Aurora in Latin

F-3f4b

Toronto, ON, The Robertson Davies Library at Massey College, Gurney FF 0001

Remarks by the Editor

Note by Otto Ege: This famous paraphrase of the Bible in Latin verse was one of the most popular Latin books of poetry of the late 12th and 13th century. Petrus de Riga, who died in 1209, began it. Aegidius of Paris finished it. This version did not appear in printed form until a very late date, despite its popularity. The format of this page, twice as long as it is wide, demonstrates the English custom of folding the skins lengthwise. The practice of setting off by a space the initial letter of each line also helps to give the page an unusual appearance. It is written in a very small script, six lines to an inch, in a hand characteristic of Northern France and England at this period.

General Information

Title Aurora in Latin
Material Parchment
Place of Origin England
Date of Origin Early 13th Century
Script, Hands

Early Gothic Script

Original Condition

Page Height 220 – 230 mm
Page Width 113 – 115 mm
Height of Written Area 190 mm
Width of Written Area 51 – 70 mm
Number of Columns 1
Width of Columns 51 – 70 mm
Number of Lines 47
Line Height 3 mm
Ruling Yes (faded)

Current Condition

Dimensions 225 x 113
More about the Current Condition

MS was cut unevenly making one side taller than the other. On recto top right corner is written the number "38" in pencil. Parchment in good condition some dirt present on the margins from handling. Hair side on the recto. 

Book Decoration and Musical Notation

Description

Recto has two colour initials in Red and Blue with a minimal brown decoration mid-page. Verso has five inials in blue and red alternating with ornaments. The ink is light brown in the main text.