Shelfmark
MS 261
Author
Uniform title
[Odyssey]
Title
Odyssey and Batrachomyomachia [manuscript]
Publication, distribution, etc.
Italy (probably Florence), 1400-1500.
Physical description
1 v. ; 275 x 180 mm.
Language
Written in Greek.
Note
Secundo folio: αρχή τους.
Note
Date of creation: 1400-1500. If the identification of the scribe and illuminator is correct (see Handwriting and Decoration Notes below), then this date could be narrowed to their lifetime: 1442-1468.
Note
Material: membrane. Gregory's rule (FHHF), but begins with a single leaf FH.
Note
Format: codex.
Note
Written space: 184 x 94 mm.
Note
Number of leaves: i + 201 + ii.
Note
Collation: 1 leaf + 1-20¹⁰. The stub of lower medieval flyleaf appears between quire 19 and 20.
Note
Quire and leaf signatures and catchwords: catchwords only.
Note
Page preparation: faint lines are sometimes visible for ruling; no pricking visible.
Note
Decoration: decorated initials (5-2 lines) in burnished gold on blue, green and pink background with white penwork decorations. The initial at f.2r depicts a man in 15th-century clothing, possibly representing Odysseus, and a putto. Folio 2r also has a full decorated border: a simple rectangular frame in burnished gold with white vine scroll (bianchi girari) on blue, green and pink background, including rose-bud motifs in gold. The border includes depictions of putti, cherubs and animals, as well as two small miniatures: at the top of the border is Penelope sewing and at the bottom of it is Odysseus with Nausicaa at the Phaeacians' court. According to Tammaro de Marinis, the illuminator was Filippo Torelli (mentioned by M.R. James' notes in ECL MS 932).
Note
Handwriting: Greek minuscule script; according to Paul Canart and Paolo Eleuteri in "Scrittura greca nell'Umanesimo italiano" (1991), this is the "neoclassical" sub-classification of this script. Edgar Lobel suggested that the scribe of this manuscript is Johannes Skoutariotes, which was seconded by Dieter Harlfinger (see M.R. James' note dated 30.8.77 in ECL MS 932).
Note
Correction: missing text added in the margin by the scribe.
Note
Marginalia, later additions: none.
Formatted contents note
Contents: f.1: missing ; ff. 2r-198r: Homer, Odyssey ; ff. 198r-202v: Homer, Batrachomyomachia.
Cite as
Eton College Library, MS 261
Additional physical form available
Reproduction available; Bodleian Library; Eton College Library should be contacted for permission to reproduce; SN 4894.01
Provenance
Origin: Italy, likely Florence. In ECL MS 932, M.R. James states that the erasure on the top left corner of the lower flyleaf once read: "Liber Georgii Antonii Vespucci" i.e. the uncle of explorer and navigator Amerigo Vespucci. Giorgio Antonio was a friar at San Marco.
Provenance
Provenance: former Phillips MS. 6550: Sir Thomas Phillips bought it in 1833 from Messrs. Payne and Foss. It was then purchased by John Hely-Hutchinson in July 1947 from W.H. Robinson Ltd. and presented by him to Eton College Library in June 1954 (the bookplate on front pastedown dates the bequest to 30 March 1950).
Binding
15th-century half-bound morocco over exposed wood boards, typical of the Dominican convent of San Marco in Florence. Covers undecorated. Spine with four raised bands, decorated with gilt titling ("Homeri Odyssea et Batrachomyomachia. Graec. Cod."). Textblock gilted and gauffered. Endpapers of laid paper and medieval membrane; one (paper) flyleaf at the upper end of the textblock and two (paper and membrane) at the lower end; both pastedowns are made of paper.
Subject
Homer Odyssey
Subject
Homer Batrachomyomachia
Subject
Manuscripts, Greek Italy Florence.
Added entry--name
Skoutariotes, Johannes scribe.
Added entry--name
Vespucci, Giorgio Antonio, approximately 1434 - 1514 former owner.
Added entry--name
Phillipps, Thomas, 1792 - 1872 Sir former owner.
Added entry--name
Hely-Hutchinson, J. W., 1882 - 1955 former owner.
Added entry--name
Homer Batrachomyomachia.
Added entry--name
Torelli, Filippo di Matteo, 1409 - 1468 illuminator.
Added entry--name
Biblioteca di San Marco (Florence, Italy) former owner.
Added entry--place
Italy Florence.
Language code
grc
Identifier
B50899