Add MS 57524

BASIL THE GREAT: Instructions for the Clergy, etc., with the Liturgy of Gregory the Theologian (f. 121); Rumania, first half of 17th cent. Rumanian translation and Bulgarian Church Slavonic in the hand of Michael Moxa (signed, ff. 37v and 67). See R. Cleminson, A Union Catalogue of Cyrillic Manuscripts in British and Irish Collections (1988), no. 86; D. Deletant, 'Un manuscris al lui Mihail Moxa diu Muzeul Britanic', Revista de Istorie si Teorie Literará 24 (1975), pp. 255-262; for Moxa, see also Bianu and Hodes, Bibliografia Romanesca Veche 1 (1903), pp. 113-114. Inscription preceded by a cross at centre of f. i is an early ownership inscription of the monastery of Bistritsa in Altenia. Purchased at Sotheby's, 29 Feb. 1972, lot 535.

Paper; ff. i+136. 205 x 155mm. Gatherings (17) of 8, except i8 (lacks 8), xi8 (lacks 8), xii10. Quire signatures at lower right on first recto and last verso. Watermarks similar to Heawood 2 (1600), 197 (1625), 1129 and 1131 (circa 1565). Written space 145 x 95mm. Script is a vigorous if slightly inexpert bookhand. Display script, initials and litterae notabiliores in red throughout. Subsequent underlining in blue and red, passim. Contemporary Greek-style binding of goatskin over wooden boards, blind-stamped and tooled, with remains of two clasps. Painted fore-edges.