Physical Description of Ms. Latin 13

Cosmographies. Four ancient Greek cosmographies in Latin tr.: 1. Plato. Timaeus, tr. with commentary by Chalcidius. 2. Pseudo-Aristotle. De Mundo, tr. Joannes Argyropoulos. 3. Philo Judaeus. De incorruptione mundi. 4. Cleomedes. De contemplatione orbium coelestium, tr. by Carolus Valgulius and dedicated to Cesare Borgia. [Italy, c. 1500.]

TEXT BLOCK
Paper.
Format: Gatherings in 10s.
Height: 205 mm. Width: 145 mm. Tkns: 43 mm.

ENDSHEETS
Front pastedown was conjugate with flyleaf (now ripped apart) and their folded stub (5 mm. wide) wrapped around the initial gathering of 10; gathering and fold were sewn through. Back pastedown and flyleaf are conjugate, with their folded stub (7 mm. wide) wrapped around a gathering of six; gathering and fold are sewn through.

SEWING
Sewn on three alum-tawed slit straps.
Width of sewing support: 6-7 mm.
Location of supports: 21 mm. at k., 53 mm., 107 mm., 158 mm., 187 mm. at k., 205 mm. tot.
Thread twist: S, text and endbands.

SPINE
Intact. Four transverse linings (parchment) have been placed between supports, extending approx. 30 mm. in front and 40 mm. in back onto interior boards under pastedown. Endbands are tied down to kettle stitch through mss. lining.

EDGES
All edges plain.

ENDBANDS
Headband is present; tailband is wanting (remnants visible in channels). Core material of headband is an alum-tawed thong, of tailband is leather thong, placed in diagonal exterior channels (measurements undetermined) on the boards. Method of securing core is not visible. Primary thread is linen; secondary sewing with green thread. Endbands tied down to kettle stitch through every second gathering, with front bead.

BOARDS
Wood. Height: 213 mm. Width: 145 mm. Tkns: 5 mm. Total Tkns: 53 mm.

BOARD ATTACHMENT
The alum-tawed slit straps that serve as sewing supports are placed in exterior channels (length and width are undetermined). Method of securing supports is not visible.

COVER MATERIAL & DESIGN
Brown goatskin over wood boards. Turn-in leather is mitred flush at corners. Covers are decorated with blind stamps and fillets. A central compartment of three arabesque ovals is surrounded by two rectangles: one made with leafy double-circle stamps and the other made with two rows of knotwork stamps. Blind fillets frame central panel and rectangles. Spine panels have complex cross-hatching with triple fillets; horizontal filletwork at supports.

FASTENINGS
Originally this volume had two clasps, catching on the lower board. The following remain:

ACQUISITION
Purchased from Helmuth Domizlaff, Munich, 1950.

Schematic of Binding without leather

The Opening Brief introduction to Ms. Latin 13
How Ms. Latin 13 was bound Ms. Latin 13 described
Scholarship Glossary
Meditation on Ms. Latin 13 Stockton's Homepage