The Minster Library - Fragments of the Past: Part 2

In the second of his four blog posts, Jeff Berry investigates the practice of removing illuminations from manuscripts.

---

It is easy to think that, once the early craze for reusing manuscripts in bindings had passed, these manuscripts were treated with more respect. While that might be true (then again, it might not), different problems ensued for the manuscripts. Chief among these was the tendency to view them as objets d'art rather than historical records. This resulted in many illuminated manuscripts being cut up to be sold as leaves, such as the famous 'Otto Ege Portfolios' where some fifty illuminates manuscripts were systematically broken down and recompiled into portfolios; each manuscript less useful or valuable as a whole than as a collection of parts. In some other cases, only the illuminations themselves were removed to be admired in isolation while the text, thought to be less interesting or attractive, was left behind.

From the Stainton Parish Library collection,
York Minster Library, printed Cologne 1539

Consider this pastedown from a thirteenth-century Bible.

Judges, chapter 1, verse 1 reads, in Latin: 'Post mortem Iosue consuluerunt filii Israhel Dominum dicentes quis ascendet ante nos contra Chananeum et erit dux belli.'

In a deluxe production, the start of a new book of the Bible would often have a large illuminated capital. This seems to be the case here, where a space clearly in the shape of the letter 'P' has been relatively carefully cut out, leaving the remainder of the page in situ. This poor Bible was mutilated twice, several hundred years apart - first by the bookbinder and then by a collector of illuminations.

Bibles, while often beautiful, were also a text that was often reproduced in the Middle Ages. Documents, on the other hand, are often relatively simple, undecorated manuscripts, but they may be more interesting since they often represent the only surviving instance of the underlying text. Three books in the Minster Library collection are a case in point. The books are roughly of a size, and can be traced to the same bookbinder. Each has a large page, front and back, from the same manuscript. The pages are from an account book, tentatively dated to the late fourteenth or early fifteenth century.

 

From the York Minster Library incunables, printed Lyon c1498-1500

All photography by Paul Shields.

---

Minster Library - Fragments of the Past: Part 1

The Minster Library - Fragments of the Past: Part 1

In the first of four posts, Jeff Berry, one of our Minster volunteers, considers the insights into the past that early recycling gives us.

---

It was common practice in the early days of print for bookbinders to use parts of earlier manuscripts as strengtheners in their bindings. To modern sensibilities, the idea that these unique manuscripts were destroyed simply for their physical properties is an appalling one. It is worth considering, however, that such use represents in many cases both an instinct for efficiency and economy - after all, why use fresh vellum when used vellum will do just as well? - and a growing sense of the primacy of the text itself. In some cases, once a manuscript was in type, the manuscript itself was considered redundant, and reusing it in bindings was simply common sense.

These fragments may still be found in various books, and provide a tantalizing glimpse of information which is now lost forever. All manuscripts are on some level a puzzle. As unique, handcrafted objects, questions about their origin, purpose, and use naturally arise; this is equally true of luxury books and of seemingly more straightforward documents. How much more puzzling are the fragments, then, with much of their context lost or scattered? The manuscripts are in many cases works of art, and the bits used in the bindings are fragments of greater works. Often when viewing these fragments, I am reminded of visiting ruined medieval buildings where only the foundations or a few lengths of wall remain. It is enough to fire the imagination, but the vast majority of the data, of the history if you will, is gone.

That is not to say that there is nothing to be learned from the fragments. Quite apart from their aesthetic value, they can provide information about how early printers did business, can help to localize early books to their point of origin, can be used to track fashions and taste in literature, and doubtless can provide information in many other ways related either to the manuscripts themselves or their use as raw material.

The York Minster Library has one of the finest collections of early printed books in the country, and has a correspondingly rich collection of manuscript fragments in the bindings of those books. In this, and future posts, I would like to show you a few of the fragments which are of particular interest.

Image from a book published in Louvain, Belgium in 1562 (Minster Library V/3.N.2). The binding contains fragments of both Middle English prose and legal documents in Latin.

A new book for Special Collections - the sad tale of Mary, the maid of the inn

Sarah Griffin, Special Collections and York Minster Librarian, introduces the new addition to our unique collection of books printed in York.

