Leaf from a manuscript of the Decretals of Gregory IX, decorated manuscript on parchment, in Latin, late 13th century.

 

Leaf from a manuscript of the Decretals of Gregory IX, decorated manuscript on parchment, in Latin, single leaf, double column, 40 lines, text surrounded by commentary in a lighter ink, written in a neat, small gothic hand, fine thirteen-line penwork initial "Gregorius" in red in blue, within square frame, introducing the Liber Quintus, numerous smaller penwork initials alternating in red and blue, with extension, capitals touched in red and blue, headings in red, copious interlinear glosses, commentary trimmed, minor loss to upper margin not affecting text, some stains, a few lines of text erased, 258 x 168 mm., late 13th century.

*** A finely decorated leaf from a dismembered codex of the Decretales, one of the most important sources for canon law. It contains the end of the Fourth Book (the chapters 6-8 from titulus XX, and the complete titulus XXI), and the opening of the Fifth Book (titulus I, chapter 1-6).