#ManuscriptFragments
LightNews LightNews
ejjohnson.bsky.social
4 #MedievalManuscript folios from a 14th-century illuminated English Psalter once owned by Thomas Huckell Lee, Justice of the Peace for the county of Devon (died in 1822), & possibly his father, Matthew(?). Spec.Rare.MS.MR.Frag.392 #ProvenanceHistory #fragmentology #ManuscriptFragments #BookHistory
Recto sides of four Illuminated folios from a small-format illuminated Book of Hours produced in England in the 14th-century. Verso sides of four Illuminated folios from a small-format illuminated Book of Hours produced in England in the 14th-century. Detailed image of a small head added in an initial on a folio from a small-format illuminated Book of Hours produced in England in the 14th-century. 19th-century signatures of Thomas Huckell Lee and his father M(Matthew?) Lee added at the top of a folio from a small-format illuminated Book of Hours produced in England in the 14th-century.
December 17, 2024 at 5:09 PM
ejjohnson.bsky.social
These two folios preserve text from Psalm 118:59-86 & Psalms 122:1-126:2, with short sections of musical notation, including on one leaf additional music added in the bottom margin & a pasted-on paper strip with musical notation revisions. #MedievalMusic #ManuscriptFragments #Psalms #fragmentology
January 21, 2025 at 5:23 PM
ejjohnson.bsky.social
Highlights from a recent donation of #ManuscriptFragments & leaves donated to OSU by a Philadelphia-area collector. Details for each & shelfmarks in alt-text for each image (enlarge pics to see) #fragmentology #MedievalManuscripts #IlluminatedManuscripts #MedievalArt #OhioMSS
Illumination of St. Bernard preaching to a group of seated Cistercian monks from a mid-15th century Missal, possibly produced for and used at Neubourg Abbey in Alsace. Text: prompts, chants, and readings for feasts of the Assumption of the Virgin and the nativity of Bernard of Clairvaux. Shelfmark: Rare Books & Manuscripts Library, The Ohio State University, Spec.Rare.MS.MR.Frag.449. Historiated initial "O" inhabited by a cardinal or bishop presenting a cross to a king while a pair of praying figures look on, from a Breviary likely produced in Paris, ca. 1325. Text: prompts, chants, and readings for the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. Shelfmark: Rare Books &Manuscripts Library, The Ohio State University, Spec.Rare.MS.MR.Frag.450. For a study of this leaf (and others from the same MS), see Lisa Iacobellis, "O vere bona et sancta crux: OSU.SPEC.RARE.MS.MR.FRAG.450 and the Treasured Relics of the Sainte-Chapelle," in Manuscript Studies: A Journal of the Schoenberg Institute Institute for Manuscript Studies" 8.2 Fall 2023. pp. 414-429. Illumination depicting a funeral scene with a black-shrouded casket flanked by a pair of priests holding books, from a Parisian Missal illuminated by a follower of Jean Pichore, ca. 1500-1525. Text: readings and chants for All Saints and a Mass for the faithful dead. Shelfmark: Rare Books &Manuscripts Library, The Ohio State University, Spec.Rare.MS.MR.Frag.451. Historiated initial depicting "D" inhabited by a fool holding a club in one hand and a cheese in the other, from an illuminated portable Bible produced in northern France, ca. 1250. Text: Psalms 51:11-62:6. Shelfmark: Rare Books &Manuscripts Library, The Ohio State University, Spec.Rare.MS.MR.Frag.448.
November 20, 2024 at 6:57 PM
oldpapercollector.bsky.social
Just acquired this antiphonary leaf, featuring the Office of St Lawrence, it’s mounted in stained glass.

Have you ever seen a manuscript fragment reused like this? I’d love to hear from others who’ve encountered similar examples.

#manuscriptfragments #antiphonary #bookhistory #stainedglas
July 24, 2025 at 5:22 AM
ejjohnson.bsky.social
Banner day for #MedievalManuscripts at Ohio State: 8 #ManuscriptFragments and 7 codices, all new additions to our collection, have just arrived. More on each to come, but the batch includes pilgrimage, Classical, pastoral care, chronicle, medical, biblical, and liturgical fare. Fun days ahead!
