The Summa super titulis (or rubricis) Decretalium is a famous legal treatise about the Decretals of Gregory IX, written around 1241-1243 by Godefridus de Trano, who was professor of canon law in Bologna and later became cardinal († 1245). In this copy, the beginning of each of the five books is marked with an illuminated initial (ff. 1r, 45r, 75v, 105v, 124v). Among the annotations and manicules in the margins and between the columns, there are also numerous small human heads, pen drawings in profile (e.g., on f. 154r). This manuscript is part of the library of Walter Supersaxo (ca. 1402-1482), Bishop of Sion, and of his son Georges (ca. 1450-1529). Before that, the manuscript was the property of Georges de Saluces (Bishop of Aosta 1433 and of Lausanne 1440, deceased 1461), at the time when he was still dean of Puy-en-Velay. The Supersaxo library has another manuscript that originated in Bologna, S 102, which is also from the 14th century and contains legal texts.
Online Since: 12/14/2017
This manuscript from the library of Walter Supersaxo (ca. 1402-1482), Bishop of Sion, and of his son Georges (ca. 1450-1529), contains Terence's six comedies, each of which begins with an ornamental initial: Andria (f. 5r), Eunuchus (f. 19v), Heautontimoroumenos (f. 35v), Adelphoe (f. 52r), Hecyra (f. 66v), Phormio (f. 78r). The manuscript is part of a bundle of copies which were made, if not by Georges Supersaxo himself, then by a scribe in his service. At the time, the young man was a law student in Basel. This group of manuscripts includes classical pieces (Terrence, Sallust…), but also texts that would be familiar only to scholars (Augustinus Datus, Gasparinus, Barzizius,…). Terence's comedies take a special place in the collection, since they were recopied into another manuscript in this group, S 101, which remains incomplete.
Online Since: 12/14/2017
The Hornbach Sacramentary is an important work of Ottonian book decoration. It was made before 983 at Reichenau for the Benedictine Abbey of Hornbach (Palatinate). The manuscript is also called the "Eburnant-Codex" in honor of the scribe who wrote it. It was probably acquired by the Cathedral library at Solothurn in 1439. It is listed as item No. 38, Colleccionarius Antiquus, in the catalog of provost Felix Hemmerli. The political programme of Charlemagne included the standardization of religious life following the example of the Roman liturgy from the time of Pope Gregory the Great. To follow this practice, one used a "sacramentary" containing the prescribed prayers and mass texts. This version was replaced by the "missale curiae" in about 1220.
Online Since: 06/22/2010
The Silver Evangelary was produced during the12th century, probably in the Upper Rhine region. It was first listed in 1646 in the Inventarium Custodiae S. Ursi, p. 48, "Ein altes Evangelij Buoch, dessen Deckhel von Silber". The political programme of Charlemagne included the standardization of religious life following the example of the Roman liturgy in the time of Pope Gregory the Great. Under this regimen books containing transcriptions of the Gospels, called "evangelaries", were produced.
Online Since: 06/22/2010
This parchment manuscript produced in 1438/39 was commissioned by Solothurn mayor Henmann von Spiegelberg and his wife Margarethe von Spins as a Mass book for use on the St. George's altar in their chapel in the Cathedral of St. Ursen. The missal was probably produced in Solothurn. The Roman Missal (First printed in Milan in 1474 under the title Missale secundum consuetudinem Romane Curie still lacking the Rubricae generales and Ritus servandus) follows the Missale curiae, i.e., the Mass book created in about 1220 for the chapel of the papal palace.
Online Since: 06/22/2010
Fewer than ten textual witnesses of Theodulf of Orléans' († 821) version of the Vulgata have survived. Numerous fragments of such a 9th century Theodulf Bible from the collegiate church of St. Ursus in Solothurn, where it was cut up and used as binding material, have been preserved in the state archives of Solothurn and the central library of Solothurn. Virtual reunification of the fragments: [sine loco], codices restituti, Cod. 3 (Biblia Theodulfi Fragmenta).
Online Since: 03/19/2015
Fewer than ten textual witnesses of Theodulf of Orléans' († 821) version of the Vulgata have survived. Numerous fragments of such a 9th century Theodulf Bible from the collegiate church of St. Ursus in Solothurn, where it was cut up and used as binding material, have been preserved in the state archives of Solothurn and the central library of Solothurn. Virtual reunification of the fragments: [sine loco], codices restituti, Cod. 3 (Biblia Theodulfi Fragmenta).
