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University College London

Four Last Things and Other Texts

IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0103 MS GERM 10

Held at: University College London

Title: Four Last Things and Other Texts

Date(s): 1456

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 1 volume containing 104 leaves

Name of creator(s): Unknown

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Unknown.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Manuscript volume, dated 1456, comprising miscellaneous texts:
Von Den Vier Letzen Dingen, or Quatuor Novissima (on the Four Last Things);
poem on death, in Latin and German;
Lehre Aristoteles An Konig Alexander (lesson by Aristotle to King Alexander);
Isidorus;
untitled, beginning: Up eynre anderre stat van/ der gewaire oitmodichgeit ... ;
Klage Des Crucifixus (lament of the Crucifix), verse in German and Latin;
Tafel Des Christlichen Glaubens (table of Christian beliefs);
Gedicht Auf Die Ritterschaft Jesu (poem on the knighthood of Jesus);
three short rhymes in German and Latin;
Messiasbuch (Messiah book).

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: Mainly German (middle Franconian dialect) and some Latin. Gothic cursive hand.

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Open.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Normal copyright restrictions apply.

Physical characteristics:

Paper manuscript bound in pigskin which forms an envelope-like cover, fastening with one brass clasp at front. One hand throughout. Initials in red or blue, or both. Some flourished in red or black. Underlinings in red. 28.5cm.

Finding aids:

Dorothy K Coveney, A Descriptive Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Library of University College London (London, 1935); N R Ker, Medieval Manuscripts in British Libraries, i (London and Oxford, 1969); handlist at University College London Special Collections.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

The manuscript belonged to Sir Thomas Phillipps (1792-1872), baronet, an antiquary and bibliophile whose collection included c60,000 manuscripts of various kinds, some relating to the administration of Swiss towns. Various manuscripts were sold after Sir Thomas's death, some to the German government, and were dispersed to several libraries. Formerly Van Ess MS and Phillipps MS 624.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Presented to University College London in 1910 by Lord Crawford.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Publication note:

R F M Byrn, 'Cordiale manuscript lists' (typescript; copy at University College London Special Collections), extracted from 'The Cordiale-Auszug: a study of Gerard van Vliederhoven's Cordiale de IV novissimis with particular reference to the High German versions' (Leeds University PhD thesis, 1976), examines texts of the Four Last Things, including University College London MS GERM 10, ff 1ra-46vb.

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled by Rachel Kemsley as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.