---

Title page of Mary, Maid of the inn

One of the strengths of Special Collections is a wonderful selection of books printed in York. Many of these can be seen in the exhibition currently in the cases in the Harry Fairhurst corridor.

One of York’s best known printers was James Kendrew who had a shop on Colliergate at the beginning of the nineteenth century. He specialised in producing cheap books for children known as Chapbooks. Chapbooks were so called as they were distributed and sold by the Chapman, another name for a travelling salesman.

Kendrew was also responsible for printing books aimed more at the adult audience and last month one of these came up for sale in London. We were lucky enough to be able to buy it for our collection so here’s a first peek at our latest acquisition.

Engraving 

It’s a terribly sad story called Mary, the maid of the inn and is based on a poem written by Robert Southey in 1796. To settle a bet, Mary has to visit an old abbey (reputed to be Kirkstall Abbey in Yorkshire) at the dead of night to bring back a bough from an alder tree that grows there. Horror strikes when she sees her fiancé Richard burying the body of a murdered man. The coloured woodcut engraving shows the moment when Mary hears the men bringing the body into the Abbey. Richard is hanged for the crime and poor Mary goes mad with grief.

This short tale is a great addition to our Kendrew collection and is available for study, as are all the books in Special Collections. For more information please contact Sarah Griffin, Special Collections Librarian.

Printing and pacifism - the Sessions Book Trust collection

Matt Wigzell explores some of the highlights in the Sessions Book Trust collection, now available as part of the University Library’s Special Collections.

---

Detail from Desk book for users of printing
(William Sessions Limited, 1900)

Comprising of over 2,000 items, the Sessions Book Trust collection contains examples of nearly all the books printed by the local printing and publishing company Sessions of York. The material in the collection particularly covers local history, pacifism, the history of printing, and books relating to the Society of Friends, as well as having items printed for local authors and businesses.

The firm was originally founded in 1811 by William Alexander, who opened a bookshop in Castlegate. Included in the collection are many books printed and sold by Alexander. Among these are several catalogues containing the books, maps, prints, games and other varied items for sale in his shop. They are a fascinating insight into the activities of a bookseller and literary taste nearly 200 years ago.

Being a devout Quaker, many of the books directly published by William Alexander were of a religious nature. One of the most unusual items is the Pentateuch, or first five books of the Bible. Certain passages deemed unsuitable for reading aloud to mixed audiences were removed and printed underneath the main text in italics – the preface lamenting “such passages not being couched in terms suited to the present state of refinement”.

Alexander’s business was passed through the hands of several more Quaker owners before being purchased by William Sessions in 1865. Continuing to print and publish in the family’s hands for nearly 150 years, Sessions kept a library of the items they produced which has been gifted to the University.

Probably the most charming is a children’s book, printed around 1945-46. Containing beautiful full-page colour illustrations with accompanying rhymes, it also has a hand-written note from the printers, hinting that Sessions were chosen as they “could offer precious paper!” in an era of scarcity and rationing.

Cover and detail from Twelve fully illustrated cuddle-up tales (B.C.M. Wadger, 1945)

There is also an example of a printing handbook, produced by the company and distributed to potential customers. A cross between a user-guide and brochure, it contains examples of the different typefaces, borders and illustrations available, and is a great reference resource for the printing process in the early 1900’s.

Cover of Desk book for users of printing
(York: William Sessions Limited, 1900)

Sessions produced trade literature for local companies, including this list for Raimes & Co., wholesale chemists based at Micklegate House in York. The catalogue contains prices for medicines and other 1930’s pharmaceutical products, many of which had overstated medicinal benefits. There are some familiar products listed but some which would probably no longer be recommended, such as the Mexican Hair Renewer and the less-than effective sounding Sweeting’s Toothache Elixir.

The final example is the most unusual. Containing six 3D illustrations, the guide to Painting for Welfare and Efficiency has examples of appropriate colour schemes for a range of environments. These include a cinema foyer, lounge, factory, classroom, hospital and cocktail bar, and show how to create a harmonious and relaxed atmosphere in each.

Detail from Painting for welfare and efficiency
(Smith and Walton Ltd, 1949) 

The majority of the books in this fascinating collection are available through the Borthwick Institute for Archives and can be discovered through YorSearch, the Library catalogue. A small selection, including items described here, will appear as part of an exhibition on York printing in early September on the ground floor of the Harry Fairhurst Building.