Online Since: 03/19/2015
This German language composite manuscript probably was created at the Oetenbach Convent of Dominican nuns in Zurich in the beginning of the 15th century. In addition to the liturgical Psalter (for the monastic Liturgy of the Hours, Psalterium feriatum), it also contains the Cantica of the breviary and the Litany of the Saints in German, as well as a prayer. At least since the 17th century, the manuscript has been in the possession of the collegiate church of St. Ursus in Solothurn.
Online Since: 03/17/2016
This spiritual handbook contains assorted German texts: a translation of the Gospel of Nicodemus and a communion devotion together with Dominican funeral rites and mystic texts about Christ's Passion. The manuscript originated in the third quarter of the 15th century in the area of the Upper Rhine and was originally the property of the Dominican convent in Bern (Inselkloster St. Michael). After the Reformation, at the end of the 16th century, the manuscript was acquired by the Solothurn City Library (Bibliotheca civitatis).
Online Since: 12/21/2009
This illustrated breviary for the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine was produced in 1470/1471 in Lombardy. The elegant script is characteristic of the Abbey of Santa Croce at Mortara. In the 17th century the volume was acquired by the patrician Wagner family of Solothurn, whose books were bequeathed to the city library in 1773.
Online Since: 12/21/2009
This substantial composite manuscript contains approximately 2.000 recipes and instructions, principally from art technology, but also other medical, culinary and alchemistic ones. The manuscript had been the property of the Bieler family, residents of Solothurn since the 17th century; the family counted several artisans in its ranks.
Online Since: 10/10/2019
This Parisian or Sorbonne Bible, produced around 1270 in Northern France, is remarkable not only for the form of its text including glosses and corrections, but also for its high-quality illuminated initials. The volume came to Zuchwil in the late 16th century and from the 17th century on, it has been held in the Solothurn abbey library.
Online Since: 06/25/2015
The Solothurn Legendary is the earliest example of a collection of legends in the German language. This manuscript was written during the second quarter of the 14th century in a Dominican cloister, possibly in Töss (near Winterthur) or in Oetenbach (Zurich). The manuscript was acquired by Solothurn in the 17th century.
Online Since: 07/31/2009
This missal of the Franciscan use contains Sunday and Feast-day masses from the Temporal and the Sanctoral. A possessor's mark from the Franciscan Franz Meyer, from 1587 warden of the Solothurn convent, proves that the manuscript came from that convent. Originally, it may have come, as Schönherr hypothesizes, from the Franciscan convent in Bern, which was dissolved during the Reformation.
Online Since: 09/06/2023
This German book of meditations and prayers for Dominican nuns was produced at the Inselkloster St. Michael in Bern. It contains, inter alia, numerous excerpts from the writings of Gertrud of Helfta and Mechthild of Hackeborn. Most of it was written in 1507 by Sister Luzia von Moos. Beginning in the 17th century the manuscript is known to have been in the possession of the Solothurn family Gugger; at the beginning of the 19th century it was obtained by the Solothurn City Library.
Online Since: 12/21/2009
This small-format missal is an important witness for the Franciscan liturgy of the thirteenth century. Schönherr hypothesizes an origin in the Franciscan province of Upper Germany, and a Bavarian provenance (the convent of Franciscan nuns zum Heiligen Kreuz, Landshut?). A possessor's mark of the warden of the Franciscan convent of Dieburg near Darmstadt dates to 1513. It is not known how and when the manuscript got to Solothurn.
Online Since: 09/06/2023
The Solothurn history Bible (“Historienbibel”) was created in 1460 in the workshop of Diebold Lauber in Hagenau (Alsace). This prestigious piece of work may have been comissioned by Solothurn City Clerk Hans vom Stall (1419-1499). In 1763 the book was acquired by the Solothurn City Library as a part of the von Staal family library.
Online Since: 07/31/2009
An early textual witness of Peter Lombard's († 1160) Sententiae, created perhaps even while the important Scholastic was still alive. Probably written in an Alsatian scriptorium, the manuscript was at Schönenwerd chapter of canons in the 15th century and was rebound by the bookbinder Woldaricus.
Online Since: 06/25/2015
This Franciscan Gradual was produced between 1320 and 1330 in a scriptorium in the Upper Rhine area. It was originally the property of the Franciscan monastery in Solothurn, where it remained in use until the 18th century.
Online Since: 12/21/2009
This chronicle of the Reformation, an autograph illustrated with numerous woodcuts, comprises seven “books”: the first book is about Christ and the Pope, and Kessler describes the old church. In the second book he describes the emergence of Luther and the new faith. Books III through VII give a detailed report about the beginning and the course of the Reformation in St. Gall and in the adjacent area ruled by the Prince-Abbots, in the Swiss Confederation and in the German Empire. Regarding volume and detail, the events in St. Gall and in Eastern Switzerland take up the largest share. Mentioned and praised over and over again are the merits of Vadian, whose work Kessler named “Sabbata” because it was written “an den Sabbaten, das sind an den Fyrtagen und Fyrabendstunden” (on the Sabbath, which are the holidays and the hours at the end of the day, after work).
