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Description
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Thomas Stotevyle, Natura Brevum, in Anglo-Norman French, decorated manuscript on vellum [England, last quarter of the fourteenth century] 46 leaves (plus a scrap of a bifolium, now bound in separate reconstructed quire at back, and two medieval endleaves), 200mm. by 125mm., top of fol.3 torn away with some loss of text and single leaves wanting after fols.5 and 34, perhaps also missing several gatherings from beginning and one from end, else complete, collation: i7 (iii a singleton), ii-iii8, iv6, v9 (iii, vii and ix singletons), vi8, single column, 30-40 lines in brown ink in a readable secretarial hand, capitals touched in red throughout, simple 3-line initial in red on fol.1r, line-drawn snarling dragons on fols.39v and 40r, arms on fol.41r: one apparently not completed or halted after a mistake, the other checky argent and gules (as used by the d'Avignon, de Hangest, de Mouncy and de Vaux families), scribe's name in ornamental capitals touched in red on fol.45v, scuffed, discoloured and cockled, some leaves with tears, else fair, in limp vellum flap-binding, slipcase
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