Seven medieval manuscript codices standing together upright showing parts of their spines and covers. 8 different medieval manuscript fragments arranged as a collage.
November 25, 2024 at 6:11 PM
ejjohnson.bsky.social
If anyone recognizes this ownership stamp, let me know! Perhaps referring to the collection of Paul something or other(?) My eyes aren't what they used to be, even with digital imaging aids... #ProvenanceHistory #BookHistory #MedievalManuscripts #ManuscriptFragments #Fragmentology #BookCollecting
December 4, 2024 at 6:57 PM
ejjohnson.bsky.social
Closing a week filled with #MedievalManuscripts, from finding #ManuscriptFragments to cataloguing, administering & grading a final exam for the MSS Studies course, securing new MSS from donors, & marking essays, with a return to the wee days of my youth by visiting w/ Quiet Riot. All is well.
Picture of the metal band Quiet Riot on stage in Columbus, OH. Picture of the metal band Quiet Riot on stage in Columbus, OH.
December 15, 2024 at 4:38 AM
ejjohnson.bsky.social
As promised yesterday, here are some of the Bruce Ferrini-broken illuminated #ManuscriptFragments that turned up in NE Ohio yesterday: Delft Book of Hours in Dutch, the so-called "St. Alexius Hours", and a 13thC Psalter. #MedievalManuscripts #fragmentology #OhioMSS #IlluminatedManuscripts
A manuscript folio from the so-called "St. Alexius Hours," a ca. 1460 French Book of Hours with exceptional illumination on each page. A lovely 15th-century Dutch illuminated Book of Hours folio from Delft depicting Pentecost in a historiated initial "H", and a speaking figure set in the decorated border. Folio from a deluxe 13th-century illuminated Psalter featuring a painted initial "B" on gold grounds inhabited by a gesturing queen or king. One of the decorated penwork line fillers depicts a blue and red goose. Folio from a deluxe 13th-century illuminated Psalter featuring a painted initial "N" on gold grounds inhabited by a laborer wielding an axe and a bull by his side. A decorated line fillers at the top features a dragon while another towards the middle of the page shows a golden goose
December 14, 2024 at 2:39 PM
ejjohnson.bsky.social
Another recent donation to my library: leaf from an Italian Romanesque monastic copy of St. Augustine’s Tractatus in Iohannem (Tract. XLVII in CCSL vol. 36 ) likely produced in Tuscany ca. 1150, measuring 438 x 310 mm. Spec.Rare.MS.MR.Frag.440 #fragmentology #ManuscriptFragments #MedievalManuscripts
Detailed picture of text in a manuscript leaf from an Italian Romanesque monastic copy of St. Augustine’s Tractatus in Iohannem (Tract. XLVII in CCSL vol. 36 ), likely produced in Tuscany, ca. 1150. Picture of the recto side of a manuscript leaf from an Italian Romanesque monastic copy of St. Augustine’s Tractatus in Iohannem (Tract. XLVII in CCSL vol. 36 ), likely produced in Tuscany, ca. 1150. Picture of the verso side of a manuscript leaf from an Italian Romanesque monastic copy of St. Augustine’s Tractatus in Iohannem (Tract. XLVII in CCSL vol. 36 ), likely produced in Tuscany, ca. 1150.
November 21, 2024 at 8:57 PM
ejjohnson.bsky.social
In-home visit with a donor today yielded a clutch of new #ManuscriptFragments for my library with more, apparently, to come in a week or so. All in all, it'll be a nice assembly of liturgical & devotional #MedievalManuscripts Lots of good teaching material here! #fragmentology #BindingFragments
Group of medieval manuscript fragments, including leaves from a pair of Missals, an antiphonal, a Psalter, and a Book of Hours. Three medieval manuscript folios, including a leaf from a Book of Hours with text from the life of St. Isabella of France and a pair of Psalter leaves. Half of a medieval manuscript leaf from a Missal, once cut in half and recycled as a later binding component. A pair of large format medieval manuscript folios, each heavily damaged after being recycled and used as components of later book bindings. On the left is folio from a choir book and on the right a folio from a German Missal.