Online Since: 12/14/2018
The composite manuscript VadSlg Ms. 292 combines three independently produced parts, bound together in about 1460 at the Abbey of St. Gall. The first part is a Psalter from the 9th century; whether it was produced in St. Gall is questionable. The hymnal from the 12th century that comprises the second part contains a dedicatory illustration showing the scribe Eberhard presenting his book to Gallus, while Pope Gregory sits at a podium writing down songs that that a dove representing the Holy Spirit is whispering in his ear. The third part is a fragment containing prologues to the Psalter.
Online Since: 05/20/2009
This Evangelary with an unusual, nearly square format and full-page illuminated initials was written and decorated in the late 9th century at the Abbey of St. Gall. The binding, which was originally covered in bright silk brocade in red, yellow, and green, is equally unusual. Remnants of this material can still be found on the inner edge of the cover. The volume was annotated by Ekkehart IV during the 11th century; there are also some verses in his hand at the end.
Online Since: 05/20/2009
This small-format volume from the 11th century combines a calendar, a gradual with neumes, and sung parts of the Mass with a sacramentary containing the prayers of the Mass. It was likely written in the Abbey of St. Gall; in the late middle ages it was moved to the chapel of Peter and Paul in Rotmonten near St. Gall. Numerous entire leaves and parts of leaves containing decorated initials have been cut out.
Online Since: 12/21/2010
In the works De arithmetica and De institutione musica Boethius transmitted Greek mathematics and music theory to medieval readers. The polychrome schematic illustrations in this 12th century manuscript are particularly carefully made.
Online Since: 05/20/2009
This volume produced in 1420 in Florence is among the earliest manuscripts written in Humanist minuscule, and it is possible that this is a direct copy from the model written by Poggio Bracciolini, the inventor of this script. According to the judgment of Berthold Louis Ullman, it is "perhaps the best example of humanistic writing during the first decade of the fifteenth century - except Poggio's."
Online Since: 05/20/2009
This Rudolf von Ems manucript originated in the same area of Zurich that produced the Manessische Liederhanschrift (Manesse Song Script). It represents one of the most accomplished examples of south German book decoration from the time around 1300, with excellent miniatures illustrating the Chronicle of the World by Rudolf von Ems and the Stricker's epic poem about Charlemagne and his military campaign in Spain.
Online Since: 05/20/2009
This volume is the second of a three-volume set, an edition of Livius written in 1442 and 1143 in Padua. It is of particular interest because the texual model is well-known: the Livius manuscript of Sicco Polentone (1375/76-1446), Chancellor of Padua, today Holkham Hall Library, MS 349. This manuscript is written in an extremely regular semi-Gothic script augmented with exquisite white vine scroll initials.
Online Since: 05/20/2009
This cartulary contains the major legal title of the Premonstratensian abbey of Weissenau near Ravensburg; the popes, emperors, kings, princes, dukes, counts, bishops and vicars mentioned in the cartulary are portrayed in the margins with their attributes of office. Prepended to the cartulary itself is a history of the founding of the monastery: appended are a tribute register and other documents.
Online Since: 05/20/2009
This book of hours is from the workshop of the Master of Gold Scrolls, which was probably located in Bruges and specialized in the production of books of hours. It was likely made for someone in Flanders in the middle of the 15th century. Contrary to the usual sequence of texts, this book of hours features the Office of the Virgin after those of the Cross and of the Holy Spirit. When this book of hours was rebound, a series of cut-out historiated initials were inserted that pick up on the themes of the miniatures. In 1615 the bibliophile St. Gallen merchant Jakob Studer donated this book of hours to the municipal library.
Online Since: 12/10/2020
This richly illustrated pocket bible from the third quarter of the 13th century contains the Old and New Testaments. It combines the new chapter numerations of the 13th century and the older Eusebian numeration of the Gospels; the Psalm section includes Gallican versions set side by side with translations by Jerome. The Psalm section also includes historiated initials accompanied by interesting humorous sayings.
Online Since: 05/20/2009
The illustrations and text enjoy equal importance in this illustrated work of anti-papal propaganda, named after its opening "Ascende calve". The Vadian Collection manuscript is the most important exemplar of this text, which takes the form of proverbs. The most notable and fascinating feature of this manuscript is the way in which the gray-tone illustrations are used.
