Harley MS 2353

Origin:

Italy, (?)North.

Provenance:

Numerous initials have been removed. Cut fragment from an earlier? tree diagram dividing biblical books into groups with dragon head drawn in ink (f. 430r).

Angelus de Clavarsio, ?15th century: inscribed 'Hec biblia concessa est ad usum fr[atr]is Hieronymi de Besutio ordinis minorum observantium provincie Mediolani per Reverendum fratrem Angelum de Clavarsio eiusdem ordinis vicarium generalem dignissimum. Et pertinet loco annunciate apud Varisium' (f. 430v).

Hieronymus de Besutio, franciscan friar of Sancta Maria Annunciata, Varese, ?15th century: inscription recording the gift of the manuscript to him by Angelus de Clavarsio (f. 430v; see above).

The Franciscan monastery of Sancta Maria Annunciata, Varese (near Lake Como): inscription as above (f. 430v), bookstamp with letters SMAV (ff. 1 and 428v) (initials standing for Sancta Maria Annunciata Varisii, according to Watson 1973).

Conyers Middleton (b. 1683, d. 1750), fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge from 1706, head librarian of the University Library at Cambridge (1721-50); sold on 25 February 1724/5 to Edward Harley (Diary 1966).

The Harley Collection, formed by Robert Harley (b. 1661, d. 1724), 1st earl of Oxford and Mortimer, politician, and Edward Harley (b. 1689, d. 1741), 2nd earl of Oxford and Mortimer, book collector and patron of the arts, inscribed as usual by their librarian, Humfrey Wanley ‘25 die monsis Februarij, A.D. 1724/5’ (f. 1*v).

Edward Harley bequeathed the library to his widow, Henrietta Cavendish, née Holles (b. 1694, d. 1755) during her lifetime and thereafter to their daughter, Margaret Cavendish Bentinck (b. 1715, d.1785), duchess of Portland; the manuscripts were sold by the Countess and the Duchess in 1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library.