Mass Lectionary with Readings from the Epistles, In Latin, decorated manuscript on parchment

In Latin, decorated manuscript on parchment, Northern Italy (Brescia), c.1461-1484. Dimensions 260 x 186 mm, lacking the last leaf of text, otherwise complete, horizontal catchwords mostly in swirling cartouches with wash and penwork, ruled in gray ink (justification 174 x 127 mm.), written in black ink in an Italian rotunda on 21 lines. BINDING: In its ORIGINAL BINDING with wooden boards, traces of tooling with an interlacing pattern on the back board, leather on binding removed, clasps and catches missing, worm holes and wear, but in overall good condition, TEXT: This is a very fine display copy of an Epistolary: a rare type of lectionary that includes the texts for the second reading during Mass, the Epistles. This example represents a significant source for the history of the Dominican convent dedicated to Saint Florian, most likely St. Fiorano ai Ronchi in Brescia, Italy. PROVENANCE: The manuscript was made for use in a Dominican convent dedicated to St. Florian, almost certainly S. Fiorano ai Ronchi in Brescia, Italy. It can be dated after 1461, the canonization of St. Catherine of Siena, included in our manuscript; belonged to the library of the famous Italian writer and landscape architect Count Ercole de Silva (1756-1840); his stamp is found in the lower margin of f. 1; his collection was sold in Paris in 1869; Hartung & Hartung, auction 58, lot no. 4 (1989); modern booksellers' markings in pencil inside the front pastedown: "118" and "58/113/2." CONDITION: Lacking the last leaf with loss of text, black ink of text slightly faded on f. 1 and some other leaves but text legible throughout, f. 121 loose from the top sewing, minor stains, tiny worm holes on the first and last leaves, overall excellent condition. Complete descriptions and images available (TM 1250).