Online Since: 05/20/2009
This two-volume, large format history Bible (“Historienbibel”) is illustrated throughout in an artistic style characteristic of the workshop of Diebold Lauber in Hagenau. This history Bible is traceable to Constance in the third quarter of the 15th century; some defects were repaired in St. Gallen in the early 17th century – one of the early conservation efforts undertaken in this city.
Online Since: 05/20/2009
The cosmology of the Lyon physician and astrologer Louis de Lange treats the formation of the world and describes the earth and the stars in the sky. The illustrations of the decans, showing the subdivision of each of the twelve signs of the zodiac into three astrological sections, are worthy of particular attention. Despite the attractive illustration, the work was not very popular; only a few manuscripts are known to exist.
Online Since: 05/20/2009
Heinrich Schlüsselfelder's work, Blumen der Tugend, a collection of brief instructive tales, is derived from an Italian model. The author, originally from Nürnberg, translated them into German in 1468 in Italy. The paper is of Italian manufacture; the Lombard initials, the binding stamp and what remains of the fasteners are all of Italian design. For illustrations Schlüsselfelder used early Italian copperplate engravings portraying the cardinal virtues and a unicorn; slightly later he, or a reader, illustrated the text with color-washed pen sketches in the margins.
Online Since: 11/04/2010
This 6,5 meter long parchment scroll depicts the history of the world, from Adam and Eve up to Christ, as a “Heilsgeschichte” (history of salvation); central events are illustrated with multicolored pen and ink drawings. Representing later epochs up to the middle of the 14th century, tables list the popes up to Innocent IV (elected in 1352) as well as the kings and emperors up to Charles IV.
Online Since: 12/17/2015
The impulse for writing the original model of this text, Vadian's “Kleinere Chronik der Äbte” (1544-46) (VadSlg Ms. 44), came from Heinrich Bullinger and Johannes Stumpf; they wanted to make use of Vadian's knowledge of the history of St. Gall for the Eidgenössische Chronik (1547/48) that appeared under Stumpf's name. The chronicle consists of three parts: the first part is about Saint Gall; the second part is a history of the monastery and of the city of St. Gall; the third part gives a historical-topographical description of the city of St. Gall and of Lake Constance. Wolfgang Fechter produced two copies thereof in 1549. The illustrations are by Caspar Hagenbuch.
Online Since: 12/14/2018
The homilies of Gregory the Great in an 11th century script, with red initials and captions. The work was already included in a 10th/11th century book catalog as being held in Pfafers, and it remained in the cloister library after the devastating fire of 1665 as well as after secularization in 1838. On the front and back flyleaves and pastedowns are fragments of the Historia ecclesiastica by Eusebius Caesariensis (9th/10th century).
Online Since: 12/21/2009
Calendar, gradual and sacramentary from the parish church St. Evort in Pfäfers; held in the library of Pfäfers Abbey since the 17th/18th century. With initials, rich decoration and a full-page image of the crucifixion (the canon image) on fol 59r. On fol. 173v, an Alemannischer Glauben und Beichte were later added by a 13th century hand.
Online Since: 06/14/2018
Composite manuscript of hagiographic character containing the lives of Saints Colomban, Eustacius, Gall, Otmar, Nicholas of Myre, Augustine, Meinrad, Walburga, Sigismond, Alexis, and Aper as well as a commentary on the Gospel of Matthew by Remigius of Auxerre.
Online Since: 12/19/2011
The Pfafers manuscript of the Vitas Patrum or Adhortationes sanctorum patrum ad profectum perfectionis monachorum was produced during the first half of the 9th century. It contains teachings of the fathers of Christian monasticism, who were extremely well received during the middle ages and had a strong influence on hagiography. This text was written by one hand and includes black, red and yellow filled initials and captions. On the front and back pastedowns are fragments of a homiliarium.
Online Since: 12/21/2009
Ardüser's notes begin in the year 1572 and end in 1614. His chronicle is considered an important source of political and social life in the "Alt Fry Rätien" of the time. Not until the 1870s was Hans Ardüser's chronicle discovered and published by cantonal high school principal J. Bott from Grisons. A large part of the chronicle consists of reports about political events at the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century. In his work Ardüser also mentions crimes and the execution of witches; among other things he reports about extraordinary weather events and consequent crop failures. From his autobiographical nots, which are recorded in the "Rätische Chronik" (Raetian chronicle) as well, it becomes clear that Ardüser was a gifted reader. We can conclude that he obtained his knowledge about all of these topics from written sources such as parish registers, circulating news bulletins, official publications and personal contacts to officials, returning mercenary soldiers or traveling merchants.
