Manuscript Description Cambridge, Cambridge University Library MS Dd.3.53, Part 2 | |
| Title: | Astrolabe +[ Privy Seal and Signet documents as part 1]. |
| Author: | Chaucer |
| Contents: | Part 2 Astrolabe, 15th cent. [Part I formulary for Signet ca. 1400] |
| Language: | English |
| Date Range: | 1400-1425 |
| Scribal Hands: | Examples of the hand. Click on the link above for full details and images of individual letter forms.               |
| Material: | Parchment |
| No of Folios: | ff1-32 of which 29-31 mostly blank but ruled with some signatures + f32 originally pastedown with stain of leather on verso + 3 older paper flyleaves matching those at front + 1 newer paper flyleaf added at last rebinding and matches pastedown. |
| Pagination: | Pencil foliation 1-28; older pagination crossed through. |
| Quiring: | 1(12), 2(8), 3(8) |
| Signatures: | Roman numerals in bottom right corner; in first quire ii-v visible; 'bij' visible on f14, 'biij' on f15, 'cij' just visible in extreme corner of f22. |
| Catchwords: | Evidence of an erased catchword on f12v which may have been contained in a pointing hand or a scroll-like feature; catchword on f20 in pointing hand. |
| Page Size: | 275 x 200 for Astrolabe |
| Frame: | 3 x vertical, two enclosing the text block and a third about 5 mm toward outer edge, marking off space between glosses and text block on some leaves. On others eg up to f22v, 5 x vertical adding a double set on outer edge of gloss frame; 4 x horizontal enclosing top and bottom lines; ruled within, in brown-reddish crayon. Some pricking survives at outer edges and occasionally at edge of bottom and top. |
| Writing Space: | ca. 188 x 138 ruled space within frame; ca. 22 mm wide for glossed area where this has vertical for outer limit (fols. 5-22v); ruling still visible in many places. |
| Incipits and Explicits: | Titles to the different texts in the second part. |
| Marginal Headings: | Within text in red ink in the hand of the scribe; red ink numbers inserted into the text; also virgule-type dividers; notes in the margin which appear to be contemporary with the text. |
| Paragraph Marks: | Red ink; yellow infill of the first letters of new paragraphs. |
| Flourished Initials: | Initial letter 'L' in red ink with fine frond decoration down the left margin. The fronds appear greenish but this may be the weathering of the dark ink originally used. The diagrams have the same colouring. |
| Other Names (not owners): | On f30 is 'Wyllm Yaxlee' and 'Wyllm Danyell' |
| Further Information: | Seymour, M. C. A Catalogue of Chaucer Manuscripts, vol. 1, Works Before 'The Canterbury Tales', pp. 108-109. Aldershot, Hants: Scolar Press, 1995. |