Monastic prayerbook in Latin C15th, Italian.

Monastic Prayerbook In Latin, decorated manuscript on vellum
[Italy (perhaps Brescia), 15th century]

Dimensions
153 x 105 mm

Description
123 leaves (plus a modern paper endleaf at each end), wants leaves at beginning (including a Calendar if one originally opened the book) and end, collation: i7 (wants first leaf), ii-vii8, viii4 (but without losses to
text), ix-xvi8, catchwords throughout, text in double column of 25 lines of a small late gothic bookhand, with some ornamental penwork cadels in upper margin, one- and 2-line initials in alternate red and blue,
larger initials in red and blue panels with penwork in same colours, a few spaces left for initials.

Condition
Darkened at edges through use, some areas of ink flaking away from pages, discoloured and slightly cockled throughout, evidently missing leaves at front and back and kept disbound for some time: with leaves at each end discoloured (that at front worse, with blank margin of first leaf torn away), overall fair and legible condition.

Text
The volume comprises: a Psalter; prayers and a Litany of saints; readings for various Canonical Hours and the feasts of various saints (SS. Martin, Catherine and Andrew); Canticles (ending abruptly).

Provenance
1. Written for use in 15th-century Italy. The absence of a Calendar robs us of much that might localise the book more precisely, but the presence of St. Gaudentius (bishop of Brescia until his death in 410) in the Litany might suggest an origin there.
2. In the library of the Jesuits of Turin (founded 1567) by the 18th century: their ex libris marks at heads of first leaf (“Collegii Taurinensi Soc. Jesu …”).
3. Sold by Leo S. Olschki of Lucignano, in June 1982.