Stony Brook University Libraries Digital Projects and Exhibits

Items

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  Psalter: Psalterium

  Leaf 17. "Illuminated Psalters occur as early as the VIIIth century, and from the XIth to the beginning of the XIVth century they predominate among illuminated manuscripts." "At this time the pendant tails of the initial letters are rigid or only slightly wavy, with a few leaves springing from the ends" (Ege). "The blue and lake (orange-red) color scheme with accents of white is a carry-over from the Westminster tradition which prevailed in the previous century.The solid line-filling ornaments of the verses were a new feature added in the second half of the XIIIth century. Silver and alloys of gold are used on this leaf."
  Original medium: Manuscript
  Date: 13th c.
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  Gradual: Graduale

  Leaf 8. "Graduals are the books containing the chants for celebration of the mass. Engish manuscripts of this early date are rare. This volume, with the uncertain strokes in the script, seems to indicate that the transcriber was unaccostomed to writing in this small scale. There are four and five line staves, and the "F" and "C" lines are indicated. Most of the various forms of written notes can be found on each leaf of this book.Those occuring more frequently are punctum (L. punctum, prick), a single note; virga (L. virga, rod), a square note with a thin line attached; podatus (L. pes, foot), two square notes, one above the other; climacus (L. climax, ladder), a virga note with two or more diamond shaped notes"(Ege).
  Original medium: Manuscript
  Date: 13th c.
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  Aurora: Aurora

  Leaf 7. This famous paraphrase of the Bible in Latin verse was one of the most popular Latin books of poetry of the late XIIth and XIIIth century" (Ege). "The format of this page, twice as long as it is wide, demonstrates the English custom of folding the skins lengthwise. The practice of setting off by a space the initial letter of each line also helps to give the page an unusual appearance. It is written in a very small script, six lines to an inch, in a hand characteristic of Northern France and England at this period."
  Original medium: Manuscript
  Date: 13th c.
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  Eucryl Tooth Powder Dental Pot Lid

  Dental pot lid for Eucryl Tooth Powder. [on lid] EUCRYL TOOTH POWDER / FRAGRANT / ANTISEPTIC / CLEANSING / MADE IN ENGLAND / PRESERVES THE TEETH. PRICE 7 1/2 PENCE [on image of red snake] EUCRYL [Round; brown metal with cream top, red and black lettering]
  Date: circa late nineteenth century