ALDHELM (c. 639-709)

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ALDHELM (c. 639-709)
Bishop of Sherbourne, Latin poet and scholar. Two leaves from De laude virginitatis [In Praise of Virginity]. In Latin, in Insular Southumbrian minuscule, decorated manuscript on parchment [Southern England (probably Glastonbury or Worcester), circa 800] Bifolium, each leaf 180 x 135 mm, 22 lines in black ink in a fine and early Insular Southumbrian minuscule, text in a single column, initials and simple paragraph marks once touched in red (now oxidised to silver), a few small early corrections, 17 tiny glosses in Anglo-Saxon (dated by Ker to the second half of tenth-century), translating words in the main text, one large combined initial “gl” (opening “gloriosas itidem...”) in insular style with sweeping fishhook-like ascenders surrounded by tiny dots in faded red (with some damage primarily caused by oxidisation), slight spotting in places, overall in outstanding condition. Leaves bound in a reddish-brown morocco binding by C. & C. McLeish, back sewn on 5 raised bands with gilt lettering “Aldhelm”, parchment pastedowns, gilt double frame on inner boards, placed in a fitted cloth articulated folder, inserted in a leather and cloth slipcase (nota bene, slipcase contains a second folder, here empty). Earliest witness to the text, written within a century of the author's death. These leaves contain no less than 17 glosses in Anglo-Saxon (20 words in all), datable to the tenth century, translating the original Latin. Aldhelm was born circa 639, a relative of Ine, king of Wesse
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