Manuscript Description Cambridge, Cambridge University Library MS Dd.12.51, part 1 | |
| Title: | Astrolabe |
| Author: | Chaucer |
| Contents: | Astrolabe; Liber lapidum; Latin herbal |
| Language: | English |
| Date Range: | 1475-1500 |
| 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: | 3 modern paper flyleaves + 1 paper pastedown (numbered i) + 3 older paper flyleaves (ii-iv) + 1 older pastedown (numbered iv) + 66 parchment leaves (64-66 blank). |
| Pagination: | Modern pencil in upper outer corner recto; 1-66 |
| Quiring: | 12 = 1-5(12) + 6(6) |
| Signatures: | Some early signatures in the ink of the text, thus ai-aiiii; where the folios have been trimmed, other early signatures have been added; modern pencil supplies them on some folios. |
| Catchwords: | 12v, 24v, 36v, 48v, 60v. |
| Page Size: | 144 x 102 but much cropped in places thus variable page size. |
| Frame: | Square ruled in grey plummet. |
| Writing Space: | 105 x 70 |
| Marginal Headings: | Headings for some sections in what may be the scribe's display script in the ink of the text; some marginal notes, usually very smudged, in red ink. |
| Title by Scribe: | 'Astrolobia' in a slightly darker ink and later than the original work. |
| Paragraph Marks: | Red paraphs precede each heading; much bleeding of ink. |
| Flourished Initials: | Red initials with no flourishing; some of 3 lines in depth, other smaller Lombard capitals; all undecorated. |
| Other Names (not owners): | No evidence of ownership. |
| Miscellaneous Info: | A small manuscript; handy for reference or for carrying around. No diagrams for this Astrolabe text. |
| Further Information: | Seymour, M. C. A Catalogue of Chaucer Manuscripts, vol. 1, Works Before 'The Canterbury Tales', p. 113. Aldershot, Hants: Scolar Press, 1995. |