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University of Chicago Library, Goodspeed Manuscript Collection Ms. 62, New Testament. Gospels (Sir Edwin Pears Gospels). Greg. 2610. Balkan Peninsula, 13th century.
Contents
Four gospels in Greek. Ammonian section numbers and lectionary incipits in the margins. Formerly Goodspeed Ms. Grk. 60.
- fols. 1r-35r Matthew (begins at 2:1 with εν ημεραις ηρωδων). Subscription and verse.
- fol. 35v Kephalaia of Mark.
-
fols. 36r-56v
Mark. Subscription and verse.
Note: Blank (fol. 57r). - fols. 57v-58v Kephalaia of Luke, and verse.
- fols. 59r-109v Luke (ends at 19:15 with αυτω τους δουλ[ους]).
- fols. 110r-117v John (begins at 3:3 with και ειπεν αυτω αμην αμην and ends at 6:64 with οι μη πιστευοντες).
Decoration
Initials
Monograms in red within circular frames (28-45 mm, fols. 36r, 58v). Major initial Ε at the opening of Luke in red (90 mm). Minor initials set off from the text in red.
Physical Description
Support
Parchment. 215 x 140 mm.
Number of Leaves
117 leaves.
Foliation
1-117. Modern foliation in Arabic numerals in pencil.
Collation
Of the 15 extant quires, quire 10 beginning at Matthew 9:6 belongs between those currently numbered 1 and 2, and quire 11 beginning at Mark 7:37 should follow quire 6. It is believed the manuscript's initial quires each contained 8 leaves. Estimate of content lost: kephalaia tables for Matthew and John, and an unknown number of leaves containing the text of Matthew 7:21- 9:6; 12:42-13:15; Luke 19:15-24:53; and John 1:1-3:3, 6:64-21:25.
Dimensions
Written space 150 x 95 mm (fol. 17r). Each column is 150 x 42 mm with a space of 11 mm between.
Layout
2 columns, 30 lines (variants of 26 to 32 lines). Ruling with hard point. Pricking in outer margins.
Writing
Written in minuscule script in black ink (fading and flaking).
Punctuation includes high point, comma, marks of interrogation and elision. Quotation marks next to lines of Old Testament quotes are placed in the left margin.
Errors are corrected either by erasure, or with various reference marks in cases of omission.
Text Divisions
Lections noted in the margins with the indicators αρχε (beginning) and τελος (end).
Condition
Parchment speckled and cockled. Discolored edges. Some tears and holes. Overwriting of faded text with black ink. Water and grease stains.
Binding Description
Covers lost. Quires stitched together with cord.
History
Origin
The manuscript is dated to the 13th century, and is judged to have been written in the Balkan Peninsula.
Provenance
Medieval to late 19th century provenance unknown. Belonged to Sir Edwin Pears (1835-1919), British barrister and historian. He is said to have purchased the manuscript in the 1880s in Constantinople, the present-day Istanbul, Turkey, wherein he practiced law in the consular courts for over forty years.
Acquisition
Acquired by the University of Chicago from Maggs Bros. (London), date unknown.
Bibliography
- New Testament manuscript traditions. An exhibition based on the Edgar J. Goodspeed Collection of the University of Chicago Library, the Joseph Regenstein Library, January-March, 1973. University of Chicago. Library. Dept. of Special Collections. Exhibition catalogs ([Chicago: s.n., 1973]), 36, no. 28.