Meetings 2002

John Mustain: An evening in the Stanford University libraries' special collections: medieval treasures and other delights

16 January 2002

The following notes by John Mustain were provided to accompany our visit to Stanford libraries special collections.

1. Nicholas, of Lyra, ca. 1270-1349. Postilla super Librum Psalmorum. [Germany, later 15th cent.].

• In Latin; Gothic book hand. Nicholas of Lyra was a French Franciscan friar, theologian, and professor at the Sorbonne. The colophon on the last page of this manuscript assigns the original date for the work as 1326. The scriptural commentaries of Nicholas became the authoritative interpretation of the Bible throughout Europe.

2. Borghesi, Niccolò, 1432-1500. Divae Catharinae Senensis Vita. [Florence, 1500].

• In Latin, humanistic semi-cursive script.Borghesi was a member of a Sienese patrician family; he claimed that St. Catherine was of his family, the Benincasa. He was active in Siena politics, taught poetry and rhetoric in the university, and wrote the biographies of several saints. He dedicated this work to Agostino Barbarigo, the 74th Doge of Venice. This manuscript is the working copy used by the Venetian printer Giovanni Tacuine for the first printed edition (1501) of Sanctae Catharinae Senensis; it contains notations by the men who prepared it for printing.

3. Dante Alighieri, 1265-1321. Comento di Christophoro Landino fiorentino sopra La comedia di Danthe Alighieri poeta fiorentino. Impressi i[n] Venesia : P[er] Bernardino Benali & Matthio da Parma ..., del. CCCLXXXXI. adi iii. Marzo [3 Mar. 1491]

• Edited by Pietro da Figino; text surrounded by extensive commentary.

4. Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo. Aurelij Augustini De Ciuitate Dei Confectum Venetijs: Ab ... Nicolao Ienson, Petro Momenicho principe, anno a natiuitate Domini milesimo quadringe[n]tesimo septuagesimo quinto sexto nonas Octobres [2 Oct. 1475].

• Printed by Nicolas Jenson.

5. Boethius, d. 524. Auitij Maulij Torquati Seuerini Boetij Ordinarij Patricij Viri Exconsulis De consolatione Ph[ilosoph]ie Liber Primus Incipit. [Nuremberg]: Anthonij Kobergers ciuis inclyte Nure[m]bergensiu[m] vrbis industria fabrefactus ..., anno a Natiuitate [Christ]i millesimo cccclxxxvj. in vigilia Sancti Iohannis Baptiste [23 June1486].

6. Castiglione, Baldassarre, conte, 1478-1529. Il libro del cortegiano. [Venetia: Nelle case d'aldo Romano, & d'Andrea d'Asola, 1528].

• The most famous courtesy book of the Renaissance, published by the most famous publishing house of the Renaissance.

7. Catholic Church. Horae. [Tournai, 1486 or 1497].

• In Latin and French, Gothic minuscule script.
• The veneration of Mary was one of the most popular expressions of faith and devotion in the Middle Ages and her prayer book, the Book of Hours, was a favorite of lay persons throughout Europe. Many copies were executed by the finest artists of the period and were viewed among the rich as status symbols.
• Included are the following parts: Calendar, Hours of the Cross, Hours of the Holy Ghost, Hours of the Virgin, Office of the Dead, Penitential Psalms, Lessons from the Four Gospels, Litany of the Saints, and Diverse prayers. There are five miniatures and twenty large initials done in the Franco-Flemish style which followed the school of the brothers Van Eyck; the illumination also shows the influence of the School of Fouquet.

8. Catholic Church. Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis. [Ghent, latter half of 15th cent.].

• Books of Hours, derived from the Church's liturgy, were used by lay persons as personal prayer books to. In Latin, with annotations in Flemish. Gothic minuscule script in three hands.

9. Ruskin, John, 1819-1900. The Nature of Gothic: a chapter of the Stones of Venice. [Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1892].

