Collection of works by Nikephoros of Constantinople

Title

Collection of works by Nikephoros of Constantinople

Shelfmark

MS. Holkham Gr. 59

Date

1585 (the text is said to be copied from an exemplar of the year 831)

Language

Ancient Greek (to 1453)

Contents

Form

codex

Support

Paper

Physical extent

iii + 728 leaves

Hands

Two scribes: i) fols 1–549r and ii) fols 549v-726 (Λεόντιος Εὐστράτιος of Cyprus, 1584–1585, see marginalia below for his scribal note on fol. 726r, RGK II, 325).

Decoration

Several headpieces in red ink before certain sections, fols 489v; large initial uncial letters in the beginning of chapters, fols 16v, 220r, 227v, 307r, 340r, 489v. After Λεόντιος Εὐστράτιος takes over the initials are significantly smaller in size (fols 550r, 588v, 658r, 679r).

Binding

Typical Holkham binding of brown leather, with Coke family ostrich crest in gilt in the centre of the upper cover; Date: early nineteenth century. Rebound by John Jones of Liverpool (worked for Holkham 1816–1823). The spine lettered in gilt, in pasted black leather: / S. NICEPHORI/ VARIA/ ET/ ALIORUM/ PATRUM/ COLLECTANEA/ GR.–//M.S./ SÆC. /; also in pasted black leather: MS. /HOLKHAM/ Gr. 59

Provenance

Ownership Notes: fol. iii(v): (in red ink) + ὀνησάμην τήνδε τὴν βίβλον παρὰ τοῦ μιχαὴλου μορεζήνου ἀδελφοῦ ἡμετέρου, ὃς ἔσχεν αὐτὴν ἐκ τοῦ νικολάου μαζαράκη, ὡς ἔφη αὐτὸς δωρον αχς. δεκεμβρίω αη; Obtained from Nikolaos Mazarakis by Michael Morezenos, who sold the MS to his brother in 1606, 1st of December.

Old Catalogue Nrs: 1st paste down (in the centre, in pencil): MS. Holkham Gr. 59; fol. i(r) (in pencil); Holk Cat. No 89 4 CI B.8.; fol. iii(v) (on the top in black ink) ΙΒον= Morezenos 12; handwritten note in black ink by B. de Montfaucon: 1698· Codex 33. Nicephori varia et patrum colleactanea ex scripta anno 1546. ex codice exarato anno 831· a Christo ut in fine libri legimus. Giustiniani 33; Olim Holkham Hall, Libr. of the Earl of Leicester, 84.