Tuesday, 12 July 2011

Ecco

On a lighter note, I went to a preview of an auction today - looking for old candlesticks and glass - and although I found nothing in these categories that excited me, I did see the above for sale. I think I might buy it.

I know nothing about medieval manuscripts, so I will be breaking one of my golden rules if I do bid on it, but - how often do you find early 15th century, illuminated vellum pages for sale at a price you can afford?

This one (I am told) is Italian, and from around 1400 A.D. or a little later. I am told this by the inscription below it, in it's 1930s frame-mount. Having attended a fuck-rough Secondary Modern school, I have no Latin - let alone ancient Italian Latin written in this script.

But I like the idea of buying it, so - if I get it at the right price of around £100-£200 (if that is the right price) - I may be it's proud owner by the end of the week.

Then what do I do? I suppose sell it on at as much profit as I can realise, but in order to do this, I need your help.

Can anyone translate the general meaning of the text before the middle of the week for me? (click on image to enlarge, of course). I'll give you a little prize - honest.
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12 comments:

  1. brismod12 July 2011 at 14:45

    I hope you get it Tom. You do find the most interesting things. And good luck finding someone to translate it.xx

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  2. Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe12 July 2011 at 15:05

    Do you know any old priests? There is a line after that, but I won't go there.

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  3. Chris12 July 2011 at 15:06

    Yes Tom, no problem...

    ...it's a recipe for cherry scones. And very delicious they are too.

    That'll be £300.00 for the translation please.

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  4. John Going Gently12 July 2011 at 15:10

    chris is bullsitting as per

    it is the first copy of the radio times in fact

    ReplyDelete
  5. John Going Gently12 July 2011 at 15:11

    bull sitting?

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  6. elegancemaison12 July 2011 at 15:28

    I can't quite make it out as it is in a gothic script and my computer won't enlarge it clearly. But I think it starts, "Caesar ad iam forte Brutus ad erat".

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  7. Tom Stephenson12 July 2011 at 16:04

    You are the bullsitter, John - or you will be when Jones the Milk goes on holiday and asks you to take care of his prize testes again this summer.

    Et tu, fiche si analfabeti.

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  8. John Going Gently12 July 2011 at 16:09

    et tu fuckus offus

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  9. Olive12 July 2011 at 17:16

    "I like the idea of buying it." You are surely doomed starting off that way but I know what you mean as I buy that way often enough.

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  10. Cro Magnon12 July 2011 at 21:08

    It's comes from Ikeum Romanum. It's the instructions for a flat pack chariot.

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  11. The Weaver of Grass13 July 2011 at 01:21

    I do love the comments on your blog Tom - they are almost as funny as your blog itself!

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  12. Tom Stephenson13 July 2011 at 01:36

    This is all getting a bit 'Up Pompei' - or 'Life or Bryan' (Bigus Dickus).

    I'm having second thoughts about buying it now. I might listen to the little voice of reason in my head for a change.

    ReplyDelete

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