MS 366

Manuscript. Noted antiphoner apparently of the Franciscan order; probably German, late 17th century, with 18th-century additions. The Sanctorale includes chants for the feasts of St Margaret of Cortona, St Colette, St Catherine of Bologna, St Elizabeth of Portugal, St Cajetan, and St Thomas of Villanova. Particular prominence is given to the feast of St Francis (pp. 262-76). St Joseph is denoted 'Patrocinius' (p. 193). The later additions (commencing at p. 291) include chants for the feast of St Joseph of Cupertino (canonized 1767).

Upright format, 550 x c. 380 mm. 153 folios, paginated by the copyists. Copied on paper except for pp. 141-64, which are parchment. Coloured initials are elaborate for principal feasts, and gilded for Advent (p. 2), the Nativity (pp. 15, 19), Maundy Thursday (p. 64), Trinity (p. 105), Conception of the Virgin Mary (pp. 168, 170), St Anthony of Padua (p. 220) and St Francis (pp. 262, 273). Bound in an apparently re-used 16th-century German or Swiss binding of blind-stamped brown calf over heavy wooden boards, with wooden bosses and brass frames on the upper and lower covers, and brass clasps.

Provenance: purchased in 1908 from the Birmingham bookseller A. J. Featherstone (Catalogue 31) by Kenneth Gibbs (1856-1935), sometime Archdeacon of St. Albans; presented to Christ Church by his widow in 1947. Earlier provenance unknown (as stated by Featherstone is two MS letters now pasted to the inside upper cover).

Microfilm: not included in the standard microfilm series.

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