Sacred Leaves Manuscript Collection

The history of the book collection at USF illustrates broad concepts in the history of the Western book, beginning with the manuscript era and moving through the invention of the printing press, the mechanization of printing, and the development of the fine press and the artist’s book. This digital collection highlights illuminated manuscripts including individual leaves that illustrate different types of calligraphic hands and illumination, most dating from the medieval period. Items in this collection are only available online; we do not have physical copies of these items in the USF Library's Special Collections. The original items were returned to the donor.

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Leaf from a psalter, Germany Catalogue 15

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Seven-line initial S in blue and red ink, decorated with spirals and dots. Quarter-page border on left extending length of page with alternating blue and red motif. Alternating blue and red initials. verso: Alternating blue and red initials.
Leaf from a psalter, Netherlands, Flanders Catalogue 11

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Eight burnished gold leaf initials, mauve and blue line endings. verso: Three-quarter page border enclosing eight burnished gold leaf initials on left side. Alternating blue and mauve block line endings.
Leaf from a psalter, Netherlands, Flanders Catalogue 11

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Eight burnished gold leaf initials, mauve and blue line endings. verso: Three-quarter page border enclosing eight burnished gold leaf initials on left side. Alternating blue and mauve block line endings.
Leaf from biblia germanica Catalogue 6

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto, verso: Text printed in black ink, two 3-line capital initials in red, paragraph marks and rubrication in red throughout.
Leaf from biblia germanica Catalogue 6

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto, verso: Text printed in black ink, two 3-line capital initials in red, paragraph marks and rubrication in red throughout.
Leaf from biblia germanica Catalogue 7

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Hand-colored historiated initial "D" with the prophet Hosea and Baal atop a column.
Leaf from biblia germanica Catalogue 7

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Hand-colored historiated initial "D" with the prophet Hosea and Baal atop a column.
Leaf from Gospel Lessons and opening of Passion according to John, France Catalogue 3

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Small woodcut and historiated metalcut border. verso: full-page metalcut of the Beytrayal by the workshop of Jean Pichore.
Leaf from Gospel Lessons and opening of Passion according to John, France Catalogue 3

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Small woodcut and historiated metalcut border. verso: full-page metalcut of the Beytrayal by the workshop of Jean Pichore.
Leaf from Gospel Lessons, Northern France Catalogue 12

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Line-ending of maroon and blue with gold pen work, flourished gold initial I on a blue spiral with red, white, and blue flowers. verso: Foliate border of blue and gold acanthus spirals with red and blue flowers.
Leaf from Gospel Lessons, Northern France Catalogue 12

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Line-ending of maroon and blue with gold pen work, flourished gold initial I on a blue spiral with red, white, and blue flowers. verso: Foliate border of blue and gold acanthus spirals with red and blue flowers.
Leaf from hortus sanitatis Catalogue 22

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Two columns text in black ink, unfinished guide letters, and three hand-colored woodcuts (22 x 7). verso: Two columns text in black ink, incomplete guide letters, header "tractatus" in black.
Leaf from hortus sanitatis Catalogue 22

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Two columns text in black ink, unfinished guide letters, and three hand-colored woodcuts (22 x 7). verso: Two columns text in black ink, incomplete guide letters, header "tractatus" in black.
Leaf from Lauds, Hours of the Virgin, France, [Paris?] Catalogue 8

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: Borders decorated with various flowers and plants. Several illuminated letters and line fillers. Bas-de-page illuminations depicting animals in comic and satirical scenes.
Leaf from Lauds, Hours of the Virgin, France, [Paris?] Catalogue 8

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: Borders decorated with various flowers and plants. Several illuminated letters and line fillers. Bas-de-page illuminations depicting animals in comic and satirical scenes.
Leaf from lauds, hours of the virgin, Southern Netherlands Catalogue 7

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Full border containing illuminated seedpods, flower buds, and loose vine work. A hybrid figure occupies the lower right margin. Illuminated initials. verso: Illuminated initials.
Leaf from lauds, hours of the virgin, Southern Netherlands Catalogue 7

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Full border containing illuminated seedpods, flower buds, and loose vine work. A hybrid figure occupies the lower right margin. Illuminated initials. verso: Illuminated initials.
Leaf from legenda aurea sanctorum by Jacobus de Voragine Catalogue 14

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Two columns black text and centered header "Quiriacus" next to Roman numeral pagination. verso: Two columns black text with one 3-line red initial. Hand-colored woodblock (9 x 18) featuring the martyrdom of saint Quiriacus.
Leaf from legenda aurea sanctorum by Jacobus de Voragine Catalogue 14

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Two columns black text and centered header "Quiriacus" next to Roman numeral pagination. verso: Two columns black text with one 3-line red initial. Hand-colored woodblock (9 x 18) featuring the martyrdom of saint Quiriacus.
Leaf from legenda aurea sanctorum by Jacobus de Voragine Catalogue 15

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Hand-colored woodcut (8 x 7) depicting ten saints with attributes.
Leaf from legenda aurea sanctorum by Jacobus de Voragine Catalogue 15

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Hand-colored woodcut (8 x 7) depicting ten saints with attributes.
Leaf from litany, France, Paris Catalogue 22

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: Illuminated gold initials on a blue or red ground, and line-fillers. The border with vines and flowers is traced.
Leaf from litany, France, Paris Catalogue 22

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: Illuminated gold initials on a blue or red ground, and line-fillers. The border with vines and flowers is traced.
Leaf from Matins, Hours of the Virgin, France, Rouen Catalogue 6

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: Foliate vertical border and decorated initials and line fillers.