University of Chicago Library, Goodspeed Manuscript Collection Ms. 232, New Testament. Gospels (Phillipps Gospels). Greg. 677. Greece, 13th century.

Contents

Four gospels in Greek. With kephalaia numbers, titles, and Ammonian section numbers. Added Lectionary tables (Synaxarion and Menologion), and Epistle selections. Formerly Phillipps Ms. 2387, and Goodspeed Ms. Grk. 62.

  1. fols. 1r-23r Gospel lectionary tables with Synaxarion and Menologion references.
  2. fols. 23v-31r Epistle selections for liturgical use: Hebrews 2:2-11 (fol. 23v); James 5:10-20 (fol. 24r); Colossians 4:5-18 (fol. 25r); 2 Timothy 2:1-11 (fol. 25v); Hebrews 7:26-8:3, 13:17-22 (fols. 26r-26v); Galatians 3:23-4:6 (fol. 27r); Philippians 2:5-11 (fol. 27v); 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (fol. 28r); 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:3 (fol. 28v); Hebrews 11:9-11, 11:32-40 (fols. 29v); Romans 13:11-14:5 (fol. 30v); Hebrews 9:1-8 (fol. 31r).
  3. fol. 31v Book stamp of Sir Thomas Phillipps of Middle Hill, Ms. 2387.
  4. fols. 32r-32v Canon tables I-II.
  5. fols. 33r-86r Matthew (begins with 1:2 at, [εγεννησε]ν τον Ισαακ Ισαακ δε, and ends with 1:8 at, δε εγεννησε τον Ιωσαφατ. Begins on fol. 33v with 1:13 at, [Α]βιουδ δε εγεννησε τον).
    Note: Upper section of parchment leaf with headpiece and portions of text now lost.
  6. fols. 86v-87r Kephalaia of Matthew.
    Note: Blank, fol. 87v.
  7. fols. 88r-120r Mark (begins with 1:19, Και προβας εκειθεν).
  8. fol. 120v Kephalaia of Mark.
    Note: Blank, fol. 121.
  9. fols. 122r-179v Luke (begins with 1:18 at, τουτο εγω γαρ ειμι).
  10. fols. 179v-180v Kephalaia of Luke.
  11. fols. 181r-222r John (begins with 1:23 at, [Ησαι]ας ο προφήτης).
  12. fol. 222v Kephalaia of John.

Decoration

The manuscript contained portraits of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke, now lost.

Miniatures

  1. fol. 180vEvangelist, John, Portrait: John stands at right, dictates to the deacon Prochorus who is writing, seated on bench at left.

Canon Tables

Citations of concordant gospel sections are framed by architectural columns. These support arched headpieces with cruciform, floral, and foliate motifs in dark blue on a light rose ground.

Initials

Major initial of Matthew, remnant (40 mm, fol. 33r). Minor initials in red set off from the text.

Physical Description

Support

Parchment and paper. 160 x 140 mm.

Watermarks

Watermark of epistle selection leaves, fols. 29 and 30, similar to Briquet, Tête de boeuf, 14525 (Brescia, 1543).

Number of Leaves

226 leaves, of which 191 are parchment and 35 are paper (16th century). Front flyleaves composed of 1 folded printed page titled Acta generalis Octavae Synodi (sessio prima). Back flyleaf (fol. 224) is a raised pastedown.

Foliation

2 (unfoliated paper flyleaves) + 222 + 1 (foliated paper flyleaf) + 1 (foliated paper pastedown). Foliation in Arabic numerals in pencil 1-224.

Collation

30 quires, of which 26 are parchment and 4 are paper containing an added lectionary table and epistle selections. Estimate of content lost: Eusebian Canon tables III-X, and possibly Eusebius's letter to Carpianus on the gospel canons; portrait of the Evangelist Matthew (before fol. 33); headpiece, partial initial, and text of Matthew (fol. 33); portrait of the Evangelist Mark, headpiece, initial, and beginning text of Mark (between fols. 87 and 88); portrait of the Evangelist Luke, headpiece, initial, and beginning text of Luke (between fols. 121 and 122); headpiece, initial, and beginning text of John (after fol. 180).

