University of Pennsylvania, Ms. Codex 320

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Metadata

DS ID:

DS1500

Shelfmark:

Ms. Codex 320

Title:

Le epistole

Epistolae

Author:

Pseudo-Phalaris

Pseudo-Phalaris WIKIDATA

Place:

Italy

Italy TGN

Date:

14--

fifteenth century (dates CE) AAT

Language:

Italian

Italian WIKIDATA

Material:

parchment

Parchment AAT

Physical Description:

Extent: 67 leaves : parchment ; 181 x 131 (129 x 83) mm bound to 197 x 131 mm

Note:

Ms. codex.
Title supplied by cataloger (Zacour-Hirsch). Title derived from text of dedication (f. 1r): L'epistole.
Spine label: Phalari M.S.
In the dedication (f. 1r), Francesco Aretino states that he translated the letters from Greek into Latin. Zacour-Hirsch mistakenly says that Aretino translated them from Greek into Italian.
The translator who produced this Italian version is not named in the manuscript. Zacour-Hirsch suggests Giovanni Andrea Ferabos or Bartholomeo Phontio [or Fontio]; cf. the early printed Italian translations--1471, 1488, etc.--listed by S. F. G. Hoffmann, Lexicon bibliographicum, III, 214-215.
Collation: Parchment, ii (paper) + 67 + i (paper); 110(-1), 2-610, 78; [1-67]; modern foliation in pencil, upper right recto. One leaf appears to be missing at the beginning of the first quire; might have been blank or contained a dedication, etc. Link to collation model at end of record.
Layout: Written in 25 long lines; ruled in ink.
Script: Written in a single humanist book hand.
Decoration: Titles in red, initials in red and blue.
Binding: Vellum, with a gilded design on the spine; probably a bit later than the manuscript.
Origin: Written in Tuscany[?], probably in the second half of the 15th century (Zacour-Hirsch).
Cover worn slightly at the edges. Various smudges and stains.
The British classical scholar Richard Bentley (1662-1742) demonstrated conclusively that these letters cannot have been written by Phalaris but are much later in date.
From the Macauley Collection.
Accessioned (or given new accession number), 1959.

Keyword:

Manuscripts, Renaissance

codices (bound manuscripts)

Manuscripts, Italian

Greek literature

Early works

Phalaris, Tyrant of Agrigentum, active 6th century B.C.

Classical literature

Institutional Record:

https://find.library.upenn.edu/catalog/9915809213503681

IIIF Manifest:

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3406h/manifest

Holding Institution:

University of Pennsylvania