Bible, Leviticus, in Latin, manuscript on vellum [Germany (probably Kochel Abbey), c.800]

two fragments of bifolia (each composed of numerous strips recovered from gathering supports), overall dimensions 445mm. by 305mm. and 450mm. by 130mm., the larger a near-complete bifolium, double column, 29 lines in brown ink in an early Carolingian minuscule with traces of Alemannic influence, some ornamental capitals, initials on smaller fragment touched in terracotta-red, losses of text from outer edges of larger fragment, losses to outer and upper edges from smaller fragment, the pieces now held together with conservation tape, overall fair condition

provenance

Identified as a product of Kochel Abbey (founded c.750), diocese of Augsburg, a small community of nuns associated with Benediktbeuern. These leaves may well be in the hand of a female scribe of the late eighth or early ninth century. If so, these are among the oldest known examples of the hand of a woman (cf. McKitterick, 'Nuns' Scriptoria' in Scribes, Scribes and Learning, 1994). Other books from the abbey are listed in Bischoff, Südostdeutschen Schreibschule und Bibliotheken in der Karolingerzeit, 1960, pp.22-23, 40-43, and pl.ii.b and S. Krämer, Handschriftenerbe des Deutschen Mittelalters, I, 1989, p.405; an eleventh-century booklist from the abbey survives in Munich Clm. 4542. Bought from Quaritch in 1993: Schøyen MS 1761.

text

Latin Bibles were the core texts of early Carolingian religious houses, often with emphasis on the Old Testament. The text here is that of Leviticus 14:39-42; 14:47-56; 14:53-15:2; 15:5-8; 16:25-27; 16:31-33; 17:3-11; and 21:6-23:7.