Dialogorum libri IV

Title: Dialogorum libri IV
LC Subject: Christian saints--Italy--Biography Christian hagiography Saints
Item Locator: Eugene, OR, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon, MS 026.
Repository: University of Oregon. Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives
Author: Gregory I, Pope, approximately 540-604
Description: Manuscript codex. Gregory's dialogues with his favorite Deacon, intended to honor the memory of the saints of Italy and to edify and instruct his countrymen. In Book IV, Gregory attempts to strengthen their faith in the unseen by proving that the soul does not perish. Collation: Gatherings of 8, the last of 6; signatures to 3, f. 82; 4, f. 124. Book numbers at top recto. Decoration: Two large initials, one in red and one in green, red, and blue. Many small initials in red or green, a few in blue. Each chapter heading has a red capital. Binding: parchment over thin boards, 4 thongs, spine lined with white evenweave fabric. Pastedown and flyleaf of thick rough paper. Written on spine in brown ink: S. Gregory Dialog. and two unintelligible lines. Script: Rounded Gothic minuscule book hand in brown ink with rubrication. Content Note: Dr. Giuseppe Martini (probably Giuseppe Alfredo Martini, bibliophile and collector, 1870-1944), as recorded by Edward Sandford Burgess: Probable date, 1150-60. Ruled with sharp point in style of 12th century. After 1300 green found in polychrome only. Written in North Italy, since it had been in a monastery at Genoa. Looks like the beautiful writing they did in Benedictine monastery, Morimondo, of the order of St. Justin, in the province of Pavia. There they write a peculiar and excellent hand like this. Date is confirmed by opinion of Mr. Minns (possibly Dr. Ellis Hovell Minns (1874-1953)), University reader in Paleography, Cambridge, England, as quoted in 1907 letter from rare books firm P. M. Barnard: It is 12th c...1150-75 Italian...Borne out by monastery inscription. Pierce and Fox argue that it is mid-12th century due to the single column layout and lack of letter fusion typical of later Gothic script. They assert it is not Italian due to the script angularity and the type of abbreviations.
Provenance: This manuscript was at a Genoan monastery at Quarto in the late 14th century. Inscription at foot of 1r: Iste liber est monasterii Sancte Ieronimi de Quarto. Reperie[t] Ieniensis (?) ordinis Sancte Marie Montis Oliveti. Last page has a prayer for the priest before saying mass. That and the partly erased dates and notes on the last page are in cursive hand of the 15th century. (May have been date of purchase. No. 134 on 1r is probably the library number.) 18th century bookplate on inside front cover: Sheppard Frere, Esq. (1712-1780) with heraldic achievement including two leopard heads in pales gules, between two flaunches. Crest: out of a ducal coronet or, an antelope's head argent, armed gold. Red oval stamp Roydon Hall Library (Sheppard Frere's residence and library) with same device. First flyleaf: bookplate with aster design and motto inter asteres, inter astra, Edward Sandford Burgess. Donation/Purchase ; Julia Burgess, 1935-1942.
Date: 1101/1200
Identifier: MS_026
Item Locator: MS 026
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
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: Single column, 26 lines per page. Pricking on outer edges of some pages. Ruled with hardpoint stylus ruled, which on one page cut through the parchment.