Circa 1500 ORIGINAL Illuminated Manuscript Leaf, Vellum, Doubled-Sided

Description

A remarkable thing: A double-sided illuminated manuscript leaf with bright gold decorated floral borders and highlighted capitals. Out of the estate of a local art history professor. Thirty lines of Latin text on animal vellum. You can still see the faint lines meant to guide the writer's hand as he wrote. Possibly French, perhaps around 1500. There is a notation to that effect on the back of the mount. My schoolboy Latin is no longer good enough to translate, but I did recognize the word Psalms(Psalmus). That may be a clue, but someone who still studies Latin would have to help out to determine the Biblical source of the text. Condition is really quite good. Some minor soiling. Mostly along the outer edge, due to repeated page turning. No tears or stains, though there is that waviness peculiar to old vellum. An old inventory number in pencil to the bottom of the reverse. Slight wear/rubbing to the last line on that side as well. Overall though, it's a very well preserved leaf. The page measures approximately 5 1/4 by 7 1/4 inches. The text area, with borders, is about 4 by 6. Please ask any questions you may have; I'd be happy to answer. Shipping is a flat .50 to any of the lower 48 States via USPS Media Mail. I'm sorry, but no International on this item. Finally, if you have a moment, you might want to take a look at my other interesting to rare things up for sale this week. Thank you.