Missale Herbipolense

F-7rxv

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

Remarks by the Editor

Note from Otto Ege:

The Missal has been for many centuries one of the most important liturgical books of the Roman Catholic Church. It contains all the directions, in rubrics and texts, necessary for the performance of the mass throughout the year. The text frequently varied considerably according to locality. This particular manuscript was written by Benedictine monks for the Parochial School of St. John the Baptist in Würzburg shortly after 1300 A.D.

The musical notation is the rare type which is a transition between the early neumes and the later Gothic or horseshoe nail notation. The "C" line of the staff is indicated by that letter, and the "F" simply by a diamond, an unusual method. The bold initial letters in red and blue are "built up" letters; first the outlines were made with a quill and then afterward the areas were colored with a brush.

Note: this was dated by Scott Gwara as 1325. 

General Information

Title Missale Herbipolense
Material Parchment
Place of Origin Würzburg, Germany
Date of Origin 1325
Script, Hands

Northern Textualis

Original Condition

Page Height 360 mm
Page Width 257 mm
Height of Written Area 289 mm
Width of Written Area 190 mm
Number of Columns 2
Width of Columns 80 – 90 mm
Number of Lines 30 – 32
Line Height 5 – 7 mm
Ruling Yes

Current Condition

Dimensions 360 x 257 mm
More about the Current Condition

Ruling visible. Pricking holes on the left side where sewn are visible. On the recto there is a tear which was stitched but the stitches are vanishing. It measures at 37 mm diagonally at the bottom right of the recto. Smudge or dirt on recto mid-page on the right side. 

Book Decoration and Musical Notation

Description

On recto there are 8 initials alternating between red and blue. They are inconsistent in sizing. Interspersed red lettering and the majority of text is black. 

On verso there are 7 initials, most smaller than on the recto. Three initials here are done in brown-black ink with minor details in red. 

  • Musical Notation

    Neumes are on both sides of the leaf (see Ege's note above)

  • Bibliography

    • Gwara, Scott. Otto Ege’s Manuscripts : A Study of Ege’s Manuscript Collections, Portfolios, and Retail Trade : With a Comprehensive Handlist of Manuscripts Collected or Sold. De Brailes Publishing, 2013.