Selections: Manuscripts, Incunabula, and Later Texts
Explore manuscripts and printed materials ranging from the 13th to 20th centuries
Bible leaf, Vulgate Kings 1 vv. 21-22. Bible leaf, Vulgate Kings 1 vv. 21-22. (ca.1250) by Catholic ChurchJames Madison University
Page Repairs
The repair to the cover of this page was rather crudely done with a heavier piece of vellum, a wide overlap for the adhesive, and an attempt to "speckle" the surface. A sensitive repair would have been made with a lighter weight tissue toned to match the adjacent vellum.
Latin Antiphonary leaf, texts from Psalms and the Book of Matthew. Latin Antiphonary leaf, texts from Psalms and the Book of Matthew. (ca.1350) by Catholic ChurchJames Madison University
14th century Italian Psalter leaf, from a small 14th century Italian psalter. 14th century Italian Psalter leaf, from a small 14th century Italian psalter. (ca.1350) by Catholic ChurchJames Madison University
15th century Breviary. 15th century Breviary. (ca.1400) by Catholic ChurchJames Madison University
15th century Breviary leaf. 15th century Breviary leaf. (ca.1400) by Catholic ChurchJames Madison University
Book of Hours leaf 1. Book of Hours leaf 1. (ca.1460) by Catholic ChurchJames Madison University
Book of Hours leaf, Hours of the Holy Spirit. Book of Hours leaf, Hours of the Holy Spirit. (ca.1470) by Catholic ChurchJames Madison University
Burgundian Psalter leaf. Burgundian Psalter leaf. (ca.1472) by Catholic ChurchJames Madison University
Psalter bifolium of a liturgical psalter, with text from the Vulgate. Psalter bifolium of a liturgical psalter, with text from the Vulgate. (1400) by Catholic ChurchJames Madison University
Passion Week Missal, single bifolium. Passion Week Missal, single bifolium. (1450) by Catholic ChurchJames Madison University
Gratian Decretum leaf. Gratian Decretum leaf. (1475) by Nicolas Jenson and GratianJames Madison University
Illumination
An illumination is a hand-drawn and painted illustration often highlighted with gold leaf (as seen in the frame around the ornamental letter Q). Illuminations can depict narrative scenes from the text, include symbols, or be purely decorative in nature.
Sententiarum libri IV Sententiarum libri IV (1481/1492) by Anton Koberger and Peter LombardJames Madison University
Burgundian Psalter leaf 1. Burgundian Psalter leaf 1. (ca.1472) by Catholic ChurchJames Madison University
Page Preparation
This page was prepared for both text and illumination. The lines were underscored with red markings and floral ornamentation has been sketched along the border.
Catena aurea super quattour evangelistas, two single leaves Catena aurea super quattour evangelistas, two single leaves (1476) by Michael Wenssler and Saint Thomas AquinasJames Madison University
Latin Antiphonary leaf including text from Psalm 32:1 and John 14:9. Latin Antiphonary leaf including text from Psalm 32:1 and John 14:9. (ca.1550) by Catholic ChurchJames Madison University
Biblia Hebraica, Antwerp Polyglot. Biblia Hebraica, Antwerp Polyglot. (1584) by Sante Pagnini, Christophe Plantin, and Benito Arias MontanoJames Madison University
A catholike and ecclesiasticall exposition of the Holy Gospell after S. John, single leaf. A catholike and ecclesiasticall exposition of the Holy Gospell after S. John, single leaf. (1575) by Thomas Tymme and Thomas MarsheJames Madison University
Book of Hours, single leaf. Book of Hours, single leaf. (ca.1530) by Catholic ChurchJames Madison University
Missal with four leaves. Missal with four leaves. (1570) by Christopher Plantin and Catholic ChurchJames Madison University
Actes and Monuments leaf, at head: "K. Henry. 8" Actes and Monuments leaf, at head: "K. Henry. 8" (1576) by John Day and I. FoxeJames Madison University
Bible, Matthew's Version leaf. Bible, Matthew's Version leaf. (1549) by William Tyndale, John Rogers, John Day, William Seres, and Edmund BeckeJames Madison University
Foxe and Young Actes and Monuments leaf. Foxe and Young Actes and Monuments leaf. (1631) by Robert Young and John FoxeJames Madison University
Documents are housed by James Madison University's Special Collections. Contact Special Collections at library-special@jmu.edu.
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