HoB_Extending the Medieval Tradition

Title Psalteriu[m] v[ir]ginis sanctissime [secundum]...

Brief description

This book is an important piece of intellectual and cultural history for several reasons, the first being that it is the only remaining copy of this edition of the work. Furthermore, because books from the publisher, Johannes Leoviler, de Hallis, are very rare, this book is of importance in representing its publisher.

The content of this work, a book for personal and communal prayers, lamentations, and thanksgivings in honor of the Virgin Mary, is an important example of the ways in which a Christian person of this time period would have practiced their daily religious rituals. This prayer book also represents the celebration of the Virgin Mary as a prominent religious figure who inspired piety in her followers.

While the use of this text was widespread, its context of personal use makes it a unique object that recalls the religious fortitude of its era and the pious nature of the society in which it was created.

Physical description

Bound book.

Content description

The title of this text translates to The Psalter of Our Lady, and is a collection of 150 psalms for personal and communal prayers, as well as lamentations and thanksgivings prayers, in honor of the Virgin Mary.

It was most likely written during the same time of as St. Bonaventure’s other works, between 1243 and 1271. The book is comprised of 150 psalms, which corresponding to the psalms of David, but are adapted to the Virgin Mary. The book “also contains eight canticles, in the manner of the canticles of Isaias, Ezechias, Anna, the two of Moses, Habacuc, the three children in the fiery furnace, and Zacharias; besides the hymn ‘We praise thee, O Mother of God,’ after the manner of the Te Deum of SS. Ambrose and Augustine; and finally, a Marian “Quicum-que vult’ in the style of the Creed of St. Athanasius” (Emmanual, 201).

The fact that this is a prayer book dedicated to the Virgin Mary is significant as “The Virgin Mary was the most prominent figure in late medieval piety after her son, and she was at the center of the theological controversies in the sixteenth century. The continuing popularity and importance of Mary’s cult therefore provides an important link between the two periods.” (Ellington, 231).

St. Bonaventure is the author of many philosophical and theological writings, including his most influential work, Journey of the Mind to God (Itinerarium mentis in Deum), “a mental and spiritual journey to God whose basic outline—though not its details—could be understood by even the simplest friar” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy).

St. Bonaventure’s work was extremely influential and widely used, as “during his lifetime he rose to become one of the most prominent men in Latin Christianity” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) and many of his texts were reproduced and copied during his lifetime and beyond.

Contributor: Heather McCreery

Contribution date: Winter 2014

Full title: Psalteriu[m] v[ir]ginis sanctissime [secundum] festa [et] dies hebd[om]e in matutina[rum] nocturnos distinctu[m] incipit.

Date 1486

Location Venetijs (Venice, Italy)

Dimensions 87 x 64 mm; type pages measure 72 x 49 mm

Technologies of production Letterpress printing

Additional information According to the informational sheet accompanying this book, this is the only surviving copy of this book. There are vague references to this book in early incunabula bibliographies, but mentions of this particular book are rare. Similar books are mentioned but they have different publication dates or different sizes.

Condition The spine is very worn; parts have disintegrated. The spine is comprised of four panels; the top and bottom panels are completely gone, displaying the wood boards under the leather cover. The two middle panels are cracked and faded but there is a trace of the double gold lines intended for decoration at the top and bottom of each panel.

The back and front covers are faded and worn, and the top and bottom corners of the back cover are torn. The back cover is barely attached to the book. The inside cover pages feature a diamond-shaped geometric pattern printed in red and blue.

The pages are dirty as if they have been thumbed through and handled frequently. The edges of the pages were painted red on all sides so that when the book is closed the outer edges of the paper appear red, but the color is very faded now. Inside, the binding is very fragile and istorn in some places, but it is more intact in the second half of the book. Page numbers have been hand-written in black ink at the top right hand corner of each odd-numbered page.

Throughout the book, some type appears bolder or darker while some type is more faded. One page in the 120s range has a red signature at the bottom of the page (the script is indecipherable). On the blank pages preceding and succeeding the text, there are pencil notations that I assume have been made in comparatively recent history as the notations are in English and are notes on the text. Also, according to an informational sheet accompanying the book, the text of the book is complete, but for some reason it lacks Quire A, which may have consisted of a calendar. There is no explanation why the book begins with Quire B.