Add MS 47681

HOLKHAM MSS. Vol. X (formerly MS. 480). POGGIO BRACCIOLINI, FACETIAE, written by Felice Feliciano in 1461. Latin. The text of this collection of humorous anecdotes (composed between 1438 and 1453) was copied, it is stated, 'ex libello quodam Pogij florentini' (f. 2), apparently an incomplete version of the final work since it lacks the conclusion and ends after the tale beginning 'Cardinalis barensis neapolitanus genere tenebat' (no. 190 in the Liseux edition, Paris, 1878). The main differences between the present text (cf. also Harley MS. 3333, Arundel MS. 277 and Sloane MS.

327) and the Liseux edition (also the Basle edition, 1538) are the following: it lacks nos. 71, 72 and 81, 'Pastor ovium', 'Est in oppido' and 'Venetis foedus erat'; it reverses the order of nos. 178-180; and it places no. 204 between no.

148 and 149 and no. 174 'Eremita qui Pisis' before no. 181 'Adolescentula and paulo simplicior'. There are also numerous smaller textual differences. Possibly because the work was put on the Index by the Council of Trent, an attempt was made to expurgate the text in the late 16th-17th cent. by removing apparently eleven leaves and mutilating others and obliterating some passages. Paper and (ff. 1, 2, 8) vellum; ff. iii+ 86. 202 mm. x 140 mm. A. D. 1461. Written by Felice Feliciano, 'Antiquario', of Verona, by commission of Girolamo, son of Lorenzo di Bartolommeo Loredan of Venice, and Giorgio Summariva of Verona (f. l): 'Hieronymus filius spectati ac clarissimi virj domini Laurentij Lauredanj quondam domini bartholomei honorandi patricij veneti hunc librum in ciuitate Verone flerj iussit Vna cum generoso Viro georgio de summa ripa Veronense. Anno christi M.CCCCLXI'. Colophon on f. 84: 'Deo immortali laus. honos. et gloria. esto. Felix Felicianus scripsit'. Gatherings (ten) mainly of ten leaves with catchwords, although only vi and vii are complete (see above). Six folios (15, 16, 24, 67, 68 and 76) have been bound in the wrong order, so that the correct arrangement of the leaves, including omissions, should probably be the following:-gathering i: ff. 1-4, 67, 5-6, [1], 7-8; ii: ff. 9-14, [1], 17, 24, 16; iii: ff. 18-22, [1], 23, 25-27; iv: ff. 28-31, 68, [1], 32-35; v: ff. 36-37, [1], 38-44; vi: ff. 45-54; vii: ff. 55-64; viii: [2], ff. 65-66, 69, 70, [2], 15, 71; ix: ff. 72-75, [1], 77, [1], 76, 78-79; x: 80-86. Ff. 1b, 2 are decorated in colour: on f. 1b a shield of arms of the Loredan and Barozzi families, quarterly, suspended by a strap from the branch of a tree with the inscription 'Felicitas Augusta' below (cf. Holkham MS. 521, f. 10b); on f. 2 the opening word of the preface, 'Multos', in silver and gold capitals surrounded by a wide border of ribbon interlace in yellow. The text continues on f. 2b in gold, blue and black capitals, then in the individual cursive script characteristic of Felice (cf. his Epistolario, Harley MS. 5271). The colophon 'Felix Felicianus scripsit' on f. 84 is written in ornate Gothic lettering as in Holkham MS. 521, f. 10b. Initials in red and blue. 19th cent. calf binding with the gilt ostrich stamp of the Coke family. Bookplate of Thomas William Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester of Holkham 1837, f. i. Seen by Apostolo Zeno (d. 1750) in the shop of the Venetian bookbinder Angelo Crestone (Venice, Bibl. Marc. MS. Ital. X, 73 (=7097), f. 328, see L. Pratilli, 'Felice Feliciano alla luce dei suoi codici' in Atti del Reale Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, xcix, 1939-1940, pt. ii, Classe di Scienze morali e Lettere, p. 45), and presumably bought by Thomas Coke (Earl of Leicester 1744) at Venice. See also J. Wardrop, The Script of Humanism, 1963, plates 12-13, and A. G. Watson, Catalogue of Dated and Datable Manuscripts, c. 700-1600, in the Department of Manuscripts, The British Library, 1979, i, no. 420.

Tales: Poggio Bracciolini, Facetiae: 1461.: Lat.

Giorgio Summariva, of Verona: Commissioned, jointly with G. Loredan: in 1461.

Scribes: Felice Feliciano: 1461.

Palaeography: Poggio Bracciolini, 'Facetiae', written by Felice Feliciano: 1461.

Manuscripts, Dated (to A.D.1500) Latin and Modern (Western European) Languages: Manuscripts, Dated: A.D. 1461.

Girolamo Loredan, son of L di B Loredan: Commissioned, jointly with G. Summariva: in 1461.

Felice Feliciano, scribe: Wrote: in 1461.

Poggio Bracciolini, humanist: Facetiae: 1461.: Lat.

Thomas William Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester of Holkham: Bookplates: bef. 1837.

Bookplates and Book-stamps: Coke (Thomas William), 1st Earl of Leicester of Holkham: bef. 1837.

includes:

• f. 1b Loredan family: Arms, in colour: 1461.
• f. 1b Heraldry: Arms of the Loredan and Barozzi families, in colour: 1461.
• f. 1b Barozzi family: Arms, in colour: 1461.