THIRTEENTH CENTURY ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT BIBLE 

FROM THE PHILLIPPS COLLECTION

France, 13^thCentury

Unusually Well-Preserved Specimen of an Early Manuscript Bible in Folio

BIBLE. Sapiential Books, Glossed. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Wisdom and the Song of Songs. France, 13th Century (Potentially Late Twelfth). COMPLETE. Folio (335mm x 239mm) on vellum (180 leaves). Finely bound in straight grained black morocco with gilt paneled side by W.J. Mansell.

Item Description: This is a fine manuscript of the late twelfth to early thirteen century, written in a bold hand with numerous capital letters and illumination.  Initial letters finely painted in red and blue, and very many smaller capitals executed in the same style. The text contains broad margins, on some of which extensive notes are written in a very neat hand. In a most excellent state of preservation throughout.  

On the last leaf, written in a 15th century hand, is the account of how the Abbey of Royaumont acquired this manuscript. The notation reads: "This book was acquired by brother Gille of the Royal Abbey of Royaumont from Jehan Guymier, library of Paris by exchange made with him of four books of Kings and of Luke and John, glossed, which were duplicates in the library of Royaumont and did not have an equal in the present. Done in the month of February in the year 1458."

At the conclusion of the biblical text, the manuscript contains a medieval sermon on the Martyrdom of St. Andrew ("But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful life, went forward voluntarily to the torment."). For the possible significance of this sermon, see M. Hugo's work entitled "The Dispersion of the Manuscripts of Royaumont II: Gilles de Roye," (Revue Bénédictine, CXV, 2005, pp. 205–10).

Historical Provenance: A note on the last leaf of this volume indicates that it was acquired by the Abbot of Royaumont in 1459, who exchanged it for 4 duplicate manuscripts from the monastery library. It was later acquired by Sir Thomas Phillipps and is twice entered in his catalogue as Nos. 4734 and 20567. It has the initials of Thomas Fitzroy Fenwick, with the date 1894. Fenwick was Phillipps' grandson. 

Purchased by Nichols at the Phillipps Sale in 1895, other owners include Michael Tomikson and Dr. Eric Millar, collector of medieval manuscripts, and Keeper of Manuscripts at the British Museum. There are a number of relevant papers accompanying the book, the work of previous scholars, included a fine letter to Millar written by Tim Munby, author of Phillipps Studies (1950).  

This manuscript sells with an extensive and verifiable provenance from February of 1459 to 2017 - a remarkable span of over five hundred and fifty years. The highly detailed provenance of this volume is indicative of both its value and significance. 

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