Aquinas and Luther. This leaf comes from Book IV, "On the Doctrine of Signs," which is primarily concerned with the seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. The script is an upright and very legible proto-gothic book hand with a few distinctive letter forms and abbreviations that may help determine a more definitive point of origin (these include a "g" with a downward cross on its tail, and a conjoined "qe" for "que"). It is unusual (and very lucky) that this leaf survives completely intact, as Medieval manuscripts used in later bindings were often cut down in size to make smaller covers or used as waste paper for pastedowns or other binding elements. (ST20837d)

Price: $3,000.00