[MANUSCRIPT]. [BIBLE]. A compilation of biblical excerpts produced within a circle of Franciscan preachers (?) Northwestern France, second quarter of the 13th century, circa 1230–1250 (?). In Latin, a decorated and illuminated manuscript on parchment. 140 ff., preceded by a paper endleaf and 2 old parchment endleaves, followed by a paper endleaf, some leaves are missing at the beginning (the first signature “d” suggests that there must have been 3 quires preceding quire “d”) and most certainly after leaf 54v and after leaf 129v [collation: i8, ii12, iii2, iv10, v12, vi10, vii12, viii12, ix12, x12, xi12, xii10, xiii5 (of 6, with vi missing after f. 129), xiv9 (of 10, with i missing before f. 130), xv2 (this is a final double-leaf, likely former endpapers)], list of signatures from former quires, some trimmed short but still visible: “d” (f. 8v) / “e” (f. 20v) / “f” (f. 22v) / “g” (f. 32v, with an additional mark); “h” (trimmed, but stem visible) (f. 44v) / “i” (f. 54v, barely visible) / “n” (f. 66v) / signature f. 78v, barely visible, “p” (?) / “r” (?) (f. 90v, barely visible) / “s” (f. 102v) / “t” (f. 114v) / “u” (f. 124v) / “x” (?) (f. 129v) / “k” (?) (f. 138v); fine Gothic script, multiple hands (composite character of this manuscript), text in two columns, parchment ruled with graphite (justification: two columns of 50 mm and vertical justification of 145 mm), text copied above the first ruling line, ruling marks in the inner margins and occasionally in the outer margins, text containing numerous marginal corrections and additions by contemporary hands, numerous filigree initials painted in blue or red with red or pale blue filigree decoration, biblical chapters in Roman numerals painted in red and blue in a single quire (quire no. 6 (ff. 45–55), the rest of the chapter headings are added in ink in the margins by a contemporary hand, a few running titles in red and blue, the rest of the running titles added in pen in the upper margins (sometimes trimmed short), large “puzzle” initials in red and blue with red and blue filigree decoration, marking major textual divisions; illuminated initials with plant or zoomorphic decoration in the New Testament (31) ornate illuminated letters, some likely repainted later in the 15th century (e.g., ff. 96v, 101), partially erased drawing of a man wearing a pointed hat at the end of the manuscript with an inscription above it: “Fuit in diebus Herodis regis judeo sacerdos quidam nomine Caïphas” (fol. 139v). Soft full vellum binding, smooth spine, inscription on the spine in ink: “Biblia ms” and the call number “A 277” at the bottom of the spine. Rounded corners, missing parchment on the upper cover, a few leaves repaired in the past or some minor tears; ink slightly paler in places; a few wormholes. Dimensions: 135x175mm Provenance: 1. Manuscript copied and illuminated in France, likely in Paris or in northwestern (Picardy? Normandy?) judging by the style of the painted ornamental initials and the filigree decoration. A Franciscan origin is suggested here, or at least a connection to the Franciscan world, based on notes at the end of the manuscript (fol. 138v) referring to Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (1207–1231), a Franciscan tertiary, and Saint Francis of Assisi himself (1181/82–1226), founder of the Franciscan Order. Note on fol. 56v, in the lower margin, an unexpected word: “arrel.” Is this a reference to a member of the Arrel family, an important Breton family attested in the 14th century but undoubtedly even older (see La Chesnaye-Desbois, Dictionnaire de la noblesse, 1863, vol. I, col. 833–835)? 2. Jesuits of Pont-à-Mousson (Meurthe-et-Moselle), with an ink inscription in the upper margin of the recto: “Collegii Mussipontani societatis Iesu catal[olgus] inscriptus.” This inscription indicates that the manuscript was listed in the catalog of the Jesuit library in Pont-à-Mousson. 3. Collection of Dr. Lucien-Graux, a prominent collector and renowned bibliophile. Traces of his red leather bookplate, now missing but once affixed to the upper half-back. Manuscript sold in 2014 at an Oger-Blanchet auction titled “Bibliothèque du Docteur Lucien-Graux.” SEE THE COMPLETE LISTING IN THE PDF CATALOG (downloadable)