[Archbishop Matthew Parker] | Presentation manuscript for Queen Elizabeth

Property from a private British Collection - Lots 1 – 15

Archbishop Matthew Parker

Presentation manuscript for Queen Elizabeth

in the form of nine conjoined vellum roundels (each c. 40mm diameter) in three rows, linked by thin strips of vellum (total size 127 x 127mm), the middle centre roundel illuminated in blue and gold with a finely illustrated St George and the Dragon on a dark blue background surrounded by a Garter with motto, and with surrounding Latin text on the presentation of an agate jewel by Archbishop Matthew Parker to Queen Elizabeth I ("Regni axos Elizabetha gerit Mattheus Achaten Cantuar. Ei donat fidus dum vivet Achates"), the bottom centre roundel with a small miniature portrait of Queen Elizabeth in blue, surrounded by three Latin sententiae, the top row with a definition of agate in French derived from Pliny with headings in gold ink, the remaining roundels with Latin texts on the properties of agate and related subjects derived from Pliny and other Classical sources, the texts in three fine calligraphic hands, [September 1573], mounted on a square of velvet covered board, with a printed exhibition label ("Tudor Exhibition, London. 1889-90. Reg. No 49") on the reverse