December 7, 2024 at 10:39 PM
ejjohnson.bsky.social
Pin holes and offsets of multiple pilgrims’ badges once added to the end of this complete calendar from a mid-15th century manuscript Book of Hours from Arras. From a private Ohio collection. #OhioMSS #fragmentology #MedievalManuscripts #ManuscriptFragments #Pilgrimage
Close-up of offsets from medieval pilgrims' badges in a medieval manuscript. Picture of a blank medieval manuscript page with pin holes and offsets from medieval pilgrims' badges that were once in the book. Picture of a medieval calendar page for January alongside a blank page from the same manuscript with pin holes from pilgrims' badges. 2-page opening from a medieval manuscript showing feast day entries for September and October.
November 25, 2024 at 2:37 PM
ejjohnson.bsky.social
Another NE Ohio #ManuscriptFragments find: pair of fols. from a ca. 1230-40 English Bible w/ parallel text of Jerome's Latin translations of the Psalms from the Hebrew and Gallican (Greek) versions & textual variants from the Old Latin alongside & from IIII Kings #MedievalManuscripts #fragmentology
Pair of leaves from a so-called manuscript "scholar's Bible," produced in England (poss. London), ca. 1230-40, one from the original volume's tripartite Psalms and the other from IIII Kings. Detailed picture of a leaf from a so-called manuscript "scholar's Bible," produced in England (poss. London), ca. 1230-40 showing parallel text of Jerome's Latin translations of the Psalms from the Hebrew and Gallican (Greek) versions alongside textual variations from the Old Latin version. Detailed picture of a leaf from a so-called manuscript "scholar's Bible," produced in England (poss. London), ca. 1230-40 showing text from IIII Kings, along with old marginal chapter numbers and revised chapter numbers added in green. Picture of a leaf from a so-called manuscript "scholar's Bible," produced in England (poss. London), ca. 1230-40 showing parallel text of Jerome's Latin translations of the Psalms from the Hebrew and Gallican (Greek) versions alongside textual variations from the Old Latin version.
December 23, 2024 at 5:58 PM
ejjohnson.bsky.social
Final exam for my MSS Studies course underway, including on-the-spot work with these two #ManuscriptFragments Each student receives a pair of leaves from the same #MedievalManuscripts for comparative script and codicological analysis and assessment. #fragmentology
Pair of medieval manuscript leaves, the one the left from a 12th-century copy of Gregory the Great's XL Homiliae and the one on the right from a mid-13th century pocket Bible. Picture of a manuscript folio from a 12th-century copy of Gregory the Great's XL Homiliae. Picture of a manuscript folio from a mid-13th century pocket Bible.
December 10, 2024 at 7:12 PM
ejjohnson.bsky.social
Exciting pair of fols. from a German Choir Psalter produced for use at St. Stephen's Abbey in Würzburg in 1499 by the scribe Mattheus Hartung, w/ 19thC ownership by Leander van Ess & Sir Thomas Phillipps, & later broken by Otto Ege (HL 42). #fragmentology #MedievalManuscripts #ManuscriptFragments
Recto sides of a pair of manuscript folios from a late-15th century German Choir Psalter. Verso sides of a pair of manuscript folios from a late-15th century German Choir Psalter. Detail picture of script on a late-15th century Choir Psalter produced in Würzburg, Germany, with musical notation and decorative initials in red and blue. Detail picture of script on a late-15th century Choir Psalter produced in Würzburg, Germany, with musical notation and decorative initials in red and blue.
January 21, 2025 at 5:23 PM
ejjohnson.bsky.social
5 folios from a copy of Peter Lombard's Sentences, England, ca. 1275. The codex was once owned by Edward Walmsley (17thC), and later by Nell & Charles Wheeler and C. Lindsay Ricketts; broken & dispersed in the early-1980s. Check out Early Modern cipher in the margins of fol. 5! #ManuscriptFragments
Group of five folios from a manuscript copy of Peter Lombard's Sentences produced in England, ca. 1275. Picture shows the recto side of each folio. Ohio State University, Rare Books & Manuscripts Library, Spec.Rare.MS.MR.Frag.425. Close-up of an Early Modern cipher using Greek characters added in the margin of a manuscript folio from a copy of Peter Lombard's Sentences produced in England, ca. 1275. Ohio State University, Rare Books & Manuscripts Library, Spec.Rare.MS.MR.Frag.425. Picture of text and gloss on a single folio from a manuscript copy of Peter Lombard's Sentences produced in England, ca. 1275. Ohio State University, Rare Books & Manuscripts Library, Spec.Rare.MS.MR.Frag.425. Group of five folios from a manuscript copy of Peter Lombard's Sentences produced in England, ca. 1275. Picture shows the verso side of each folio. Ohio State University, Rare Books & Manuscripts Library, Spec.Rare.MS.MR.Frag.425.
