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London, British Library, BL Orient 480

Eugenia Sokolinski

This manuscript description is based on the catalogues listed in the Catalogue Bibliography

Work in Progress
https://betamasaheft.eu/BLorient480
British Library[view repository]

Collection: Oriental

Other identifiers: Wright cat. I, Wright 1

General description

Octateuch

Number of Text units: 9

Number of Codicological units: 1

For a table of all relations from and to this record, please go to the Relations view. In the Relations boxes on the right of this page, you can also find all available relations grouped by name.

Origin

(dating on palaeographic grounds)

Provenance

Several features indicate a possible Beta ʾƎsrāʾel origin of this manuscript, see . The manuscript had very probably belonged to a church in the Gondar area, from where it was taken by Tewodros II and brought to Madḫāne ʿĀlam . It was then looted by the British Napier expedition in 1868.

Contents


check the viewerFols 1r–242v Octateuch (CAe 2083)

Secondary Bibliography , item 1

  • Dillmann, C. F. A. 1853. Biblia Veteris Testamenti Aethiopica, in quinque tomos distributa, ad librorum manuscriptorum fidem edidit et apparatu critico instruxit Dr. A.D., Professor Tubingensis. Veteris Testamenti Aethiopici Tomus Primus, sive Octateuchus Aethiopicus. Ad librorum manuscriptorum fidem edidit et apparatu critico instruxit Dr. A. D., Professor Tubingensis, Impensarum partem suppeditante Societate Germanorum Orientali (Lipsiae: Sumptibus Fr. Chr. Guil. Vogelii, Typis Guil. Vogelii, Filii, 1853).

Additions In this unit there are in total 1 , 1 .

  1. check the viewerFol. 2a30 (Type: OwnershipNote)

    marginal

    The note stating that the manuscript belongs to the church of Madḫāne ʿAlam built, or rather intended to be built, by king Theodore at Magdalā

    ( gez ) ኦሪት፡ ዘቅዱስ፡ መድኃኔ፡ ዓለም፡

    ( en ) the Law (i.e. Old Testament), belonging to the Holy Saviour of the World (i. e., to Madḫāne ʿAlam )

  2. check the viewerFol. 119b (Type: Unclear)

    On f. 119 b is a badly written note of modern date

Decoration In this unit there are in total 1 .

Frame notes

  1. frame:

    The commencement of each book, except that of Ruth, is ornamented with interlacings in red and black.

Catalogue Bibliography

  • Wright, W. 1877. Catalogue of the Ethiopic Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired since the Year 1847 (London: Gilbert and Rivington, 1877). page 1ab

Secondary Bibliography

  • Dege-Müller, S. 2020. ‘The Manuscript Tradition of the Betä Ǝsraʾel (Ethiopian Jews): Form and Content. A Preliminary Analysis’, Comparative Oriental Manuscript Studies Bulletin, 6/1 (2020), 5–40 (DOI: 10.25592/uhhfdm.1102).
    page 33

This manuscript has modern restorations.

Physical Description

Form of support

Parchment Codex

Extent

+NaN (leaf) , Entered as 2+241+2 Two unnumbered leaves at the beginning, referred to as check the viewerfols i–ii, in the library's digitization. The last two leaves at the end are also referred to as check the vieweri–ii, in the library's digitization, though the first of them is foliated check the viewer242 , and the second was foliated 243, which has been striked through. check the viewerFol. 90 has been sewn with parchment strips on a guard. 2 (leaf, blank) .Entered as 2 (quire) .Entered as 460 350
Outer dimensions
Height 460mm
Width 350mm

Foliation

The leaves are numbered by the library in the upper right corner. Two blank leaves at the beginning and one at the end are unnumbered.

Quire Structure Collation

Signatures: Undecorated quire marks are written in black in the upper left corner of the first folio of most quires.

Position Number Leaves Quires Description
1 A 2 Fols ir–iiv
2 1 8 Fols 1r–8v
3 2 8 Fols 9r–16v
4 3 8 Fols 17r–24v
5 4 8 Fols 25r–32v
6 5 8 Fols 33r–40v
7 6 9 Fols 41r–49v 9, stub before 1
8 7 8 Fols 50r–57v
9 8 8 Fols 58r–65v
10 9 8 Fols 66r–73v 7, stub after 1 2, stub after 6
11 10 8 Fols 74r–81v
12 11 6 Fols 82r–87v 2, stub after 5 5, stub after 2
13 12 8 Fols 88r–95v 2, stub after 7 7, stub after 2
14 13 8 Fols 96r–103v
15 14 8 Fols 104r–111v
16 15 8 Fols 112r–119v
17 16 8 Fols 120r–127v
18 17 8 Fols 128r–135v
19 18 8 Fols 136r–143v
20 19 8 Fols 144r–151v
21 20 8 Fols 152r–159v
22 21 8 Fols 160r–167v
23 22 8 Fols 168r–175v
24 23 8 Fols 176r–183v
25 24 8 Fols 184r–191v
26 25 4 Fols 192r–195v
27 26 8 Fols 196r–203v
28 27 8 Fols 204r–211v
29 28 6 Fols 212r–217v
30 29 8 Fols 218r–225v 3, stub after 5 6, stub after 2
31 30 8 Fols 226r–233v 3, stub after 6 6, stub after 3
32 31 8 Fols 234r–241v
33 B 2 Fols 242r–iiv

