A narrative of the Passion - photo 1
A narrative of the Passion - photo 2
A narrative of the Passion - photo 3

A narrative of the Passion

Lot 30
10.12.2025 12:00UTC +00:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1514453
Lot 30 | A narrative of the Passion
Estimate value
£ 4 000 – 6 000
A narrative of the Passion
Meditationes super passionem Jesu Christi, in Latin, manuscript on paper [Germany, ?Würzburg, final quarter 15th century]
An unidentified narrative of the passion incorporating biblical citations and commentators including Anselm, Albert the Great, Augustine, Bede, and Jerome; as well as more contemporary scholars such as Nicholas de Lyra and Henry Susa.

320 x 220mm. i + 115 leaves, collation: 110, 28, 313(of 14, ix a cancelled blank), 412, 511(of 12, ix a cancelled blank), 6-1012, 111(of 2, ii the lower pastedown), modern foliation in pencil 1-115, quire signatures and one catchword survive, c. 30-50 lines in two columns written by several hands in a variety of gothic cursives in two columns, written space for each column: 226 x 65mm, capitals touched in red, a few red or blue initials scattered throughout, some underlining in red (perhaps lacking end, some damp-staining to opening leaves). Bound in German tan marbled paper boards, c.1805, a parchment strip glued to the spine titled: 'DE PASSIONE JESU CHRISTI MANUSCRIPT [GERMANY XVTH CENTURY]' (slightly worn, corners rubbed, spine reinforced with several strips of adhesive tape, now worn and peeling).

Provenance:
(1) The manuscript was written by a number of German 15th-century hands. The watermarks on ff.1-72, 74-79, 103-114 are similar to Briquet 11800 (Würzburg, 1472).

(2) Leander van Ess (1772-1847), of Marburg and Darmstadt (on whom, and on whose library, see Milton McC. Gatch, ‘So Precious a Foundation’: The Library of Leander van Ess at the Burke Library of Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, 1996): his paper label on spine, '304'; his collection catalogue, Sammlung und Verzeichniss handschriftlicher bucher [...] welche besitzt Leander van Ess, Darmstadt, 1823, no 304. The collection sold en bloc in 1824 to:

(3) Sir Thomas Phillipps (1792-1872), antiquary and book collector: his MS 688, inscription and Middle-Hill stamp on f.i and label on spine ('690' changed to '688' in both instances) and in ink on f.1. His catalogue, Catalogus librorum manuscriptorum in bibliotheca D. Thomae Phillipps, Bart., 1837, no 688. His sale, Sotheby's, Further portion of the classical, historical, topographical, genealogical and other manuscripts & autograph letters of the late Sir Thomas Phillipps, 6 June 1910, lot 100, with catalogue cutting pasted in on inner upper board, to:

(4) Percy Mordaunt Barnard (1868-1941), antiquarian bookseller and President of the ABA. Perhaps his MS 983 and pencil inscription 'K1 H10' inside upper cover.

(5) Howard Lehman Goodhart (1884-1951), stockbroker and bibliophile: his leather book label on inside upper cover. By descent to his daughter:

(6) Phyllis Goodhart Gordan (1913-1994): her leather book label on inside upper cover, MS 25. On deposit at Bryn Mawr, BMC 30. Published in De Ricci, Census, II, p.1681, no 25.

Content:
Meditationes super passione Jesu Christi, beginning: 'Secundum legem debet mori Iohannis xix per gracia in principio', and ending imperfectly: 'Et hoc notat magister suzo doctor', ff.1-115v.




Literature

Leander van Ess, Sammlung und Verzeichniss handschriftlicher Bücher aus dem VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. etc. Jahrhundert. [...] welche besitzt Leander van Ess [...] (privately printed, 1823), no 304.

Thomas Phillipps, Catalogus Librorum Manuscriptorum in Bibliotheca D. Thomæ Phillipps, Bart., A.D. 1837 [Reprinted with an Introduction by A.N.L. Munby], repr. [London] Orskey-Johnson, 2001 (Privately printed, 1837), no 688.

S. De Ricci, Census of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in the United States and Canada, II, 1961, p.1681, no 25.
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