Manuscripts are handwritten items. They were the main vehicles for the diffusion of knowledge prior to the introduction of the printing press. There are 24 Medieval and Renaissance European manuscripts held in the Rare Books and Fine Printing Collection at the Alexander Turnbull Library plus a number of fragments. These date from as early as the twelfth century and originate from England, France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy. There are also 12 manuscripts from the Middle East.
The European group includes a very fine copy of Boethius’ treatise on music copied in the second quarter of the twelfth century, three books of hours, a missal, several bibles, two psalters, and a breviary, as well as other items.
Acquisition History
The first early manuscript acquired by the Turnbull Library was already in the collection at its foundation in 1918 (MSR-05). It was purchased in 1900 by the Library’s founder, Alexander H. Turnbull, from the London bookseller Bernard Quaritch. The Turnbull Library has since purchased a further eight manuscripts. The remainder were received by donation from individuals or institutions from within New Zealand.
Vendors and year of purchase
· 1949 – Frank R. Brown, Histon, Cambridge (UK), bookseller
· 1949 – R.C. Pearson, Cambridge (UK) bookseller
· 1949 – Frank R. Brown, Histon, Cambridge (UK), bookseller
· 1950 – R.C. Pearson, Cambridge (UK) bookseller
· 1955 – Maggs Bros, London, bookseller
· 2009 – Dunbar Sloane, Wellington auctioneers
Donors and year of donation or bequest
· 1953 – Percy Watts Rule (various fragments)
· 1958 – Sir John Ilott
· 1962 – Thomas L. Seddon
· 1978 – Bible Society in New Zealand
· 1989 – Wellington Diocesan Office
A small number of other later European manuscripts are also held in the Rare Book Collection including an 18th century copy of a work by the Roman poet Claudian, and a modern liturgical manuscript copied in England between 1925 and 1935 for a Bishop of Wellington.
More about the Rare Books and Fine Printing Collection
In addition, the Library holds a recently-located antiphonary bound in with a printed work, as well as a number of facsimiles of early manuscripts and these can be searched on the National Library Catalogue.
The Library is currently digitising selected manuscripts from this collection where condition allows, and the results can be viewed through the TAPUHI database. To date MSR-01, MSR-02, MSR-03, MSR-05, MSR-06, MSR-07, MSR-11, MSR-19, MSR-21, and MSR-26 have been fully digitised.
A selection of images from the Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts collection are on our Flickr Commons account.
Access
This collection is currently unavailable, and can be accessed again at Molesworth Street from August 6, 2012.
Catalogue records for the early manuscripts can be called up as a list on the database TAPUHI. Select ‘Manuscripts and Archives Collections’, then ‘Reference Number’, and then type ‘MSR’ into the search box. This search will call up records for the complete items and records for digitised single pages from these items.
Contact details, and information about accessing, borrowing, and making copies from this Collection
