General
| Library: | Bibliothèque nationale de France |
| Sheflmark: | fonds français 15095 |
| Information source: |
Physical description: InformationSource object (1) Segmentation: None |
| Described by: | dschoenaers |
Bindings
| Description: | Brown leather binding, decorated with frame of gold flourishings on the back and front. Fleur-de-lys tooled in gold on a red field on the spine, also two C's intertwined crowned. Binding by Lefebvre. Early 19th c? |
| Date : | ?1800 to 1820 |
| Title on binding: | Roman d'Alexandre |
| Cover material: | Material object (5) |
| Board material: | Material object (9) |
| Fastening: | none |
| Chaining: | none |
| Edges: | na |
| Front end papers (2): | Two paper endpapers at the front. |
| End papers (3): | Three paper endpapers at the back. |
MS Parts
| Title | Date | Place | Dedicatee |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Part 1] | c. 1230 to 1250 | Northern France | none |
MS Part Library: Bibliothèque nationale de France
General
| Shelfmark: | fonds français 15095 |
| MS Part Title: | [Part 1] |
| Ms Part Folios: | 268 folios |
| Page layout: |
Material
| MS Part Material: | Material object (4) |
| Watermark: | na |
| Condition: | Despite of its decent handwriting and decoration, the presence of folios which are either too small for the actual size of the manuscript or in which the edge of the skin is showing in the lower or outer margins (examples: f. 3, f. 70, f.75, f.83, f. 95, f. 98, f. 106, f. 110, f. 132, f. 145, f. 152, f. 156, f. 166, f. 167, f. 168, f. 169, f. 173, f. 180, f. 188, f. 192, f. 200, f. 226, f. 240) gives the manuscript a rather shabby and lower-grade appearance. Folio 90 is only half the size it is supposed to be. Holes (f. 62, f. 67, f. 75, f, 112, f. 120, f. 122, f. 225) and stitches (f. 84, f. 119, f. 228, f. 248), many of which in the writing space, add to this general impression. Not taking into account some stains (f. 2) and tears (f. 95, f. 132) the manuscript is in good condition, except for the first and final folios which are ratty. |
Date Information
| Date(s): | c. 1230 to 1250 |
| Notes: | Harf-Lancner 2011, 209 'middle or second half of the 13th century'. Although ruling is effaced, the line-holes in the parchment suggest that the text is copied below top-line, which indicates a dating post-1230. The consequent use of straight 's' in final position and 'u' in all positions, to me suggests an earlier dating circa 1250 rather than a date later in the century. Apart from Arsenal 3472 which has a non-canonical combination of Alexander texts and is dated to the beginning of the 13th century, this is the oldest extant witness of the Roman d'Alexandre. |
Hand
| Level of Execution: | Execution object (4) |
| Folio(s): | From f. 1r to f. 168v |
| Date(s): | c. 1230 to 1250 |
| Scribe description: | Northern textualis rotundus with double-compartment 'a' the upper lobe of which is open. Characteristic form of uncial 'd' the ascender of which curves upwards in a concave manner. Particular, wavy form of i-longa used in many positions. Straight, forked 's' is used in final position. Use of 'u' in all positions. Abbreviations include a tilde-like nasal bar used as a general abbreviation sign, also for q(ue). Also s-like apostrophe, superscript vowels, com- and -us abbreviation. Tironian note is uncrossed, which given the manuscripts northern location may support an earlier dating (after 1230 but before c. 1250). |
Folios: f. 1ra - f. 268r