Leaf from a Psalter transcribed in a formal humanistic minuscule by Pietro Ursuleo of Capua (d. 1483), an accomplished scribe and bishop of Satriano, (in the Calabria region) from 1474 to 1483 (appointed to the archbishopric of Santa Severina 22 Feb 1483 until his death in April). The leaf was ascribed to Pietro Ursuelo by Albinia de la Mare, Bodleian Library, Oxford, in 1982 on discovering the scribe's name in the colophon.

The leaf was acquired by Sir Rex De Charembac Nan Kivell for his collection of miscellaneous manuscripts and documents spanning several centuries accumulated over a number of years from various sources which are not recorded. The material was collected by him as specimens of early calligraphy and/or examples of early documentation. He presented the collection, referred to as the ‘Nan Kivell Calligraphic Collection’, to the National Library of Australia in 1969.

The leaf was probably from a Psalter once in the library of John Boykett Jarman (1782-1864), auctioned by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge 13-14 June 1864 (lot 161). It later passed to London book seller James Tregaskis (1850-1926), and was offered for sale between 1912-1913 (catalogues 717, 720, 743), then in 1916, the manuscript was broken and leaves sold individually (catalogue 777). Now widely dispersed, fragments occasionally appear for sale.

Contents: John the Evangelist 19: 36-42 and colophon providing the name of the scribe “Petrus Ursuleus. Scripsit”.

Decoration: Versal initial in blue. The colophon written in capitals in alternating brown and pale red inks.

• Rose Faunce, 2018
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