Online Since: 06/22/2017
Like Cod. Sang. 722, this manuscript contains an important, but incomplete, copy of the Lex Romana Curiensis, a private literary work in the Gallo-Franco tradition of the "breviary literature" based on the Lex Romana Visigothorum. At the end, the rhaetic sub-deacon Orsicinus signs as a copyist.
Online Since: 12/19/2011
The Liber viventium Fabariensis is likely the most important surviving work of Rhaetish book art. This manuscript was originally designed as an Evangelistary and richly adorned with initials, frames for canonical tables and full-page illustrations of the symbols of the four evangelists. Starting in 830 the names of monks who joined the monastic community were listed in the empty canonical table frames, together with living and deceased benefactors of the abbey. In addition to its function as evangelistary, memorial and record of the monastic brotherhood, the Liber viventium was later also used to preserve the historial records and treasure catalog of Pfäfers Abbey. Because of the legal importance of the Liber viventium up to modern times, the volume is housed in the archival collection of Pfäfers Abbey.
Online Since: 06/02/2010
Liber Aureus, the Golden Book of Pfäfers, was originally produced in about 1080/90 as an Evangelistary, decorated with artistic portraits of the four evangelists. The free space left between the readings was used in the 14th century for the recording of "Weistümern" (judicial sentences).
Online Since: 06/02/2010
Probably produced in Paris, this pocket Bible contains the Old Testament with 16 of Jerome's prologues to the individual Biblical books. At least five leaves (from 1 Macc. 4: 38) have been torn out of the end. The exceptionally fine and thick parchment is of extremely high quality. The pages feature continuous red-and-blue column headings and chapter numbers. The ornamentation consists of pen-flourished and painted initials, a few of which have figurative scenes: p. 9 (Hexaemeron), p. 137 (Moses), p. 435 (David with Harp), p. 446 (David), p. 450 (fool), p. 470 (David), p. 482 (Solomon). In the Psalms, the liturgical eight-part division of the psalters is particularly emphasized through painted initials.
Online Since: 12/14/2022
A Winithar manuscript dating from the early period of the abbey of St. Gall, containing books of the Old and New Testament.
Online Since: 09/14/2005
This manuscript contains as its first part Isidore of Seville's commentary on the Old Testament Books Exodus (pp. 1−44), Deuteronomy (pp. 44−53), Joshua (pp. 53−62) and Judges (pp. 62−71). These commentaries are a part of his work Mysticorum expositiones sacramentorum seu quaestiones in vetus testamentum. The second part (pp. 73−135), written in a different, more accurate hand, contains a copy of the Book of Leviticus with a more extensive interlinear commentary that was planned from the outset. Between the two parts (p. 72) is the library stamp from the abbacy of Prince-Abbot Diethelm Blarer, in use between 1553 and 1564.
Online Since: 06/23/2016
Copies of books from the Old Testament, bound together from two codices: pp. 3–105 First Chronicles and Second Chronicles (Paralipomena), 12th century; pp. 107–239 the apocryphal First Maccabees and Second Maccabees with two prologues, 11th century. The only decoration is a red initial with scroll ornamentation in the column of p. 107.
Online Since: 06/23/2016
Bible manuscript from the time of Abbot Werdo (784-812), containing books of the Old Testament.
Online Since: 09/14/2005
Bible manuscript from the time of Hartmut, Vice-abbot ca. 850-872 and Abbot 872-883, containing books of the Old Testament (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus
Online Since: 06/12/2006
Copy of Old Testament books, primarily with Jerome's prologues: Proverbs (pp. 5-37), Ecclesiastes (pp. 37-49), Song of Songs (pp. 49-55), Wisdom (pp. 55-78), Sirach (pp. 78-141), Job (pp. 141-180), Tobias (pp. 180-195), Judith (pp. 195-214), Esther (pp. 214-232). Contains several initials with scroll ornamentation in red ink (pp. 7, 8, 141, 143, 180, 181).
Online Since: 12/14/2018
Books of the Old Testament, dating from the first third of the 9th century, containing annotation in the hand of Notker Balbulus († 912).
Online Since: 09/14/2005
Psalter, produced in the second half of the 9th century, possibly in northern France. Following the Psalms, which were heavily annotated with commentaries in later centuries (mainly the 14th and 15th centuries), the Psalter is followed by the Canticles as well as a fragment of a Litany of the Saints not produced at St. Gallen. The beautifully illuminated initial capital of the first Psalm (Beatus vir) on page 1 is strongly influenced by Irish models.
Online Since: 12/09/2008
Collection of liturgical works, containing texts from the 9th to 12th centuries and an illustration of Pacificus of Verona's star clock.
Online Since: 12/31/2005
Bible manuscript from the time of Hartmut, Vice-abbot ca. 850-872 and Abbot 872-883, containing a copy of the Hebrew Psalter: one volume of the so-called "Kleine Hartmut-Bibel".
