De Viribus Herbarum

Title: De Viribus Herbarum
LC Subject: Materia medica--Early works to 1800 Materia medica, Vegetable Medicine--Early works to 1800 Medicinal plants
Repository: University of Oregon. Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives
Author: Macer, Floridus
Description: Manuscript codex. The properties of herbs: hexameter poem on medicinal uses of herbs, written in the late 11th century under the pseudonym of Macer (with reference to the Roman poet and naturalist Aemilius Licinius Macer, d. 16 BC). The French physician Odo de Meung-sur-Loire, known as Odo Magdunensis, has been suggested as the real author, as his name is mentioned in a 12th-century copy of the text (Dresden, Sa_chsische Landesbibliothek - Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek, Dc. 160, f. 37v, explicit) and a number of later manuscripts. The epithet 'Floridus' was added to the name by scribes from the 13th century onwards (Wellcome Library). The text draws from classical and early medieval sources, Pliny (23-79 AD) and Walafrid Strabo (d. 849) in particular. Cited for the first time by Sigebertus Gemblacensis (d. 1112), the poem circulated widely in Europe, both in Latin and in vernacular translations, for the following five centuries, with the number of hexameter lines varying greatly (Wellcome library). The poem is one of the earliest Western documents proving a medieval revival of interest in botany. Collation: Three quires of 8. Catchwords on f. 8b, f. 16b. Decoration: Illuminated capital 'H' on first recto: Brownish-purple with white highlights on raised gold square, filled with foliage in blue and pink, with green foliate extensions and 9 scattered raised gold dots outlined with ink. Four Lombardic capitals, three in red and four in blue; some unfilled capital spaces. Gothic ornamental capitals (same ink and size as script) starts each line. First five divisions have headings in red. Binding: Gray-green paper and brown morocco leather spine over boards. Leather is blind-tooled with four pairs of horizontal lines, each bracketed by a small gold dot. Spine labeled MACER lengthwise in gold. Paper pastedowns and four paper flyleaves at front and back. Script: Rounded Gothic book minuscule in brown ink with rubrication.
Provenance: 1. Label on inside front cover William Wesley & Son, Booksellers & Publishers, 22 Essex St., Strand, London. William Wesley (1814-1885) was a publisher and exporter of scientific books and instruments. The business became William Wesley & Son in 1885. 2. Bookplate with aster design and motto inter asteres, inter astra, Edward Sandford Burgess on first flyleaf Donation/Purchase ; Julia Burgess, 1935-1942.
Location: Italy
Date: 1401/1425
Identifier: MS_034
Item Locator: MS 034
Rights: No Copyright - United States
Dc Rights Holder: University of Oregon. Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives
Use Restrictions: Property rights reside with Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections & University Archives.
Language: Latin
Type: Collection
Format: application/xml
Material: Parchment
Set: University of Oregon Special Collections Manuscripts and Rare Books
Primary Set: University of Oregon Special Collections Manuscripts and Rare Books
Institution: University of Oregon
Layout: 24 leaves ; 185 x 260 mm bound to 190 x 268 mm Single column, lines ruled in ink, every 5th line numbered in pencil, varying number of lines per page, 1278 lines total.