Copy number: P-545(1)

Wanting gathering [a] containing the table of contents.

Incipit as in GW and Fava, not H.

Binding: Contemporary (c.1480) light brown central or south Italian sheep over wooden boards bevelled inwards. Three clasps lacking, hinging on the upper cover and secured by two nails parallel with the edges. Three ‘Florentine' shell catches on the lower cover. Both covers are blind-tooled with five three-line frames; mitred corners. A border of flowers and palmettes between the second and third frame, and of ‘X' tools between the fourth and fifth. Centre decorated with smaller ‘X' tools arranged in three superimposed quadrilaterals inside a three-line border. A small rosette impressed at intervals in the other two borders and around the geometrical construction in the centre. Scroll-shaped manuscript title-label between the third and fourth frame at the head of the lower cover: ‘Paris Il[ustris] doc[tor] de re militari ad Ill[ustrissimum] D[ominum] Consta[n]tiu[m] Sf[or]t[iam] de arag[ona]'. Light brown edges gauffered with a two-line dotted diaper. Edges of the boards decorated on the bevel with three lines in blind. Triple blue and pink silk head-bands. Sewn on three low widely spaced bands. Compartments of the spine decorated with a single-line cross over a three-line saltire. Pastedown and one free endleaf (wrapped round the first/last gathering) at each end: watermark, letter m (not in Briquet). The distinctive outer border has not been noticed elsewhere, and there are some surprising features: the edges gauffered but not gilt (see Broxb. 31.14), and three (instead of the normal two or four) clasps. Early manuscript title along the lower edge: ‘Rei Militaris Decisiones'. ‘911' in brown ink on a circular paper label at the tail of the spine.

Size: 288 × 192 × 44 mm.

Size of leaf: 279 × 192 mm.

‘6-140' in brown ink on the verso of the rear endleaf.

Provenance: Purchased for £1. 1. 0; see Books Purchased (1847), 29.

SHELFMARK: Auct. 2Q inf. 1.39.