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 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.
Leaf from Matins, Hours of the Virgin, France, Troyes Catalogue 5

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: One-line and two-line illuminated initials and line endings. Full border including flowers and black/gold ivy vines, blue flowering plants, gold bars.
Leaf from Matins, Hours of the Virgin, France, Troyes Catalogue 5

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: One-line and two-line illuminated initials and line endings. Full border including flowers and black/gold ivy vines, blue flowering plants, gold bars.
Leaf from matins, office of the dead, France, Paris Catalogue 27

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: Three-quarter page foliate border. 1-line and 2-line decorated opening initials. Line-ending.
Leaf from matins, office of the dead, France, Paris Catalogue 27

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: Three-quarter page foliate border. 1-line and 2-line decorated opening initials. Line-ending.
Leaf from matins, office of the dead, S. Netherlands Catalogue 26

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: THree-quarter page foliate border, 1-line initials and line endings. verso: Full foliate border, 3-line initial.
Leaf from matins, office of the dead, S. Netherlands Catalogue 26

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: THree-quarter page foliate border, 1-line initials and line endings. verso: Full foliate border, 3-line initial.
Leaf from obsidionis rhodiae urbis descriptio by Guillaume Caoursin Catalogue 21

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Woodblock featuring nine men, the Turks and the triumphant knights, divided into two groups. The leader of the Turks removes his cap to honor the new regent. verso: One large capital initial.
Leaf from obsidionis rhodiae urbis descriptio by Guillaume Caoursin Catalogue 21

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Woodblock featuring nine men, the Turks and the triumphant knights, divided into two groups. The leader of the Turks removes his cap to honor the new regent. verso: One large capital initial.
Leaf from speculum historiale Catalogue 18

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto, verso: Text printed in black ink, one 3-line versal initial in red, two 3-line versal initials in blue. Foliation in red on head, paragraph marks and rubrication in red throughout.
Leaf from speculum historiale Catalogue 18

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto, verso: Text printed in black ink, one 3-line versal initial in red, two 3-line versal initials in blue. Foliation in red on head, paragraph marks and rubrication in red throughout.
Leaf from speculum humanae salvationis (mirror of human salvation) Catalogue 16

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto, verso: Single columns of text in black ink. Two hand-colored woodblocks (8 x 12) placed within the text.
Leaf from speculum humanae salvationis (mirror of human salvation) Catalogue 16

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto, verso: Single columns of text in black ink. Two hand-colored woodblocks (8 x 12) placed within the text.
Leaf from summa praedicantium Catalogue 9

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Two columns black text with red capital initials throughout. Roman numeral headings in black. verso: Two columns black text with red capital initials throughout. Roman numeral headings in black. Large hand-colored initial letter D in red with grey floral background.
Leaf from summa praedicantium Catalogue 9

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Two columns black text with red capital initials throughout. Roman numeral headings in black. verso: Two columns black text with red capital initials throughout. Roman numeral headings in black. Large hand-colored initial letter D in red with grey floral background.
Leaf from terce, hours of the Virgin, France, [Paris?] Catalogue 11

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: Foliate border of blue and gold acanthus spirals, blue and red flowers; decorated initials and line fillers of blue and maroon with gold pen work. verso: Flowers outlined in black ink used intermittently as line endings.
Leaf from terce, hours of the Virgin, France, [Paris?] Catalogue 11

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: Foliate border of blue and gold acanthus spirals, blue and red flowers; decorated initials and line fillers of blue and maroon with gold pen work. verso: Flowers outlined in black ink used intermittently as line endings.
Leaf from the fifteen joys of the Virgin, France, Paris Catalogue 23

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: Single floral border in bright blue, green, and gold with red accents. Illuminated initials and line-endings.
Leaf from the fifteen joys of the Virgin, France, Paris Catalogue 23

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: Single floral border in bright blue, green, and gold with red accents. Illuminated initials and line-endings.
Leaf from the hours of Catherine, France Catalogue 25

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: One-quarter page border and decorated initials throughout text with gold detail.
Leaf from the hours of Catherine, France Catalogue 25

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: One-quarter page border and decorated initials throughout text with gold detail.
Leaf from the middle of the penitential psalms, England or the Netherlands Catalogue 20

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: Red and blue flourished initials, one illuminated initial. Decorated line endings with an illuminated hybrid figure of a man-fish on the verso.
Leaf from the middle of the penitential psalms, England or the Netherlands Catalogue 20

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: Red and blue flourished initials, one illuminated initial. Decorated line endings with an illuminated hybrid figure of a man-fish on the verso.
Leaf from vespers and compline, hours of the holy spirit, France, [Paris or Rouen?] Catalogue 17

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: Full borders decorated with various flowers and plants. Several illuminated letters, line fillers and rubrics. Bas-de-page illuminations depicting comic scenes of an ape with a bird.