1. Diurnal, noted, Temporal, including Offices for Christmas Day and the first Sunday after Christmas, manuscript on vellum bifolium in a Caroline minuscule of 2 sizes, written in black ink, 24 lines (with or without music), single column, numerous initials and rubrics in red, recovered from a binding with signs of folding and use as a pastedown, overall 210 x 300mm., framed and glazed, Germany, late 10th or early 11th century
est. £1000 – £1500
Rare survival from an early monastic office book in generally good condition. The Diurnal contained readings, prayers and chants for the celebration of the day hours; in this manuscript there are directions for the offices of Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Compline and 1st and 2nd Vespers. Adiastematic (unheightened) notation of the type seen also in this manuscript did not require any change in the format or ruling of a book; the neumes could be added between the lines or not, as required.
Provenance: from the collections of the Oxford antiquary Philip Bliss (1787-1857) and Sir Thomas Phillipps (1792-1872). Catalogue description on Bernard Quaritch headed paper pasted to verso with note that another bifolium from the same manuscript was item 29 in Quaritch Catalogue 1036, Bookhands of the Middle Ages I.