10. Sandford, Francis, 1630-1694. The History of the coronation of the most high, most mighty, and most excellent monarch, James II: by the grace of God, king of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c., and of his royal consort Queen Mary: solemnized in the collegiate church of St. Peter in the city of Westminster, on Thursday the 23 of April, being the festival of St. George, in the year of Our Lord 1685. [London]: In the Savoy: Printed by Thomas Newcomb ..., 1687.

• Our copy includes the rare plate featuring the coronation of William III and Mary.

11. [Bede] Eusebius, of Caesarea, Bishop of Caesarea, ca. 260-ca. 340. Ecclesiastica historia Diui Eusebii. Et Ecclesiastica Historia Gentis Anglorum Venerabilis Bede …. Imp[re]ssi i[n] inclyta ciuitate Argentinen[se] ...: [Georg Husner], anno salutis n[ost]re [1500] xiiij. die Marcij. Contents: Tabula (leaves pi2r-pi6r)--Ecclesiastica historia diui Eusebii; (leaves a1r-o8r)-- Ecclesiastica historia gentis Anglorum Venerabilis Bede.

• The printer, Georg Hussner, reprinted the texts of Eusebius and Bede from their first appearance in print, an edition issued perhaps between 1475 and 1480, possibly in Strassbourg.

12. Bede, the Venerable, Saint, 673-735. Ecclesiasticae historiae gentis Anglorum libri quinque: diligenti studio a mendis, quibus hactenus scatebant, vindicati. Antuerpiae: Excudebat Ioannes Grauius typographus, 1550.

• John de Grave's edition, which features a text much-improved from the editions of 1500 and earlier. This edition draws on manuscripts that include the Bedae Continuatio (known to survive in at least eight manuscripts), with Bede's epitaph and death date at end. This is the first printing of the Continuatio. This text was reprinted in 1566 and 1601, but both of the reprints are in a smaller format, and do not have the presence of this lovely folio printing. De Grave's editorial efforts include his written hope that this proof of the existence of Christianity in England might discomfit those who think they can "reform" it: Protestants should proceed at their peril.

13. Bede, the Venerable, Saint, 673-735. The history of the Chvrch of England. Compiled by Venerable Bede, Englishman. Translated out of Latin in to English by Thomas Stapleton …. Imprinted at Antwerp by Iohn Laet, 1565.

• “Stapleton was a controversialist, born at Henfield, Sussex, July, 1535; he died at Louvain, 12 Oct., 1598. On Elizabeth's accession he left England rather than conform to the new religion, going first to Louvain, and afterwards to Paris, to study theology. In 1563, being in England, he was summoned by the Anglican bishop Barlow to repudiate the pope's authority, but refused and was deprived of the prebend of Woodhorne in Chichester, conferred on him in 1558. He then retired to Louvain with his father and other relatives. In 1568 he went to Douai and took part in founding the English college there, both by lecturing and by devoting to its support his salary as lecturer in theology at Anchin College.”–The Catholic Encyclopedia online.

14. Bede, the Venerable, Saint, 673-735. Historiae ecclesiasticae gentis Anglorum libri quinque / auctore sancto & venerabili Baeda presbytero Anglo-Saxone; una cum reliquis ejus operibus historicis in unum volumen collectis; cura et studio Johannis Smith, S.T.P. et ecclesiae Dunelmensis non ita pridem canonici. Cantabrigiae: Typis Academicis, 1722.

• In Latin and Anglo-Saxon. Includes King Alfred's Saxon version of the Ecclesiastical History. This was the fine work of John Smith, canon of Durham (1659-1715), who rigorously rejected later manuscripts tainted by error, and went back to the earlier and more correct texts. By good fortune, John Moore, Bishop of Ely, acquired what is still known today as the Moore ms. in time for Smith to use it; with the Moore ms. and two early Cottonian manuscripts, Smith produced a monumental work of scholarship, beautifully printed (please note the quality of the Anglo-Saxon typefaces), published in 1722 by Smith's son George in Cambridge.