Online Since: 06/12/2006
The Wolfcoz Psalter – one of St. Gallen's earliest examples of illuminated initials of the highest quality.
Online Since: 12/31/2005
Old High German translation and commentary on the Psalms by the monk Notker the German of St. Gall, dating from around the year 1000. This 12th century copy from Einsiedeln is the only extant complete copy.
Online Since: 06/12/2006
The Golden Psalter (Psalterium aureum) of St. Gall, written and illuminated with 17 miniatures, either in the West Franconian empire (Soissons?) or in the monastery of St. Gall with the participation of West Franconian scribes and illuminators.
Online Since: 06/12/2006
The Folchart Psalter, a masterpiece of late Carolingian illumination.
Online Since: 09/14/2005
Produced in the thirteenth century, this Psalter shows evidence of heavy use. An “instructions for use” found on the back pastedown calls for the Psalter to be left in the choir so that every sister can read it. Thus, the Psalter came from a convent of women. Since St. Catherine is particularly emphasized in the calendar, it could have belonged to the convent of Dominican women of St. Catherine in St. Gall. Decoration consists of red and blue pen-flourished initials. In addition, the liturgical eight-part division as well as the three-part division of the Psalter are highlighted with larger painted initials, which are partially adorned with silver and gold ink. Following the Psalms, starting on p. 240, are the biblical Cantica, Credo, Te Deum, Symbolum Athanasianum and a litany. A few leaves were replaced in the fifteenth and fourteenth/fifteenth century (pp. 95–98, 257–264). Two quires of a breviary in the same hand as pp. 257–264 are bound to the litany (pp. 269–288). In the same hand, an incomplete calendar (July to December) with names of the month in German precedes the Psalter (pp. 1–12). Originally the calendar probably consisted of two quires, of which only the last leaf of the first quire and the complete second quire remain. On the front pastedown is glued the bookplate of Prince-Abbot Beda Angehrn (abbot 1767-1796).
Online Since: 12/14/2022
Short Psalter from the early 14th century, produced in the now dissolved west English Abbey of Malmesbury, with calendar and All Saints Litany, illustrated with artful initials and margin borders composed of leaves, flowers, animals and human heads. Acquired by the Cloister of St. Gall since 1500 at the latest, the volume was "augmented" at this location by the addition of some recipes for medical preparations.
Online Since: 12/23/2008
A glossed psalter from the monastery ofSt. Gall, dating from the middle of the 9th century.
Online Since: 12/31/2005
A composite manuscript with three parts: 1) a copy of the Song of Songs, surrounded by a learned scholarly commentary from the 12th or 13th century, possibly from the Abbey of St. Gall, 2) a copy of the letter from Prosper of Aquitaine to Rufinus regarding De gratia et libero arbitrio, the work Pro Augustino responsiones ad capitula obiectionum Gallorum calumniantium by Prosper of Aquitaine, the work Responsiones ad Dulcitium de octo quaestionibus ab eo missis by Augustine, and the pseudo-Augustinian piece Hypomnosticon contra Pelagianos (like Cologne, Dombibliothek, Codex 79), 3) an incomplete copy of Augustine's work Enchiridion de fide, spe et caritate (a guide to belief, hope and love).
Online Since: 12/21/2009
A copy of three Old Testament books (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs) made in St. Gall in about 800. On page 1, used for quill tests, is the St. Gall mocking verse, famous among Germanist scholars, Liubene ersazta sine gruz unde kab sina tohter zu...
Online Since: 12/23/2008
Books of the Old Testament from the time of the monk and master scribe Wolfcoz (ca. 820-840)
Online Since: 09/14/2005
Books of the Old Testament (Isaiah, Hosea, Zechariah and Daniel) from the time of Abbot Grimald (841-872) with commentary to the left and to the right of the Bible text.
Online Since: 06/12/2006
Bible manuscript from the time of Hartmut, Vice-abbot ca. 850-872 and Abbot 872-883, containing books of the Old Testament (Isaiah, Jeremiah): one volume of the so-called "Kleine Hartmut-Bibel".
Online Since: 12/12/2006
Books of the Old Testament from the time of the monk and master scribe Wolfcoz (ca. 820-840)
Online Since: 12/31/2005
Bible manuscript from the time of Hartmut, Vice-abbot ca. 850-872 and Abbot 872-883, containing books of the Old Testament (Ezekiel, Daniel and the minor prophets): one volume of the so-called "Kleine Hartmut-Bibel". Includes a malediction upon thieves by the owner.
