Devotional compilation; Western Germany, 15th century, middle or second half

Title

Devotional compilation; Western Germany, 15th century, middle or second half

Shelfmark

MS. Don. e. 250

Associated place

Ehrenbreitstein

Trier

Place of origin

Germany

German, west (?)

German, west

Date

15th century, middle or second half

1399

14th century, late, or 15th century, early

Language

German

Latin

Contents

Form

codex

Physical extent

1 (medieval endleaf) + 159 (34 + 85 + 28 + 12) + 1 (medieval endleaf) leaves

Binding

Original German limp binding, s. xv. Primary link-stitch sewing on a rigid back plate and thick supporting strips of tawed leather through a cover of parchment and a charter (see item 2; further description by Andrew Honey in this volume). Folded parchment sewing guards throughout the quires protect the paper leaves from tearing. The lower cover extends to a fore-edge flap closing with a metal loop and hook clasp that is sewn onto the cover together with a charter (see item 1) and held down by heart-shaped leather patches. The fascicles A–D are originally independent codicological entities. Remaining threads from quire tackets can be seen between fols 41 & 41. The short title on the spine (‘Concord. EV. M.S.’) is probably a later addition since it only refers to the first line of the manuscript on fol. 1r.

Acquisition

Purchased by the Bodleian Library in honour of Nigel F. Palmer.

Provenance

Strasbourg Charterhouse, possibly until its dissolution in 1591, ownership mark on the upper endleaf (fol. ir): ‘Hic libellus spectat ad domum montis beate Marie virginis ordinis carthusiensis prope Argentinam’. The charter used for the pastedown mentions Trier. The fascicles B and C contain watermarks that could also refer to Trier.

139 in blue pencil on the upper (left) pastedown.

Maurice Burrus (1882–1959), Alsace industrialist, tobacco magnate, benefactor and collector.

Christie's, 25 May 2016, lot 25.