15. Palladio, Andrea, 1508-1580. L'architettura di Andrea Palladio divisa in quattro libri, ne' quali, dopo un breve trattato de' cinque ordini, et di quelli avertimenti, ch[e] sono piu necessarij nel fabricare; si tratta delle case private, delle vie, dei ponti, delle piazze, del xisti, et de tempij. Venetia: Appresso M. A. Brogiollo, 1642.

16. Ortelius, Abraham, 1527-1598. Theatrvm Orbis Terrarvm: Opus nunc denuo ab ipso Auctore recognitum, multisquáe locis castigatum, & quamplurimis nouis Tabulis atque Commentarijs auctum. [Antverpiae: Ex Officina Plantiniana, 1595].

17. [Collection of seventeen Greek and Latin texts printed in Paris in the sixteenth century for the use of students]. [1543-1553].

• Various portions of classical texts issued as pamphlets for the use of students; wide margins and generous spaces between lines of text for annotations.

18. Schedel, Hartmann, 1440-1514. Epitoma operu[m] sex dieru[m] de mu[n]di fabrica. [Nuremberg]: Hunc librum dominus Anthonius Koberger Nuremberge impressit ... consummatu[m] autem duodecima mensis Iulij anno salutis n[ost]r[a]e 1493 [12 July 1493].

• The Nuremburg Chronicle; illustrated by Michael Wolgemut, Wilhelm Pleydenwurff, and Albrecht Durer. Cf. Wilson, Adrian. The Making of the Nuremberg Chronicle, 1976, p. 193ff.

19. Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400. The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, now newly imprinted. [Hammersmith: William Morris at Kelmscott Press, 1896].

• Bound at The Doves Bindery, 1896, in full white pigskin, blind-stamped. The Kelmscott Chaucer.

20. [Caxton] Kurtz, Benjamin Putman, 1678- An Original Leaf from the Polycronicon Printed by William Caxton at Westminster in the Year 1482: the life and works of William Caxton, with an historical reminder of fifteenth century England, by Benjamin P. Kurtz; together with A note on the Polycronicon, by Oscar Lewis and An appreciation of William Caxton, by Edwin Grabhorn. San Francisco: Printed by the Grabhorn Press for the Book Club of California, 1938.

21. Virgil. Uergilius cum co[m]me[n]tarijs [et] figures …. [Venice]: Impressa vero Venetiis su[m]ma diligentia per Gregorium de Gregoriis; Impensis vero D. Lucae Antonii de Guinta, anno a natiuitate Seruatoris Nostri 1522 die xx mensis Nouembris.

• References: Sander 7664.Kallendorf, C. Bibliography Venetian editions Virgil, 58. With woodcuts after the famous illustrations of the 1502 Strassbourg edition.

22. Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de, 1547-1616. The history and adventures of the renowned Don Quixote translated from the Spanish of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra; to which is prefixed, some account of the author's life by T. Smollett, M. D.; illustrated with twenty-eight new copper-plates, designed by Hayman, and engraved by the best artists; in two volumes. London: Printed for A. Millar ... [and 5 others], 1755.

23. Virgil. Bucolics, Georgics, and the Aeneid. [Florence, latter half of the 15th century.].

• In Latin, cursive humanistica script by Johannes Urbanus.

24. Purcell, Henry, 1659-1695. Te Deum & Jubilate for voices and instruments made for St. Cecilia’s Day, 1694.

• Original manuscript, signed. 22 leaves.

25. Purcell, Henry, 1659-1695. Te Deum & Jubilate for voices and instruments made for St. Cecilia’s Day, 1694. London: Printed by J. Heptinstall …, 1697.

• First edition; published after Purcell’s death.

26. Anderson, James. Selectus Diplomatum & Numismatum Scotiae Thesaurus. Edinburgi: Apud Tho. & Walt. Ruddimannos [etc., etc.]. 1739.

