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

Bible C, Leaf with Job, Chapters 25-29, Verso

Unknown

The Book of Job explores human suffering and the necessity of faith. In Chapters 25 through 29, Job laments the loss of his blessed past. Line two of Chapter 29 stresses his feelings: "How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me."
Bible C, Leaf with the end of Psalm 118 (119) and the first linke of Psalm 119 (120), Recto

Unknown

This leaf is without illumination, but contains alternating red and blue pen flourished initials, which provide a visual break-up of the different Psalms. In addition, each verse is marked with a red notation to aide the reader.
Bible C, Leaf with the end of Psalm 118 (119) and the first linke of Psalm 119 (120), Verso

Unknown

This leaf is without illumination, but contains alternating red and blue pen flourished initials, which provide a visual break-up of the different Psalms. In addition, each verse is marked with a red notation to aide the reader.
Bible D, Leaf with Numbers, Chapters 14-16, Recto

Unknown

Numbers takes its name from the original tribes of Israel and is part of the Pentateuch. The overall theme of the book is about inspiration for communities experiencing turmoil or relocation. The original tribes living in the Promised Land rebelled against the laws imposed on them by Moses.
Bible D, Leaf with Numbers, Chapters 14-16, Verso

Unknown

Numbers takes its name from the original tribes of Israel and is part of the Pentateuch. The overall theme of the book is about inspiration for communities experiencing turmoil or relocation. The original tribes living in the Promised Land rebelled against the laws imposed on them by Moses.
Bible E, Leaf with Opening to the Interpretation of the Hebrew Names, Recto

Unknown

The Interpretation of the Hebrew Names, once a separate book, was attached to the biblical texts, and became a common part of portable Bibles after 1230. A magnificent hybrid with a fox-like head and wings of an eagle melds with the contour of the letter "A" that opens the text.
Bible E, Leaf with Opening to the Interpretation of the Hebrew Names, Verso

Unknown

The Interpretation of the Hebrew Names, once a separate book, was attached to the biblical texts, and became a common part of portable Bibles after 1230. A magnificent hybrid with a fox-like head and wings of an eagle melds with the contour of the letter "A" that opens the text.
Bible F, Leaf with Psalms 51 (52) through 55 (56), Recto

Unknown

Here we see a hybrid dwelling in the "D" which opens Psalm 52 (53). The decorated initial acted as a signpost, guiding the user to the psalm which began the liturgy of a particular day.
Bible F, Leaf with Psalms 51 (52) through 55 (56), Verso

Unknown

We get a hint of how the scribe indicated the location and nature of the flourished initials to the illuminator. At the top of the left column, the scribe penned a small guideltter "e" before the blank space he left for the flourished initial. The illuminator, however, seems to have overlooked the opening initial to this psalm (Psalm 54 [55]).
Bible G, Leaf with the End of I Esadras (Nehemiah), and the Beginning of II Esadras, Recto

Unknown

Esadras was originally conceived of as one book. According to tradition, a Jewish priest named Ezra wove together his own memoirs, the written recollections of Nehemiah, and various other historical documents to compile a text that would encourage the Jews. Though they were still under foreign rule, they had been able to return to their city, Jerusalem, and God was continuing to work among them. In Bible 'G,' as in most thirteenth century Bibles, the book was divided into I Esadras, Ezra's account of the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, and II Esadras, relating the subsequent rebuilding of Jerusalem's city walls under the direction of Nehemiah. In present day editions of the Bible, II Esadras is often called the book of Nehemiah.
Bible G, Leaf with the End of I Esadras (Nehemiah), and the Beginning of II Esadras, Verso

Unknown

Esadras was originally conceived of as one book. According to tradition, a Jewish priest named Ezra wove together his own memoirs, the written recollections of Nehemiah, and various other historical documents to compile a text that would encourage the Jews. Though they were still under foreign rule, they had been able to return to their city, Jerusalem, and God was continuing to work among them. In Bible 'G,' as in most thirteenth century Bibles, the book was divided into I Esadras, Ezra's account of the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, and II Esadras, relating the subsequent rebuilding of Jerusalem's city walls under the direction of Nehemiah. In present day editions of the Bible, II Esadras is often called the book of Nehemiah.
Bifolium from a a Missal, Germany, Recto A

Unknown

This particular bifolium from a Missal has been cut considerably, resulting in the loss of text.
Bifolium from a a Missal, Germany, Recto B

Unknown

This particular bifolium from a Missal has been cut considerably, resulting in the loss of text.
Bifolium from a Psalter, North Germany, Recto

Unknown

This bifolium contains Psalms 36 through 38. It is possible that it came from a Psalter once part of a Breviary for Breviaries generally arranged the Psalms according to their recitation over the course of the week rather than in numerical order. Psalms 36 through 38 were reserved for Tuesday readings at Matins.
Bifolium from a Psalter, North Germany, Verso

Unknown

This bifolium contains Psalms 36 through 38. It is possible that it came from a Psalter once part of a Breviary for Breviaries generally arranged the Psalms according to their recitation over the course of the week rather than in numerical order. Psalms 36 through 38 were reserved for Tuesday readings at Matins.
Leaf from a Lectionary, Germany, Recto

Unknown

A Lectionary is the combination of an Evangelary and an Epistolary. As Missals began emerging sometime after the twelfth century and contained all the necessary texts for the Mass, Lectionaries became obsolete. They were often torn apart and the pages reused as bindings for more up-to-date service books. The survival of this leaf as a binding attests to the constant reuse of vellum, an expensive item for churches and monasteries.
Leaf from a Lectionary, Germany, Verso

Unknown

A Lectionary is the combination of an Evangelary and an Epistolary. As Missals began emerging sometime after the twelfth century and contained all the necessary texts for the Mass, Lectionaries became obsolete. They were often torn apart and the pages reused as bindings for more up-to-date service books. The survival of this leaf as a binding attests to the constant reuse of vellum, an expensive item for churches and monasteries.
Pages from the Past. History of the Written Word. Various Leaves - No. 7 Officium Beate Marie Virginis

Unknown