• Institutionum Arithmeticorum / Boethius.

Extent:
  • 75 leaves : parchment, illustrations ; 155 x 103 (108 x 53) mm bound to 161 x 113 mm.
Date:
  • 1200-1400
Language:
Author:
  • Boethius, -524
Abstract:
  • Boethius' arithmetical treatise with diagrams.
Description:
  • Incipit: “Anicii Manlii Severini Boethii Exconsulis Ordinarii Patricii Liber Primus Incipit Institutionum Arithmeticorum dictus Domino Suo Patricio Simacho Boethius. In Dandis Accipiendisque Muneribus ita recte officia inter eos praecipue qui sese magni faciunt estimantur…”
  • Explicit: “…huius autem descripcionis subter exemplar subietimus.”
  • Ms. codex.
  • Collation: Parchment ; fol. i (paper) + ii (parchment) + p. 75 + fol. ii (parchment) + i (paper) ; paginated in ink.
  • Layout: 26 long lines per page ; ruled.
  • Decoration: Preface opens with a 16-line gold initial I, decorated, with green and red, on blue ground; followed by two lines written in gold capitals on green or red ground. Book II begins on p. 63 with a 6-line gold initial S, decorated, on blue ground, followed by two words written in gold capitals, on green or red ground. 2- or 3-line initials, primarily in blue or red, with flourishes. Includes numerous arithmetic and geometric diagrams drawn and captioned in green and red, less often in light blue and ochre.
  • Origin: English.
Binding note:
  • Modern binding. United States, 20th century. Rebound after 1936 by the James MacDonald Bindery, New York. Quarter brown goatskin and brown linen over pasteboard.
Provenance:
  • Unknown early provenance. Owned by William Deys in the 15th century, and by David Swan in 1793. Intermediate provenance unknown. Later in the collection of "Miss Muir" until being sold on 12 April 1915 at a Christie's sale to benefit the British Red Cross where it was purchased by the bookseller Maggs Bros. Grenville Kane acquired the manuscript at an unknown date. The Kane Collection was acquired by the Princeton University Library from Kane's heirs in February 1946.
Former owner:
  • Deys, William, active 15th century
  • Swan, David, active 18th century
  • Kane, Grenville, 1854-1943
Contributor:
  • Princeton University. Library. Manuscript. Kane MS. 50.
References:
  • Medieval & Renaissance manuscripts in the Princeton University Library, volume 2, pages 114-115.
Alternative:
  • De arithmetica
  • Boethius ms.
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