25 parchment quires, as presently composed, have been numbered in a later hand, each on the first folio (lower margin, recto), from fol. 41, β-αα.

Dimensions

Written space 125 x 95 mm (fol. 63r).

Layout

1 column, 25 lines. Ruling with hard point.

Writing

Written in minuscule script in black ink.

Punctuation includes high and low points, comma, marks of elision and interrogation. Quotation marks in the left margin next to each line of quoted text.

Methods of correcting text consist of supplying omissions in the margins, and altering accentuation and punctuation.

Condition

Remaining canon table detached from binding. Leaf mutilated (fol. 33). Paint loss from miniature of the Evangelist John (fol. 180v). Some marginal text lost because of trimming. Water stains. Insect damage to paper and leather and boards of the binding. Part of back board missing.

Binding Description

Bound in medium brown leather and lined with blue linen over boards. Phillipps manuscript label on spine, 2387.

Floral motifs enclosed in blind stamped frames surround a center panel filled with lacertine open-work ornaments, front and back.

History

Origin

The manuscript is dated to the 13th century, and is judged to have been written in Greece.

Provenance

Belonged to Sir Thomas Phillipps (his stamp, fol. 31v, and spine label). Purchased by him in a lot of 500 from the bookseller Thomas Thorpe, who acquired most of the lot's pieces from the collections of Spanish author and lexicographer Juan de Iriarte, Spanish librarian and bibliographer Carlos Antonio de La Serna Santander, and the Marqués de Astorga. At Sir Thomas's death, his library, including the present manuscript, was willed to his daughter Katherine Phillipps Fenwick, her husband Reverend John E. A. Fenwick, and their son Thomas Fitzroy Fenwick, as life tenants of the Phillipps estate. Passed to Alan G. Fenwick, the estate's last life tenant, and nephew of Thomas Fitzroy Fenwick. Sold by him and the estate's trustees to booksellers Lionel Robinson and Philip Robinson of the firm William H. Robinson, Ltd., February 1946. Auctioned at Sotheby's (lot 63) 1 December 1947, and purchased by the bookseller Maggs Bros. (London).

Sotheby's catalogue description; bookseller's price £40; University of Chicago Libraries bookplate (front pastedown). Marginal Lectionary apparatus added in a later hand. Inscriptions in pencil, Gregory number 677, Evangelia XIIIth, and a drawing in pen (fol. 31v). Gospel titles and beginning verses noted in pencil (fols. 33r, 88r, 122r, 181r). Notations and verse in pen and pencil (fols. 222v, 223v-224v).

Acquisition

Acquired by the University of Chicago from Magg Bros. (London) in early 1950.

Bibliography

  1. Charles-Moïse Briquet, Les filigranes. Dictionnaire historique des marques du papier dès leur apparition vers 1282 jusqu'en 1600, avec 39 figures dans le texte et 16, 112 facsimilés de filigranes.. (Leipzig: K. W. Hiersemann, 1923), vol. 4, p. 734, Tête de boeuf, 14525.
  2. F. H. A. Scrivener, A plain introduction to the criticism of the New Testament for the use of Biblical students. (London: George Bell, 1894), vol. 1, p. 251, no. 528.
  3. Sotheby & Co. (London, England), Bibliotheca Phillippica, Catalogue of a further portion of the renowned library formed by the late Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart., F.R.S., etc. Middle Hill, Worcestershire and Thirlestaine House, Cheltenham comprising valuable autograph letters and historical documents which will be sold by auction by Messrs Sotheby & Co... on Monday the 1st of December, 1947. (London: Sotheby, 1947), p. 12 (no. 63).
  4. A. N. L. Munby, The formation of the Phillipps library. Phillipps studies no. 3-4 (Cambridge [Eng.]: University Press, 1954-1956), vols. 1-5.
  5. Marcel Richard, Répertoire des bibliothèques et des catalogues de manuscrits grecs. (Paris: Centre national de la recherche scientifique, 1958), pp. 73-74, no. 284, Ms. 2387.
  6. The Phillipps manuscripts: catalogus librorum manuscriptorum in bibliotheca d. Thomae Phillipps, bt., Impressum Typis Medio-Montanis, 1837-1871. (London: Holland Press, c1968), p. 28, Ms. 2387.