Copy number: I-034(1)

Wanting [q4-8] and gathering [r].

Binding: Contemporary German blind-tooled calf over wooden boards; two clasps and catches lost. On both covers a single fillet forms an outer border; in each corner a small lozenge-shaped fleur-de-lis stamp. Intersecting quadruple fillets form an inner rectangle which is divided by a saltire cross of double fillets and further fillets into triangular and lozenge-shaped compartments; in the saltire cross are a repeated small flower-petal stamp, and a square pelican stamp in the centre of the cross. Author and title in manuscript in a contemporary hand on the upper edge. Rebacked.

Size: 221 × 157 × 41 mm.

Size of leaf: 214 × 140 mm.

Early marginal ‘nota' instructions, underlined in red and with paragraph marks in red or blue. Underlining in the text and pointing hands in black ink. Chapter numbers supplied in manuscript on [a1v] in a fifteenth-century hand. On [q3v] a table of the twelve abuses in manuscript in a fifteenth-century hand, headed ‘Hugo de Soleto', and entitled ‘Duodecim sunt abusiones claustri quibus tota religionis massa corrumpitur'. On the recto of the front endleaf a quotation from the Bible: ‘Domine adiuua me. Math. 15' [Mt 15,25]; and two proverbs, both in the same humanist hand: ‘In minimis cauti, in maximis negligentes | Liquantes culicem et camelum glutientes', and ‘Maior exhibetur reuerentia malignis | timoris quam benignis amoris'.

On [a1r] a three-line initial ‘Q' is supplied in blue surrounded by red pen-work and with red pen-work within the body of the letter; on [a1v] a four-line initial ‘S' is supplied in interlocked red and blue; other two- to three-line initials and paragraph marks are supplied in red or blue; line-fillers are supplied in red and blue; running book numbers and foliation numbers (1-123) are supplied in red; underlining in red; capitals touched with yellow wash.

Provenance: Sylvester [ ] (fifteenth century); name on [a1r]: ‘Syluestri'. Partly cancelled inscription on [a1r]: ‘Bibliothece [ ]'. Purchased for £0. 6. 0; see Books Purchased (1835), 15. Either this or the second copy was bought from Thomas Thorpe; the shelfmark indicates that this was the copy acquired in 1835.

SHELFMARK: Auct. 7Q 4.39.

Copy number: I-034(2)

Wanting gatherings [a-p], [q1-3], and the blank leaf [r8].

Cyprianus only.

Binding: Nineteenth-century half calf; bound for the Bodleian Library.

Size: 213 × 151 × 8 mm.

Size of leaf: 208 × 144 mm.

Two- to four-line initials and paragraph marks supplied in red; capital strokes and underlining in red.

Provenance: Duplicate from the Royal Library, Munich; ‘Dupl' and no. ‘4010' in pencil on [q4r]. Acquired between 1847 and c.1892, probably in 1850; not in Catalogus (1843) with Appendix.

SHELFMARK: Auct. 5Q 6.83.

Copy number: I-034(3)

Wanting [a1].

Not in Sheppard.

Binding: Contemporary German blind-tooled calf over wooden boards, with two clasps and catches, hinged to the lower cover. On both covers intersecting double fillets form concentric frames. Outside the outer frame is a small crown and ‘O' stamp; within the outer frame is a lozenge-shaped fleur-de-lis stamp, a circular lamb-and-flag stamp, a small lozenge-shaped dove with olive branch stamp, a small fleur-de-lis stamp, and a small star stamp. Double fillets form the inner rectangle which is divided by further double fillets into triangular and lozenge-shaped compartments decorated with the lozenge-shaped fleur-de-lis stamp, the dove stamp, a smaller lozenge-shaped fleur-de-lis stamp, and a small circular flower-petal stamp. Remains of a label on the spine. Parchment index tabs dyed red.

Size: 216 × 151 × 41 mm.

Size of leaf: 209 × 145 mm.

On [d8r] a four-line initial ‘O', and on both [i7r] and [q4r] a four-line initial ‘D', all three supplied in blue within a red pen-work frame, with the body of the letter decorated with red pen-work, and with extensions into the margins; other one- to three-line initials supplied in red or blue; capital strokes and underlining in red.

Provenance: Joseph Niesert (1766-1841), 1815; inscription on the first leaf of this copy ([a2r]); see sale (1843), lot 14365. George Dunn (1865-1912); book-plate; see Jenkinson, List of Incunabula, no. 118; sale, 2 Feb. 1914, lot 1260. Albert Ehrman (1890-1969); accession no. ‘1191'; ‘AE' stamp; purchased in 1928 for £5. 10. 0. Presented in 1978 by John Ehrman.

SHELFMARK: Broxb. 16.3.