Collation diagrams



Quire ID:q1, number:A
Collation diagram Quire 1 1 2 Unit #1


Quire ID:q2, number:1
Collation diagram Quire 2 3 10 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q3, number:2
Collation diagram Quire 3 11 18 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q4, number:3
Collation diagram Quire 4 19 26 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q5, number:4
Collation diagram Quire 5 27 34 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q6, number:5
Collation diagram Quire 6 35 42 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4

9, stub before 1
Quire ID:q7, number:6
Collation diagram Quire 7 51 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4 Unit #5


Quire ID:q8, number:7
Collation diagram Quire 8 52 59 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q9, number:8
Collation diagram Quire 9 60 67 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4

7, stub after 1 2, stub after 6
Quire ID:q10, number:9
Collation diagram Quire 10 68 75 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4 Unit #5


Quire ID:q11, number:10
Collation diagram Quire 11 76 83 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4

2, stub after 5 5, stub after 2
Quire ID:q12, number:11
Collation diagram Quire 12 84 89 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4

2, stub after 7 7, stub after 2
Quire ID:q13, number:12
Collation diagram Quire 13 90 97 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4 Unit #5


Quire ID:q14, number:13
Collation diagram Quire 14 98 105 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q15, number:14
Collation diagram Quire 15 106 113 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q16, number:15
Collation diagram Quire 16 114 121 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q17, number:16
Collation diagram Quire 17 122 129 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q18, number:17
Collation diagram Quire 18 130 137 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q19, number:18
Collation diagram Quire 19 138 145 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q20, number:19
Collation diagram Quire 20 146 153 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q21, number:20
Collation diagram Quire 21 154 161 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q22, number:21
Collation diagram Quire 22 162 169 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q23, number:22
Collation diagram Quire 23 170 177 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q24, number:23
Collation diagram Quire 24 178 185 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q25, number:24
Collation diagram Quire 25 186 193 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q26, number:25
Collation diagram Quire 26 194 197 Unit #1 Unit #2


Quire ID:q27, number:26
Collation diagram Quire 27 198 205 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q28, number:27
Collation diagram Quire 28 206 213 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q29, number:28
Collation diagram Quire 29 214 219 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3

3, stub after 5 6, stub after 2
Quire ID:q30, number:29
Collation diagram Quire 30 220 227 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4 Unit #5

3, stub after 6 6, stub after 3
Quire ID:q31, number:30
Collation diagram Quire 31 228 235 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4 Unit #5


Quire ID:q32, number:31
Collation diagram Quire 32 236 243 Unit #1 Unit #2 Unit #3 Unit #4


Quire ID:q33, number:B
Collation diagram Quire 33 244 245 Unit #1

Ethio-SPaRe formula : A(2/Fols ir–iiv) – B(2/Fols 242r–iiv) – I(8/Fols 1r–8v) – II(8/Fols 9r–16v) – III(8/Fols 17r–24v) – IV(8/Fols 25r–32v) – V(8/Fols 33r–40v) – VI(8+1/s.l. 9, stub before 1/Fols 41r–49v) – VII(8/Fols 50r–57v) – VIII(8/Fols 58r–65v) – IX(6+2/s.l. 7, stub after 1; s.l. 2, stub after 6/Fols 66r–73v) – X(8/Fols 74r–81v) – XI(4+2/s.l. 2, stub after 5; s.l. 5, stub after 2/Fols 82r–87v) – XII(6+2/s.l. 2, stub after 7; s.l. 7, stub after 2/Fols 88r–95v) – XIII(8/Fols 96r–103v) – XIV(8/Fols 104r–111v) – XV(8/Fols 112r–119v) – XVI(8/Fols 120r–127v) – XVII(8/Fols 128r–135v) – XVIII(8/Fols 136r–143v) – XIX(8/Fols 144r–151v) – XX(8/Fols 152r–159v) – XXI(8/Fols 160r–167v) – XXII(8/Fols 168r–175v) – XXIII(8/Fols 176r–183v) – XXIV(8/Fols 184r–191v) – XXV(4/Fols 192r–195v) – XXVI(8/Fols 196r–203v) – XXVII(8/Fols 204r–211v) – XXVIII(6/Fols 212r–217v) – XXIX(6+2/s.l. 3, stub after 5; s.l. 6, stub after 2/Fols 218r–225v) – XXX(6+2/s.l. 3, stub after 6; s.l. 6, stub after 3/Fols 226r–233v) – XXXI(8/Fols 234r–241v) –

