IM-13620:  Original illuminated manuscript Missal leaf on animal vellum. Two columns (36 lines ea.) of Latin text, written on recto and verso in a formal gothic hand in dark brown ink with rubrics in red. 

England, Use of Sarum (Salisbury) c. 1400-20.

Size: 293 x 203 mm - 11.75 x 8 inches.

Seven two-line illuminated initials in burnished gold on red & blue ground with white tracery; Three illuminated initials in burnished gold extending along the margins on a blue & red ground with white tracery. 

The biblical text of this leaf includes five New Testament readings. The two-line illuminated “F” begins Galatians 5:16-24:  “Fratres…” (Brothers, walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh…The fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness…).

The multi-line “I” begins Luke 17:11-19: “In illo tempore…” (And it came to pass… there met him ten men that were lepers… one of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God…Jesus answering said, Were not ten made clean? And where are the nine? There is no one found to return and give glory to God, but this stranger. And he said to him: Arise, go thy way; for thy faith hath made thee whole.).

The two-line illuminated “F” begins II Corinthians 6:14-7:1: “Fratres…” (Brothers, Bear not the yoke with unbelievers …As God saith: I will dwell in them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people…). 

The second multi-line illuminated “I” begins Luke 12: 13-24: “In illo tempore, Ait autem…” (And at that time, one of the multitude said to him: Master, speak to my brother that he divide the inheritance with me…Consider the ravens, for they sow not, neither do they reap, neither have they storehouse nor barn, and God feedeth them). 

The next two-line illuminated “F” begins Galatians 5:25-6:1 “Fratres, Si Spiritu…” (Brothers, if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit…).

A scarce large, attractively illuminated leaf from a rare provenanced English service book  -  most of which were destroyed after Henry VIII split the English Church from Rome. This leaf is from a Missal presented to Shere Church in Surrey in 1477 by John Cauterwell, former chaplain of Shere. Later, it was MS72 in Tollemache Library, Helmingham Hall – sold at Sotheby’s June 1965 and subsequently dispersed. A sister leaf with a nearly identical large illuminated initial is pictured & described in Rendell, The Medieval World, 1979, item 81.      

This is a beautiful and highly ornamental original, more than 600 years old, not a reproduction. The illumination and calligraphy are skillfully executed and the leaf is in nice antiquarian condition with bright colors and gold.   

It comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.