Online Since: 12/12/2006
Gospel-book with accompanying commentary, containing the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Earliest extant gospel-book from the St. Gall scriptorum.
Online Since: 06/12/2006
The Irish Gospel Book of St. Gall. Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, illustrated with 12 decorated pages, written and illuminated by Irish monks around 750 in Ireland.
Online Since: 06/12/2006
Latin Evangelary with preceding prologues, arguments and canonical tables, produced during the first half of the 9th century in the area of Lyon. Fragments of the Edictum Rothari (Cod. Sang. 730) were found in this manuscript and removed during the first half of the 20th century.
Online Since: 04/15/2010
The Evangelium Longum, a world-class work created by the St. St. Gall monks Sintram (text) and Tuotilo (binding).
Online Since: 12/31/2005
The Gundis Gospel-Book, one of the most splendid liturgical manuscripts of the monastery of St. Gall, containing a monumental "Maria" monogram.
Online Since: 12/31/2005
This codex contains the Gospel of Luke with the Glossa ordinaria. The manuscript, bound in a Romanesque binding, was probably written towards the end of the 12th century, possibly also at the beginning of the 13th century. It is unclear whether it was written in St. Gall. The decoration consists of two initials with scroll ornamentation. On p. 1 there is a red Q with green and blue filling, whose tail is formed by a dragon; on p. 2 there is an F framed in red and filled in gold, with green scrolls with blue filling.
Online Since: 12/10/2020
An Irish copy of John's Gospel, bound in ivory diptychs for presentation to Charles the Great as a gift for his coronation.
Online Since: 12/31/2005
This volume consists of three codices that were bound together. The first two (pp. 1–84 and 85–228) contain the Gospel of John, the third (pp. 229–342) the Gospel of Mark, each with the so-called Prologus monarchianus (Stegmüller, Repertorium Biblicum, No. 624: pp. 1–2 and 86–88; Stegmüller, RB 607: pp. 229–232) and Glossa ordinaria. In the first codex, the Gospel text abruptly ends in the middle of a sentence on p. 84 in Jn 21,2; only Jn 1,1–8,24 are glossed. In the second codex, Jn 1,1–20,25 is glossed. While the first and third codices are from the 12th century, the second is somewhat later (12th/13th century). The last pages of the third codex also are later (13th century: glosses from p. 315, main text from p. 319). There is a zoomorphic initial (dragon) on p. 3 and an initial in minium on p. 229. Fragments of 10th century manuscripts were used to line the back. On the inside of the front cover, there is an imprint of a manuscript fragment, and on the back pastedown there is a late medieval note of ownership for St. Gall Abbey.
Online Since: 06/13/2019
A copy of the Pauline Epistles with a miniature of Paul the Apostle, preaching in front of a great number of Jews and pagans, copies of Alcuin's works "De dialectica" and "De rhetorica" and of the work "Peri hermeneias" of Apuleius of Madaura (?), written in the monastery of St. Gall in the second half of the 9th century, with amendments from the 11th century.
Online Since: 09/14/2005
A composite manuscript with two unrelated parts: 1) an incomplete copy of the Somnium Scipionis section of the work De re publica by Marcus Tullius Cicero, written in the Abbey of St. Gall during the 10th century, followed by a 10th century St. Gall copy of the commentary originally written by the Roman author Macrobius of late antiquity in about 430/440 and widely disseminated during the middle ages. A fragment of this manuscript may also be found in Cod. Voss.lat.qu. 33 (fol. 58) in the library of the Rijksuniversiteit in Leiden; 2) a St. Gall copy of the seven Catholic Letters (3 written by John, 2 by Peter, one by James, one by Jude) with a learned scholarly commentary from the 12th century.
Online Since: 12/21/2009
Copy of the Catholic epistles with the Glossa ordinaria: Jerome's prologue to the Epistle of James, Stegmüller, Repertorium Biblicum, No. 809 (p. 4), Epistle of James (pp. 5-19), First Epistle of Peter (pp. 19-34), Second Epistle of Peter (pp. 34-43), First Epistle of John (pp. 43-57), Second Epistle of John (pp. 57-59), Third Epistle of John (pp. 59-61), Epistle of Jude (pp. 61-64). Pages 1 and 2 contain more introductory texts, by various hands, on the Epistle of James, among them the prologue by Jerome (Stegmüller, RB 808), excerpts from Jerome, ep. 53 (Stegmüller, RB 807), an anonymous prologue to the Epistle of James (Stegmüller, RB 806) and various other texts related, in the broadest sense, to the Glossa ordinaria (mentioned by Stegmüller, RB 11846, as having survived only in this manuscript). P. 2 also contains the first 3 stanzas of the sequence for St. John the Evangelist Verbum dei deo natum.