Formula: Fols ir–iiv ; Fols 1r–8v ; Fols 9r–16v ; Fols 17r–24v ; Fols 25r–32v ; Fols 33r–40v ; Fols 41r–49v 9, stub before 1 ; Fols 50r–57v ; Fols 58r–65v ; Fols 66r–73v 7, stub after 1 2, stub after 6 ; Fols 74r–81v ; Fols 82r–87v 2, stub after 5 5, stub after 2 ; Fols 88r–95v 2, stub after 7 7, stub after 2 ; Fols 96r–103v ; Fols 104r–111v ; Fols 112r–119v ; Fols 120r–127v ; Fols 128r–135v ; Fols 136r–143v ; Fols 144r–151v ; Fols 152r–159v ; Fols 160r–167v ; Fols 168r–175v ; Fols 176r–183v ; Fols 184r–191v ; Fols 192r–195v ; Fols 196r–203v ; Fols 204r–211v ; Fols 212r–217v ; Fols 218r–225v 3, stub after 5 6, stub after 2 ; Fols 226r–233v 3, stub after 6 6, stub after 3 ; Fols 234r–241v ; Fols 242r–iiv ;

Formula 1: 1 (2), 2 (8), 3 (8), 4 (8), 5 (8), 6 (8), 7 (9), 8 (8), 9 (8), 10 (8), 11 (8), 12 (6), 13 (8), 14 (8), 15 (8), 16 (8), 17 (8), 18 (8), 19 (8), 20 (8), 21 (8), 22 (8), 23 (8), 24 (8), 25 (8), 26 (4), 27 (8), 28 (8), 29 (6), 30 (8), 31 (8), 32 (8), 33 (2),

Formula 2: 1 (2), 2 (8), 3 (8), 4 (8), 5 (8), 6 (8), 7 (9), 8 (8), 9 (8), 10 (8), 11 (8), 12 (6), 13 (8), 14 (8), 15 (8), 16 (8), 17 (8), 18 (8), 19 (8), 20 (8), 21 (8), 22 (8), 23 (8), 24 (8), 25 (8), 26 (4), 27 (8), 28 (8), 29 (6), 30 (8), 31 (8), 32 (8), 33 (2),

State of preservation

good

Condition

Binding

Two wooden boards.

Blind-tooled leather quarter cover (with the gilded title and shelfmark on the spine).

Sewing Stations

4

Sewing Stations

Sewing stations are used in an irregular way.

Binding material

wood

leather

Original binding

No

Layout

Layout note 1

Number of columns: 2

Number of lines: 28-32

Ruling
Pricking
  • Ruling is visible, pricking is partly visible.
  • Upper primary pricks are visible, lower primary pricks and horizontal pricks are occasionally visible (e.g. (Excerpt from check the viewerFol. 115)
    ).

Palaeography

  • Hand 1

    Script: Ethiopic

    Written in a large, elegant character

    Ink: Black, red

    Date: 1400-1500

    1400-1500
    • Publication Statement

      authority
      Hiob-Ludolf-Zentrum für Äthiopistik
      pubPlace
      Hamburg
      publisher
      Die Schriftkultur des christlichen Äthiopiens und Eritreas: Eine multimediale Forschungsumgebung / Beta maṣāḥǝft
      availability

      This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0.

      date
      2016-06-07T17:34:42.656+02:00
      date
      type=expanded
      5.7.2022 at 14:24:19
      date
      type=lastModified
      26.5.2022
      idno
      type=collection
      manuscripts
      idno
      type=url
      https://betamasaheft.eu/manuscripts/BLorient480/main
      idno
      type=URI
      https://betamasaheft.eu/BLorient480
      idno
      type=filename
      BLorient480.xml
      idno
      type=ID
      BLorient480

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    Suggested citation of this record

    Eugenia Sokolinski, Dorothea Reule, ʻLondon, British Library, BL Orient 480 (encoded from the catalogue)ʼ, in Die Schriftkultur des christlichen Äthiopiens und Eritreas: Eine multimediale Forschungsumgebung / Beta maṣāḥǝft (Last Modified: 2022-05-26) https://betamasaheft.eu/manuscripts/BLorient480 [Accessed: 2024-11-24]

    To cite a precise version, please, click on load permalinks and to the desired version (see documentation on permalinks), then import the metadata or copy the below, with the correct link.

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    Revision history

    • Dorothea Reule Added collation, layout, binding on 26.5.2022
    • Dorothea Reule Corrected catalogue reference, updated keywords on 1.11.2019
    • Dorothea Reule Added link to images on 4.6.2019
    • Eugenia Sokolinski Created catalogue entry on 15.4.2016
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    Attribution of the content

    Alessandro Bausi, general editor

    Eugenia Sokolinski, editor

    Dorothea Reule, contributor

    This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0.