December 5, 2024 at 4:57 PM
ejjohnson.bsky.social
One of my favorite #ManuscriptFragments in Ohio State's collection: bifolium once recycled as a pastedown w/ text from Adam of Aldersbach's Summula Pauperum, ca. 1300, w/ glosses in multiple hands covering topics like menstruation, wives, the status of priests and sacraments ##fragmentology
Bifolium from a ca. 1300 manuscript of Adam of Aldersbach's Summula Pauperum. Ohio State University Rare Books & Manuscripts Library, Spec.Rare.MS.MR.Frag.419. Bifolium from a ca. 1300 manuscript of Adam of Aldersbach's Summula Pauperum. Ohio State University Rare Books & Manuscripts Library, Spec.Rare.MS.MR.Frag.419. Bifolium from a ca. 1300 manuscript of Adam of Aldersbach's Summula Pauperum. Ohio State University Rare Books & Manuscripts Library, Spec.Rare.MS.MR.Frag.419. Bifolium from a ca. 1300 manuscript of Adam of Aldersbach's Summula Pauperum. Ohio State University Rare Books & Manuscripts Library, Spec.Rare.MS.MR.Frag.419.
February 27, 2025 at 5:40 PM
ejjohnson.bsky.social
More NE Ohio fragment finds from last Friday, this time #OttoEge #ManuscriptFragments: loose folios from Fifty Original Leaves from Famous MSS: HLs 3, 14, 25, & 26. With any luck all these will be donated at some point. In the meantime, having photos fills in some gaps #fragmentology #OhioMSS
A manuscript folio from a codex dismembered by Otto Ege to produce the Fifty Original Leaves from Famous MSS portfolio, this one from a mid-12th century Italian Lectionary with a large blue and red decorated initial (HL 3). A manuscript folio from a codex dismembered by Otto Ege to produce the Fifty Original Leaves from Famous MSS portfolio, this one from an illuminated lectern Bible produced ca. 1325 (HL 14). A manuscript folio from a codex dismembered by Otto Ege to produce the Fifty Original Leaves from Famous MSS portfolio, this one from a mid-14th century Book of Hours (HL 25). A manuscript folio from a codex dismembered by Otto Ege to produce the Fifty Original Leaves from Famous MSS portfolio, this one from a mid-15th century Missal produced for the Use of Rouen (HL 26).
December 16, 2024 at 1:34 PM
ejjohnson.bsky.social
To see all of the Ohio State folios, go to: library.osu.edu/dc/concern/g... #ManuscriptFragments #fragmentology
Digital Collections
library.osu.edu
December 27, 2024 at 8:02 PM
ejjohnson.bsky.social
New #OttoEge find in private Ohio collection: leaf from HL 2, late-12C Missal from southern Bohemia / northern Austria and possibly (likely?) once in use at Vyšší Brod monastery. Note the scribal guide words for rubrics in the folio's gutter #ManuscriptFragments #fragmentology #MedievalManuscripts
Detail of script in a leaf from a ca. 1175-1200 manuscript Missal broken and dispersed by the famous biblioclast, Otto Ege. Picture of the recto side of a leaf from a ca. 1175-1200 manuscript Missal broken and dispersed by the famous biblioclast, Otto Ege. Picture of the verso side of a leaf from a ca. 1175-1200 manuscript Missal broken and dispersed by the famous biblioclast, Otto Ege. Detail of script in a leaf from a ca. 1175-1200 manuscript Missal broken and dispersed by the famous biblioclast, Otto Ege. At the extreme right are guide letters for the rubricated text included in red in the text block.
December 4, 2024 at 6:52 PM