Lot 24
Amulet or Prayer Roll against Disease and Demons.- Incipient nomine sancta Jhesu Christi, manuscript in Latin, on vellum, in a neat cursive hand, title in red, 11 2-line and 1-line initials in red and blue, cross signs in red, rare, [France], [?late 14th or early 15th century].
Hammer Price: £22,000
Description
Amulet or Prayer Roll against Disease and Demons.- Incipient nomine sancta Jhesu Christi, manuscript in Latin, on vellum, in a neat cursive hand, 86 lines, title in red, 11 2-line and 1-line initials in red and blue, cross signs in red, dark stain affecting 17 lines but still legible, slightly creased, small tears at tail not affecting text, E.P. Goldsmidt & Co. bookseller's description accompanying, 390 x 105mm., [France], [?late 14th or early 15th century].
⁂ An extremely rare Amulet, or Prayer Roll, worn wrapped around the arm as protection against the dangers of childbirth, maladies, sorcery and any other sorts of danger.
This specimen begins "Incipient nomina sancta Jhesu Christi", followed by a string of names: "Messiahs"; "Sother";"Emmanuel"; "Saboath" etc. There follow eight further sections, some with headings specifying the disease against which help is sought ("contra fluxum sanguinis, Oratio Sci Sigismundi regis et martyris contra febresi...). The fourth section is to protect a woman in childbirth ("Si mulier laboret in partu", she is to put this "Breve" under right breast "et illico deo auxilliante liberabit se"). In section five the names of the "Seven Sleepers" are given as a magic formula, perhaps to induce sleep.
For more on our roll and late medieval amulet rolls in general see Don C. Skemer (Curator of Manuscripts, Princeton University Library) 'Amulet Rolls and female devotion in the late Middle Ages' in Scriptorium, Vol.55, No.2, 2001, pp.197-227.
Provenance: E.P. Goldschmidt & Co., of 45 New Bond Street, [c.1938-1940]; Private American collection.
Description
Amulet or Prayer Roll against Disease and Demons.- Incipient nomine sancta Jhesu Christi, manuscript in Latin, on vellum, in a neat cursive hand, 86 lines, title in red, 11 2-line and 1-line initials in red and blue, cross signs in red, dark stain affecting 17 lines but still legible, slightly creased, small tears at tail not affecting text, E.P. Goldsmidt & Co. bookseller's description accompanying, 390 x 105mm., [France], [?late 14th or early 15th century].
⁂ An extremely rare Amulet, or Prayer Roll, worn wrapped around the arm as protection against the dangers of childbirth, maladies, sorcery and any other sorts of danger.
This specimen begins "Incipient nomina sancta Jhesu Christi", followed by a string of names: "Messiahs"; "Sother";"Emmanuel"; "Saboath" etc. There follow eight further sections, some with headings specifying the disease against which help is sought ("contra fluxum sanguinis, Oratio Sci Sigismundi regis et martyris contra febresi...). The fourth section is to protect a woman in childbirth ("Si mulier laboret in partu", she is to put this "Breve" under right breast "et illico deo auxilliante liberabit se"). In section five the names of the "Seven Sleepers" are given as a magic formula, perhaps to induce sleep.
For more on our roll and late medieval amulet rolls in general see Don C. Skemer (Curator of Manuscripts, Princeton University Library) 'Amulet Rolls and female devotion in the late Middle Ages' in Scriptorium, Vol.55, No.2, 2001, pp.197-227.
Provenance: E.P. Goldschmidt & Co., of 45 New Bond Street, [c.1938-1940]; Private American collection.