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.

Printing is not supported at the primary Gallery Thumbnail page. Please first navigate to a specific Image before printing.

Switch View to Grid View Slideshow

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.
Leaf opening compline, hours of the Virgin, France, [Paris?] Catalogue 15

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Full-page miniature of coronation of the Virgin inside a foliate border. verso: Quarter-page foliate border. Illuminated initials and line-endings.
Leaf opening compline, hours of the Virgin, France, [Paris?] Catalogue 15

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Full-page miniature of coronation of the Virgin inside a foliate border. verso: Quarter-page foliate border. Illuminated initials and line-endings.
Leaf opening Matins, Hours of the Virgin, Germany Catalogue 4

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

verso: 1 full-page miniature of the Virgin and Child in a garden.
Leaf opening Matins, Hours of the Virgin, Germany Catalogue 4

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

verso: 1 full-page miniature of the Virgin and Child in a garden.
Leaf opening terce, hours of the virgin, France, [Angers?] Catalogue 10

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Three-line opening initial with rinceaux decoration. Vine leaves and flowers in a full border defined by a bar.
Leaf opening terce, hours of the virgin, France, [Angers?] Catalogue 10

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Three-line opening initial with rinceaux decoration. Vine leaves and flowers in a full border defined by a bar.
Leaf opening the penitential psalms, Germany, Cologne Catalogue 19

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: 7-line gold opening initial with a pink and gold flower on blue and mauve ground. Border illuminated with typical Cologne-style four-lobed flowers with central gold dots, bell-shaped flowers, gold thistles, and gold branches.
Leaf opening the penitential psalms, Germany, Cologne Catalogue 19

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: 7-line gold opening initial with a pink and gold flower on blue and mauve ground. Border illuminated with typical Cologne-style four-lobed flowers with central gold dots, bell-shaped flowers, gold thistles, and gold branches.
Leaf with ancillary prayers, France Catalogue 24

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

frecto: Small miniature of God the Father. One side foliate border. One two-line decorated opening initial in gold and blue introducing the Latin prayer. verso: Small miniature of St. John the Evangelist. One side foliate border. One two-line decorated opening initial in gold and blue, and two one-line decorated opening initials in gold and blue, and gold and red.
Leaf with ancillary prayers, France Catalogue 24

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

frecto: Small miniature of God the Father. One side foliate border. One two-line decorated opening initial in gold and blue introducing the Latin prayer. verso: Small miniature of St. John the Evangelist. One side foliate border. One two-line decorated opening initial in gold and blue, and two one-line decorated opening initials in gold and blue, and gold and red.
Leaf with ending of prime, all of terce, and opening to sext, hours of the holy spirit, S. Netherlands, Bruges Catalogue 16

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: Border including flowers and black/gold ivy, top and bottom, double banded bar on left side. All initials are written in gold with alternating blue and red foreground/infill and have white filigree.
Leaf with ending of prime, all of terce, and opening to sext, hours of the holy spirit, S. Netherlands, Bruges Catalogue 16

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto and verso: Border including flowers and black/gold ivy, top and bottom, double banded bar on left side. All initials are written in gold with alternating blue and red foreground/infill and have white filigree.
Leaf with Job, Chapters 25-29 Catalogue 20, Bible 'C'

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

Recto: Header, "IOB." Left column, flourished initials "R" (2); chapter divisions "XXV" and "XXXVI." Right column, flourished initials "A" and "H"; chapter divisions "XXXVI" and "XXVIII." Verso: Header, "I." Left column, flourished initials "A"; chapter division "XXIX."
Leaf with Job, Chapters 25-29 Catalogue 20, Bible 'C'

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

Recto: Header, "IOB." Left column, flourished initials "R" (2); chapter divisions "XXV" and "XXXVI." Right column, flourished initials "A" and "H"; chapter divisions "XXXVI" and "XXVIII." Verso: Header, "I." Left column, flourished initials "A"; chapter division "XXIX."
Leaf with Numbers, Chapters 14-16 Catalogue 22, Bible 'D'

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

Recto: Header, "ME." Right column, flourished initial "L."; chapter division "XV." Verso: Header, "NV." Right column, flourished initial "E"; chapter division "XVI." Three corrections to the text in black ink surrounded by boxes in margins.
Leaf with Numbers, Chapters 14-16 Catalogue 22, Bible 'D'

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

Recto: Header, "ME." Right column, flourished initial "L."; chapter division "XV." Verso: Header, "NV." Right column, flourished initial "E"; chapter division "XVI." Three corrections to the text in black ink surrounded by boxes in margins.
Leaf with o intemerata prayer, South Netherlands, Bruges Catalogue 10

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Three-quarter page foliate border emerging from a gold and blue bar in left margin, consisting of small gold leaves and various flowers with black hairline sprays. Four-line decorated initial O in blue, red and mauve on gold ground that begins the O intemerata. verso: Single column of text in black.
Leaf with o intemerata prayer, South Netherlands, Bruges Catalogue 10

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

recto: Three-quarter page foliate border emerging from a gold and blue bar in left margin, consisting of small gold leaves and various flowers with black hairline sprays. Four-line decorated initial O in blue, red and mauve on gold ground that begins the O intemerata. verso: Single column of text in black.
Leaf with opening to the Interpretation of the Hebrew Names Catalogue 23, Bible 'E'

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

Recto: Four flourished initials "A." Verso: Three flourished initials "A."
Leaf with opening to the Interpretation of the Hebrew Names Catalogue 23, Bible 'E'

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

Recto: Four flourished initials "A." Verso: Three flourished initials "A."
Leaf with part of a prologue to and the beginning of Job Catalogue 18, Bible 'B'

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

Recto: Header, "IOB." Left column, historiated initial "V." Right column, flourished initial "F"; chapter division "II." Verso: Header, "V." Left column, flourished initial "P"; chapter division "III." Right column, flourished initial "B"; chapter division "IIII."
Leaf with part of a prologue to and the beginning of Job Catalogue 18, Bible 'B'

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

Recto: Header, "IOB." Left column, historiated initial "V." Right column, flourished initial "F"; chapter division "II." Verso: Header, "V." Left column, flourished initial "P"; chapter division "III." Right column, flourished initial "B"; chapter division "IIII."
Leaf with Psalms 26(27) through 32(33) Catalogue 17, Bible 'B'

University of South FloridaTampa Campus Library

Recto: Left column, inhabited initial "O"; flourished initial "A." Right column, flourished initials, "A," "E," "I." Verso: Left column, flourished initial "B." Right column, flourished initial "E."