Exploring their physical function in manuscripts – and the bad things that can happen when they are removed for study – as well as showing what they can contribute to book history. Leafing through a manuscript, it’s easy to ignore the fragments of other books that were often used to strengthen its binding or as endleaves to protect the beginning and end of the text. In this session the fragments are the focus.

Manuscripts:

MS. Lat. th. c. 10 – Guardbook of fragments. (https://medieval.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/catalog/manuscript_6695)

MS. Hamilton 13 – Summa theologiae, Secunda Secundae, by Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274) originating in Erfurt, Germany. With fragments of Dante, Monarchia, with the commentary attributed to Cola di Rienzo. (https://digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/641872ca-263b-41f6-b844-69ff6281bdf8/)

MS. Laud Misc. 306 – Homiliary and sermons, 12th century, originating in Germany. (https://digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/b2fb86ae-c8cd-4738-aa37-0a7d3e3ab0cc/surfaces/a86e86c7-e22b-4010-97a1-f7ab105e5abf/)

MS. Douce 55 – cookery book in English, 15th century (https://medieval.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/catalog/manuscript_4726)