Medieval Psalter Leaf, Psalm 50

This stunning manuscript leaf on vellum from a French Psalter, was written in Northern France in the late 15th century. The Psalter is written in Latin in a Gothic script with brown ink and burnished gold initials with alternating blue, red, or white tracery and infill. The term Psalter is used to describe a volume containing the 150 biblical poems know as the Book of Psalms, used for liturgical use and which often contain other devotional material. The Psalms (derived from the Greek word psalmos, meaning song”) are short, lyrical passages written in the first person. Due to their varied content and versatility, individual psalms are often employed as prayers, both in public worship and in private devotion. A beautiful archival mat has been added with windows cut front and back for easy viewing of both sides. This is a rare opportunity to purchase a 500 year old biblical document. This Psalter leaf is part of Psalm 50: “17 Seeing thou hast hated discipline: and hast cast my words behind thee. 18 If thou didst see a thief thou didst run with him: and with adulterers thou hast been a partaker. 19 Thy mouth hath abounded with evil, and thy tongue framed deceits. 20 Sitting thou didst speak against thy brother, and didst lay a scandal against thy mother’s son: 21 these things hast thou done, and I was silent. Thou thoughtest unjustly that I should be like to thee: but I will reprove thee, and set before thy face” “

In stock