National Library of Sweden, A 195
Thomas a Kempis, Jean Gerson, and miscellaneous theological texts
Netherlands, 15th century
Paper and parchment
133, ii' leaves
145 × 105 mm
3 units
Latin
Unit 1
Unit 2
These folios contain five sets of diagrams consisiting of rubrics and keywords placed in blindstamped circles. The circles were probably intended to be outlined in ink or decorated in some other way. The rubrics of the diagrams are as follows: f. 47r: ‘Sequuntur gradus per quos ascenditur ad paradisum si bene per ipsos scit peccator confessus gradatim ascendere’;
f. 47v: ‘Hic sequuntur gradus consiliorum[...] ’;
f. 48r: ‘Sequuntur octo beatitudine in iustorum[...]
’;
f. 48v: ‘Item videatur de septem virtutibus[...] ’;
f. 49r: ‘Sequuntur septem dotes anime’.
These folios consist of several lists mainly focused on sins and virutes with different subdivisions. The two major headings are as follows:
f. 50v: ‘Incipiunt temptaciones demones (!) quibus temptat homines de septem peccatis mortalibus et eorum ramis sic homini seruiens suggerens Dyabolus enim temptans dicit peccatori quod peccet hiis modis’;
f. 51r: ‘Responsionens sancti angeli quibus premunit confortat et docet humanam fragilitatem cum sacra scriptura qualiter temptaciones et resistere vincere debeat dicens ad hominem non facies Quia scriptum est’. The list on f. 51r and the list on f. 52r contain references to the Bible in the right margin.
There are several blank leaves scattered through this section, 8 in total.
Secundo folio
libenter volunt videri pulsaueritSupport
Foliation
Condition
Unit 2
Some stains and marks from spills, especially in the inner margin, but no loss of text.Unit 3
Inner margin damaged by liquid spill. Loss of text on first lines of f. 133v.Layout
Unit 2
Layout 1
Additions
Binding/Endleaves
Unit 1
Unit 2
Decorations
Unit 1
Main text in black ink, rubrics in red, capitals touched in red.
(f. 3r): opening plain initial Q with interior reserved shapes over 7 lines in blue. The countersapce is filled with a vegetative shape in red and blue ink. The same type of shape also forms a frame around the intial, which extends into the margin. In the lower margin there are three floral shapes in red and blue. On the body of the initial the letters w a a w have been written in black ink. Additions in black ink are also found in the counterspace and in the decoration in the lower margin. These are most likely later additions. (ff. 3v–20v): plain chapter initials over 3 lines in red.
Unit 2
Main text in black and brown ink, rubrics in red, capitals touched in red.
(f. 25r): opening plain intial A over 3 lines in red with flourishing in red and blue. (ff. 28v–116v): plain chapter initials over 2-3 lines in red.
Pagemark in red leather on (f. 33r).
Binding
Medieval binding. Brown leather over wooden boards. 4 double raised bands, 2 single raised bands, and endbands. Originally, brass hook and clasp. Spine, in white paint: ‘T? Kempis’; in white paint: ‘N 2 ’; in white paint: ‘2’; stamped in gold:‘ A 195’.
Blind tooled decoration consisting of panels, frames and x-shapes.
Provenance
On f. 1v, the manuscript is said to belong to the brothers of the Sint Jansklooster near Vollenhove (‘Campus sancti Johannis’). It is possible that the manuscript was also produced there. This monastery was destroyed in 1581. The fate of the manuscript between then until it was acquired by the Royal Library is unknown.
Acquisition
Bought at Heberle auction house in Cologne by the Royal Library in 1853.
- Lampen (1945), pp. 447–448.
