Details

Subject(s)

• Bible New Testament—Commentaries—Early works to 1800 [Browse]
• Manuscripts, Byzantine—New Jersey—Princeton [Browse]

Related name

• Princeton University. Library. Manuscript. Garrett MS. 1 [Browse]

Donor

• Garrett, Robert, 1875-1961 [Browse]

Rare books genre

• Parchment (Paper) [Browse]
• Wooden boards (Binding) [Browse]
• Headbands (Binding) [Browse]

Getty AAT genre

• illuminations (paintings) [Browse]
• Illuminated manuscripts—10th century [Browse]
• headpieces (layout features) [Browse]
• tailpieces (layout features) [Browse]
• initials (layout features) [Browse]
• Manuscripts, Greek—10th century [Browse]

Summary note

Gospels of the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Notes

• Ms. codex.
• Title from printed catalog.
• Collation: Parchment ; fol. iv + 152 + iv ; foliation in dark brown ink (19th century?) in numerals.
• Layout: 37-38 lines in cruciform (12+10+16) per page ; hardpoint ruling ; prick-marks visible in outer margins ; fol. 75r is written in two columns.
• Description: Written in dark brown ink by a single scribe ; red ink for titles, some poems, and the liturgical indications ; a different hand of the same period, in a slightly sloping pointed majuscule script, added a text of pseudo-Basil the Great on the formerly blank fol. 74v ; marginal notes, liturgical references, and pen-trials in various hands ; on fol. 46v a 13th- or 14th-century hand completed the verses for Matthew in minuscule script written in brown ink ; it was adopted for liturgical use from the outset, as the same hand wrote both the text and the liturgical indications ; the poems to the evangelists were written in carmine ink, apparently after the tailpieces were painted (see fols. 75v, 123v) ; the dark rose is the same color as the carmine ink used to write the verses ; MS in fair condition with a few repairs.
• Decoration: Garrett MS. 1 is the oldest known Byzantine manuscript written entirely in cruciform. The headpiece at the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew (fol. 1r) is mutilated, as the entire upper right-hand corner of the page has been lost. The painted strips respect the cruciform design and are limited to the width of the upper arm of the cross. The tailpieces include a variety of vegetal chalice and candelabralike designs, which sometimes incorporate small birds pecking at the branches. The initials are segmented and painted in abstract patterns; two of them (letters E) enclose a human hand which either blesses (fol. 76r) or holds a tiny cross (fol. 125r). Two designs on fol. 124v: the upper design is a network of leaves on a tall pyramidal base, while the lower design is a large dark rose and blue almond rosette.

Binding note

Dark red goatskin on the spine and sewing is all that remains of a Byzantine-style binding of uncertain date, but certainly not the original sewing. The spine lining is made of a natural-color linen. Secondary sewing on the end bands is done with red and green silk thread

Language note

Greek;

Script

maiuscola ogivale diritta.

Contents

• 1. fols. 1r-45v: Euangelion kata mathaion.
• 2. fol. 46v: Mathaie paneuphēme eu/lalon stoma skepe phrouri phylatte / tous se timōntas ke pantoias thlimpseōs / autous eklytroumenous / tais pros ton kyrion ses / deēsesi amēn.
• 3. fol. 46v: Stichoi eis ton hagion markon. Se Marke ton phōstēra tēs oikoumenēs
• 4. fols. 47r-74r: Euangelion kata markon.
• 5. fol. 74v: Parangelia tou hagiou vasiliou ēs ton hierean0
• 6. fols. 75r-v: Ta kephalea tou kata loukan.
• 7. fol. 75v: Eis ton hagion loukan. Megas [... i]atros kai zōgraphos.
• 8. fols. 76r-123v: Euangelion kata loukan. Epeidēper polloi epecheirēsan anataxasthai diēgēsin.
• 9. fol. 123v: Eis ton hagion iōannēn. Se piston honta tou theou logou philon.
• 10. fol. 124v: Tou hagiou iōannou ta kephalaia. th'. Peri tou en kana gamou.
• 11. fols. 125r-152v: Euangelion kata iōannēn. ke(phalaion) a'. En archē ēn ho logos.

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Source acquisition

Gift ; Robert Garrett, Class of 1897 ; 1942.

References

Kotzabassi, Sofia. Greek manuscripts at Princeton, sixth to nineteenth century: a descriptive catalogue, pages 3-7.

Other format(s)

Also available in an electronic version.

Statement on language in description

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