Manuscript on the motion of the sun and stars, from the Bibliotheca Phillippica

[Medieval timekeeping]. Calculus temporum ecclesiasticus.

€ 95,000.00

With no other known textual witnesses, this extremely interesting Latin calendrical manuscript must be considered a unique work, possibly of English origin. It was formerly the property of the bibliophile Sir Thomas Phillipps (1792-1872), who lends the work its title (and short catalogue description) on its wrappers.

It appears likely that the manuscript had not been entirely completed by its scribe when it was bound, as there are a number of spaces left open in the text for diagrams which were never drawn in, as well as spaces for catchwords in the left margin of the pages (a later owner has completed a few of these). Throughout the manuscript, the text makes reference to these non-existent diagrams; these were perhaps intended to contain computational tables or similar, although the incipit does indicate significant astronomical content when it describes the "motus planetarum". The three final leaves, which are penned in a slightly different, but likewise contemporary hand, may be an attempt to complete the work textually.

The paper itself is heavy, rather crude in manufacture, showing two watermarks: the first, three flowers on stems growing from a single bulb; the second, apparently two circles, one crossed diagonally. That the manuscript was written on paper at such an early date as the mid-14th century is striking: this early example of a European manuscript on paper, rather than vellum, would indeed be exceptionally early if it is in fact English, where paper manuscripts appear later than on the continent.

Altogether, a fascinating example of a unique 14th century manuscript in progress, and one with a rather unique construction, as well as no other surviving copies. The most notable previous owner of the manuscript was Sir Thomas Phillipps, who amassed one of the greatest private manuscript collections in English history. Phillipps's description is pasted to the inside front cover, and the first leaf shows "Phillipps Ms. 23256" inked in Phillipps's own hand in the lower margin.