Holding institution title: W.23, Psalter, Latin (1200-1250 CE, South Germany)
Holding institution classification: Psalter
Holding institution location: Baltimore, MD
URL: https://thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W23/description.html
URL2: https://manuscripts.thewalters.org/viewer.php?id=W.23#page/1/mode/2up
Digitization status: Digitized
Date: 1200-1250
Language(s): Latin
Use: Unknown (see binding note)
Country of production: Germany
City or region of production: Southern Germany
Illumination contents: N/A
Text contents: Psalter, Office of the Dead
Hours intercalated?:
Personalization: Unknown (see binding note)
Scribe: Unknown
Illuminator: Unknown
Patron: Unknown
Materials: Heavy, darkened parchment; leather tabs that appear to be original have been inserted at various points
Binding original?: No
Binding description: Treasure binding made up of various elements, some medieval and some modern, put together somewhat crudely, probably in the mid nineteenth century, and likely by or for Guglielmo Libri; non-medieval oak boards; upper board has holes from earlier fastenings; spine covered in green velvet; front cover had as centerpiece a seated apostle in copper (now removed, accession no. 53.144), which would have originally decorated a medieval altar; at each corner were Mosan enamel plates (the upper two have been removed); on either side are two Rhenish bone carvings, marked “Joad” and “Davi” (“Joad” is probably not medieval); copper gilt panels at top and bottom. The manuscript is listed in 1864 as coming from the collection of Guglielmo Libri, who was notorious for having ornate bindings and inscriptions added to existing manuscripts, so it is likely the binding was created for him. It was listed as an authentic, fully medieval treasure binding in Libri’s catalog. Because of the fragile nature of the binding, the book was not able to be opened, and the information regarding the interior in this catalog entry is derived from earlier images and notes.
Folio height (in centimeters): 25
Folio width (in centimeters): 16
