IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0096 MS 541
Held at: Senate House Library, University of London
Title: Missal (incomplete)
Date(s): c1300-c1350
Level of description: Collection (fonds)
Extent: 1 volume containing 15 leaves
Name of creator(s): Unknown
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The missal is a book which contains the prayers said by the priest at the altar as well as all that is officially read or sung in connection with the offering of the holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the ecclesiastical year.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Part of a missal of Paris use (?), made in France and containing prefaces and Canon of the Mass. Includes prefaces for Christmas, Epiphany (ending imperfectly), Passion Sunday (beginning imperfectly), Easter (ending imperfectly), Ascension (beginning imperfectly), Pentecost, Trinity, and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Folio 11 has two historiated initials, each on a diapered ground showing a priest, attended by an acolyte, at the offertory and at the elevation, and folio 12v has an historiated initial in similar style; its two figures are said to symbolise the Church and the Synagogue.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: Latin. Written in a large gothic script.
System of arrangement:
Single item.
Conditions governing access:
Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.
Physical characteristics:
8½" x 6¼". Written on vellum with rubrics in red, and gold initials with dark blue penwork decoration and blue with red. There are also historiated initials, enclosed in a decorated border of colours and gold somewhat cropped. There are traces of medieval foliation on the versos.The 20th century binding is by Sangorski and Sutcliffe of London: older parchment covers are bound in.
Finding aids:
See N.R.Ker, Medieval manuscripts in British Libraries: I, London (1969).
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
The original vellum covers contain an armorial stamp. The manuscript was sold by A. Gerson at Hodgson's on 9 July 1953, and was bought by the University of London Library from Mr.T.S.Blakeney in 1961. For further details about the fragment and its earlier provenance see Mr.Blakeney's own notes within the manuscript.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
Related material:
Publication note:
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Archivist's note: Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.
Date(s) of descriptions: Sep 2001