Comoediae - Terence; Kane, Grenville, 1854-1943; Martini, Giuseppe, 1870-1944; Princeton University. Library ([Germany or Austria] : [Felix Hegnower von Baden])
Script: Semi-Gothic.
Decoration: Three unfinished 3- to 5-line gold initials for two argumenta and the prologue of the play Eunuchus, the first includes 2 marginal gold discs above, but the penwork was never added (fols. 26r, 26v, 27r). Other divisions marked with 3- to 4-line blue initials, either plain or with red penwork decoration. The 3-line pale red initial on fol. 10v may have been added after the fact. Many initials omitted, esp. fols. 84-125, despite guide letters to rubricator.
Germany, 15th century. Contemporary binding of slightly cushioned beech boards (8 mm thick), covered with blind-tooled leather that is now very worn and has many insect holes; metal support for lost clasp on upper board, strap lost, and remains of catchplate on lower, attached by decoratively headed nail.
Kane MS. 26, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Kane Ms. 26 was written by Felix Hegnower in 1450, according to colophon on fol. 124v, but is otherwise of unknown early and intermediate provenance. The New York bookseller Giuseppe Martini (1870-1944) acquired the manuscript and offered it in Catalogue 17 (1921) no. 22; the catalogue description is pasted to back flyleaf. In 1923, Grenville Kane (1854-1943), of Tuxedo Park, N.Y., purchased it from Martini. Kane's bookplate is on the front pastedown. The Kane Collection was acquired by the Princeton University Library from Kane's heirs in February 1946.
Medieval & Renaissance manuscripts in the Princeton University Library
Keywords: Latin drama (Comedy) -- Early works to 1800.; Rome -- Social life and customs -- Drama; Manuscripts, Latin (Medieval and modern) -- Italy -- Naples; Manuscripts, Latin (Medieval and modern) -- New Jersey -- Princeton; Illumination of books and manuscripts; Drama