Illuminated Psalter

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Toronto, ON, The Robertson Davies Library at Massey College, Gurney Pam 0008

General Information

Title Illuminated Psalter
Shelfmarks Gurney Pam 0008
Page/Folio Reference 4 Bifolia, 8 Leaves
Material Parchment
Place of Origin England
Date of Origin c. 1210-1230
Persons James Armytage (autograph)
Script, Hands

Protogothic book hand. 

General Remarks

Psalms 77-83; 88; 90-91; 118; 131-133. Written in one column of 24 lines, above line; text vertically ruled in dry-point, horizontal rules in green with three sets of double horizontal rules extending to edge of leaf in green crayon. Outer bounding vertical rules in red crayon. Prickings in outer margins. 

Original Condition

Page Height 310 mm
Page Width 212 mm
Height of Written Area 195 mm
Width of Written Area 115 mm
Number of Columns 1
Width of Columns 115 mm
Number of Lines 24
Line Height 9 mm
Ruling yes
Numbering

4 Bifolia, 8 Leaves, 16 pages

Current Condition

Dimensions 310 x 212 mm
More about the Current Condition

Gathering disbound. Parchment is dark with age; decorations are faded. With small burn holes throughout. 

Book Decoration and Musical Notation

Description

2-line illuminated Psalm initials, flourished in red. Verse initials in alternating red and blue flourished in blue and red respectively. Line fillers: red stylized foliate and geometric patterns. 

History

Origin

Possibly produced in England, c. 1170-1220.

Provenance

St. Alban's Psalter. 

Numerous inscriptions in ms. in an early modern hand by James Armytage, e.g. "James Armytage is name and with pen I wrote ye same and if my pen hade been any better I would have mended ev'ry letter / little is the robinet but less is the ren it is my writing but wors is my pen".

Persons and Institutions Benedictine Abbey of St. Albans

Bibliography

  • Ker, N.R., The History of the Book in the West, 89-92.