• A magnificent collection, featuring Scottish seals, charters, muniments, antiquarian scripts, and alphabets, all beautifully engraved by John Sturt. Anderson (1662-1728) was an antiquary, genealogist, and historian, was asked by the Scottish Parliament just before the 1707 union to research and publish a collection of national documents. Anderson died before completing this ambitious project, and Thomas Ruddiman finished it. This was the last work of the famed engraver John Sturt, who achieved many triumphs in engraving during his career, including his engravings for John Ayres’ works on calligraphy and he 1717 Book of Common Prayer engraved on silver plates. Sturt was purportedly able to create engravings legible only under magnification. A monumental work, beautifully-produced.

27. Church of England. The form and order of the service that is to be performed, and of the ceremonies that are to be observed, in the coronation of Their Majesties King George III and Queen Charlotte: in the Abbey Church of S. Peter, Westminster, on Tuesday the 22d of September, 1761. London: Printed by Mark Baskett ... and by the assigns of Robert Baskett, 1761.

28. Thomson, James, 1700-1748. The seasons …. Illustrated with engravings by F. Bartolozzi ... and P.W. Tomkins, historical engravers to Their Majesties; from original pictures painted for the work by W. Hamilton .… London: Printed for P.W.Tomkins; letter-press by T. Bensley, 1797.

• The most lavishly-illustrated edition of one of the most popular works of the 18^th century.

29. Price, Francis, d. 1753. A series of particular and useful observations, made with great diligence and care, upon that admirable structure, the cathedral-church of Salisbury. Calculated for the use and amusement of gentlemen, and curious persons, as well as for the assistance of such artists as may be employed in buildings of the like kind …. London: Printed by C. and J. Ackers; and sold by R. Baldwin, 1753.

30. Jones, Inigo, 1573-1652. The most notable antiquity of Great Britain, vulgarly called Stone-Heng on Salisbury Plain …. London: Printed by J. Flesher for D. Pakeman, 1655. Edited by John Webb.

31. Keats, John, 1795-1821. Selected poems. Ms., ca. 1921.

• Designed, written out, and illuminated by Alberto Sangorski, and bound by Zaehnsdorf. One of the many high points of the Book Arts Revival in England.

32. Ackermann, Rudolph, 1764-1834. A picturesque tour of the English lakes: containing a description of the most romantic scenery of Cumberland, Westmoreland and Lancashire with accounts of antient and modern manners and customs, and elucidations of the history and antiquities of that part of the country, &c., &c.: illustrated with forty-eight coloured views drawn by Messrs. T.H. Fielding and J. Walton during a two years' residence among the lakes. London: Printed for R. Ackermann ..., 1821.

• One of the great plate books of the 19^th century.

33. Dugdale, William, Sir, 1605-1686. Monasticon Anglicanum: a history of the abbies and other monasteries, hospitals, frieries, and cathedral and collegiate churches, with their dependencies, in England and Wales; also of all such Scotch, Irish, and French monasteries, as were in any manner connected with religious houses in England ... Originally pub. in Latin by Sir William Dugdale .… [New ed., enriched with a large accession of materials …]. London: J. Bohn, 1846.

• "This new edition of the Monasticon has been reprinted from that edited in 1817, by Messrs. Caley, Ellis and Bandinel." Originally published in 3 vols. under the joint authorship of Roger Dodsworth and Sir William Dugdale, London, 1655-73. A continuation in 2 vols. was published London, 1722-23, under title: "The history of the antient abbeys, monasteries, hospitals, cathedral and collegiate churches. Being 2 additional volumes to Sir William Dugdale's Monasticon Anglicanum ... By John Stevens." cf. Preface.

34. Horn, Walter William, 1908- The plan of St. Gall: a study of the architecture & economy of, & life in a paradigmatic Carolingian monastery/ by Walter Horn and Ernest Born … Berkeley : University of California Press, 1979.