Licence: In copyright
Credit: Sales catalogue 1: Lathorp C. Harper, Inc. Source: Wellcome Collection.
12/92 page 6
![after the flint-and-steel device of Philip of Burgundy; with a pendant on the breast depict- ing a golden lamb’s fleece. This emblem, of course, derives from the myth of Jason and the Argonauts and their Quest of the Golden Fleece. The entire manuscript is in a faultlessly fresh state of preservation. The gilt ornaments on the binding (frames, cornerpieces and centerpieces) are somewhat oxidized and dark- ened, but otherwise the original binding is in fine condition. [See Illustrations, verso of Frontispiece and page 5.] A MOST IMPORTANT MANUSCRIPT WITH THE ARMS OF THE BORROMEO FAMILY 4. CICERO, Marcus TuLtius. Epistolae ad familiares, libri xvi. Manuscript on 212 leaves of fine vellum, written in humanistic characters, executed in Lom- bardy (probably in Milan) about the middle of the fifteenth century. The first page decorated by an exceptionally fine border of interlaced strapwork and chain- work with ornamental leaves, painted in various colors on a gold ground and in- troducing in the upper and outside borders five diamond-shaped compartments. These contain a head wearing a laurel wreath (Cicero?), a small dog, a deer, and two coats-of-arms of the Borromeo family upheld by two angels. The headings of the 16 books into which the text is divided are beautifully written in gold, blue and red Roman capitals accompanied by 16 large, decorative initials measuring about 2” x 2” composed of strap- and chainwork painted in various colors on a gold ground; hundreds of smaller initials in blue and red. Small folio (1012” x 634”), full brown levant morocco by Riviére, enclosed in a cloth open-back case. North Italy, fifteenth century. $1,850.00 A very beautiful and interesting manuscript with regard to text, calligraphy and orna- mentation. The writing is executed with the greatest care and perfection. It was such speci- mens that served as examples for the fifteenth-century Italian designers of printing types in cutting their famous Roman fonts. The decoration is of the best type of Lombard miniature art. The coat-of-arms in the border of the first page is that of the Borromeo family, one of the most ancient and illus- trious of Milan, where this manuscript probably originated. While manuscripts of other works of Cicero are often obtainable, manuscripts of the Epistolae are of the greatest rarity and rank among the most important classical texts ex- tant. After the best text, containing all sixteen books. A few wormholes in the beginning and at end and slight discolorations on first leaf, oth- erwise in most perfect condition. For a printed version of this great text see Item 28.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b33160296_0012.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
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