Two leaves from a Ferial Psalter, in Latin, decorated manuscript on vellum [Germany, mid-13th century]

Two leaves from a Ferial Psalter, in Latin, decorated manuscript on vellum

[Germany, mid-13th century]

Each c. 290 × 180mm, ruled in drypoint for 23 lines of text, below top line, written in an angular gothic script, the text comprising (a) the end of the hymn ‘Aeterna celi gloria’, and Ps. 15:1–16:14 (“casteque proles virginis. Da dexteram surgentibus … Saturati sunt filiis &”), with versicles, responses, etc., between the hymn and the palms, and (b) Psalms 104:1–105:3  (“Confitemini domino et invocate nomen eius … laudes eius beati”), with versicles and a response between the psalms, decorated with one-line initials in red, four larger red initials (one with red circles at the highest and lowest parts of its body), recovered from use as flyleaves in a binding, with consequent stains, creases, etc., not significantly affecting the text, and preserving all four margins.