Beinecke MS 169                                                        Italy, s. XV^^2
Cicero, Tusculanae disputationes

          ff. 1r-162r    M. Tull. Ciceronis ad M. Brutum Tusculanarum
     disputationum Liber I incipit feliciter. Prologus. Cum defensionum
     laboribus senatoriisque muneribus aut omnino aut magna ex
     parte ... Nostris quidem acerbissimis doloribus variisque et vndique
     circumfusis molestiis alia nulla potuit inueniri leuatio. M. Tull.
     Ciceronis ad M. Brutum Tusculanarum disputationum liber quintus et
     ultimus explicit feliciter. f. 162v blank

          M. Pohlenz, ed., Teubner (1965) pp. 217-459.

          Parchment, ff. i (original parchment fly-leaf) + 162 + i (original
     parchment fly-leaf), 172 x 120 (95 x 55) mm. Written in 25 long lines;
     double vertical bounding lines; ruled in hard point.
          I-XIX^^8, XX^^10. Catchwords, surrounded by dots and flourishes, to
     the right in lower margin.
          Written in fine humanistic script by a single scribe who also made
     careful marginal annotations, in red, and less often black ink (e.g.,
     Hector; scutum, gladius, galea; Dubius hic textus).
          One initial (f. 1r), 6-line, a gold capital filled with white-vine
     ornament on a blue, green, and pink ground, with white highlights. Ivy,
     blue and pink with berries and gold leaves, trails from the corners. In
     the upper margin, a IHC monogram, surrounded by purple penwork; in the
     lower margin, a coat of arms (effaced) and initials "F. C." also with
     purple penwork (later additions?), surrounded by curling vines with
     flowers, as above. Eight other smaller initials in the text (ff. 4r,
     44v, 67r, 69r, 96r, 98v, 125r, and 128v) in the same style (cf. Paecht
     and Alexander, v. 2, no. 716: Oxford, Bod. Lib. Auct. T. 4. 16
     [Lombardy, s. XV^^med]; no. 730: Oxford, Bod. Lib. Canon. Pat. Lat. 162
     [Lombardy, 1461]). Headings, running titles, marginal notes, in red,
     throughout.
          Stains at end of codex sometimes affect marginalia.
          Binding: s. xvi. The backs of the quires are cut in at the sewing
     stations. Original wound sewing on three tawed, slit straps laid in
     beech boards; the endband cores laid in grooves. The spine is very
     slightly rounded and the cover adhered to it. Covered in dark brown
     calf, blind-tooled in concentric borders, the central panel containing
     a rope interlace diamond and square tools, with an agnus dei, also in
     squares, in rows above and below. Borders of flowers and rope tools.
     Four fastenings, the catches on the lower board, the clasps of brown
     leather nailed to the upper. Endbands, some spine leather, corners and
     clasps wanting. Sewing breaking and some slight repairs to boards.

          Written in Milan during the middle or third quarter of the 15th
     century, according to A. C. de la Mare; arms of the original owner (f.
     1r) effaced and the letters "F.C." probably a later addition. Signature
     with date on f. i recto: "1535/ Gio. Batt. Fliscus [Fieschi]".
     Unidentified shelf-marks (f. i recto): "C. 99" and "L. 1" (in red).
     Belonged to E. P. Warren, Esq., at Lewes; his sale (London, 28 Oct.
     1929, no. 47) to Lubrano. Collection of David Wagstaff (bookplate);
     presented to Yale in 1943 by Mrs. David Wagstaff.

     secundo folio: anno ante

     Bibliography: De Ricci, v. 2, p. 1904, no. 16; Faye and Bond, p. 36,
     no. 169.

     Barbara A. Shailor