Opera - Virgil; Kane, Grenville, 1854-1943; Martini, Giuseppe, 1870-1944; Harper, Lathrop C. (Lathrop Colgate), 1867-1950; Virgil; Virgil; Virgil; Maggs Bros.; Princeton University. Library ([Italy] : [producer not identified])
Script: Humanistica antiqua.
Decoration: Bucolics, book I, opens with a rose 6-line initial T, with orange, blue, and green foliate decoration set on a gold ground and a gold-leaved penwork spray into margin. Aeneid opens on fol. 15r with a similar 8-line foliate initial A, with sprays, gold discs and more foliate clusters forming full borders, with a repainted heraldic shield at foot. Each subsequent book of the Aeneid and book I of Georgics opens with similar 6-line initials, followed by 4-line initials for Georgics, books II-IV. Pseudo-Ovidian verses and individual Eclogues open with 2-line red or blue initials with red or mauve penwork; initials on fols. 3r and 5r with no penwork. Blue or red paraph marks throughout. Opening lines (e.g., fol. 15r) and col- ophon (fol. 13r) written in decorative ink capitals characteristic of Milan and the Veneto.
Italy, 15th century. Reddish brown morocco over beveled beech boards (7 mm thick); blind-tooled spine, blind-stamped concentric rectangles, some filled with arabesque interlacing pattern front and back, and stamped with small flowers, stars, and fleurs-de-lis.
Kane MS. 35, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Kane Ms. 35 is of unknown early provenance. The manuscript was part of the Vernon sale at Sotheby's, London, beginning on 10 June 1918. Purchased at this sale by the London antiquarian bookseller Maggs Bros., it was then purchased by the New York bookseller Giuseppe Martini (1870-1944). The manuscript was in the possession of the New York antiquarian bookseller Lathrop C. Harper before entering the collection of Grenville Kane (1854-1943), of Tuxedo Park, N.Y. 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: Aeneas (Legendary character) -- Poetry -- Early works to 1800.; Agriculture -- Poetry -- Early works to 1900.; Didactic poetry, Latin -- Early works to 1800.; Pastoral poetry, Latin -- Early works to 1800.; Epic poetry, Latin -- Early works to 1800.; Poetry, Latin -- Early works to 1800.; Manuscripts, Latin -- Italy; Manuscripts, Latin -- New Jersey -- Princeton; Manuscripts, Medieval -- Italy -- Florence; Manuscripts, Medieval -- New Jersey -- Princeton; Illumination of books and manuscripts; Poetry