Online Since: 06/13/2019
Copy of the Pauline Epistles with the Glossa ordinaria: Epistle to the Romans (pp. 3–44), First Epistle to the Corinthians (pp. 44–78), Second Epistle to the Corinthians (pp. 78–106), Epistle to the Galatians (pp. 106–121), Epistle to the Ephesians (pp. 121–136), Epistle to the Philippians (pp. 136–146), Epistle to the Colossians (pp. 146–156), First Epistle to the Thessalonians (pp. 156–164), Second Epistle to Timothy (pp. 165–172), Epistle to Titus (pp. 172–177), Epistle to Philemon (pp. 177–179), Epistle to the Hebrews (pp. 179–214). The Second Epistle to the Thessalonians and the First Epistle to Timothy are missing (loss of a quire).The beginning of the Epistle to the Romans (Rm 1, 1–20) appears on pp. 1-2 already, also with the Glossa ordinaria. The decoration consists of initials with scroll ornamentation in the same ink as the text on pp. 3, 44, 106, 146, 172, 177 and 179. On the last leaf (p. 215-216), presumably formerly a pastedown, there is the sequence De sancto Nicolao by Adam of Saint Victor with diastematic neume notation on staff lines incised with a stylus. This notation, not customary in St. Gall, argues against the manuscript's having been produced at the St. Gall monastery.
Online Since: 12/14/2018
Two codices in one volume. The first codex (pp. 1-288; early 12th century) contains the Pauline epistles with the Glossa ordinaria and four prologues: anonymous prologue, Stegmüller, Repertorium biblicum, No. 11086 (p. 1), prologue by Pelagius (?), Stegmüller, RB 670 (pp. 1–2), prologue by Pelagius, Stegmüller, RB 674 (pp. 2–3), prologue by Marcion, Stegmüller, RB 677 (p. 3). P. 3 also contains excerpts from the Decretum Gratiani (D. 28 c. 17), the Concilium BracarenseII, can. 2, and one more canonical text. This is followed by the Pauline epistles in the customary order (pp. 5-287), including the apocryphal Epistle to the Laodiceans (pp. 216-218). The second codex (pp. 288-448; 12th century; from p. 417 on 12th/13th century) primarily contains excerpts from sermons and other works by Jerome (pp. 289–374 and 386–387), interposed with more sermons (pp. 382–386, 387–403 and 408–415) and other works, in part only as excerpts: Grimlaicus, Regula solitariorum, cap. 3–5 and 31–34 (p. 374–381); anon., De consanguinitate BMV (pp. 403–407); Gregory of Tours, Miracula 1, 31–32 (on St. Thomas; pp. 407–408); Amalarius of Metz, Ordinis missae expositio I, prologue and cap. 17 (pp. 415–416); excerpt from Gregory the Great, Regula pastoralis, cap. 12 (p. 416); Peter Abelard, Sententiae 1–60 and 102–247 (pp. 417–448). The front and back covers show imprints of fragments from a 10th century missal.
Online Since: 06/13/2019
Winithar's copy of the Pauline Epistles – Winithar's address to his fellow monks.
Online Since: 09/14/2005
The codex contains the Pauline Epistles with three prologues to the Letter to the Romans (Stegmüller, Repertorium Biblicum, Nr. 650, 674, and 677; p. 1), the Glossa ordinaria, and further glosses. The Letter to the Hebrews ends at Hebr. 4:16. The manuscript, bound in a Romanesque binding, was probably written towards the end of the twelfth century. It is not clear whether it was produced in St. Gall.
Online Since: 12/14/2022
Copies of the Epistles of Paul, the Acts of the Apostles, the Catholic Letters (3 by John, 2 by Peter, one by James, one by Jude) and the Apocalypse, written and decorated with several initials sometime in the middle of the 9th century at the Abbey of St. Gall.
Online Since: 12/21/2009
Copy of New Testament books with prologues and Glossa ordinaria: Gilbertus Porretanus, prologue to the Apocalypse, Stegmüller RB 839 (pp. 2–4), Apocalypse (pp. 4–81), prologue to the catholic epistles, Stegmüller RB 809 and 11846 (p. 82), Epistle of James (pp. 83–99), First Epistle of Peter (pp. 99–115), Second Epistle of Peter (pp. 115–126), First Epistle of John (pp. 126–141), Second Epistle of John (pp. 141–143), Third Epistle of John (pp. 143–145), Epistle of Jude (pp. 145–150), prologue to the Gospel of John, Stegmüller RB 624 (pp. 151–153), Gospel of John (pp. 154–300). At the beginning of the chapters (p. 2, 4, 83, 126, 141, 145, 151, 154), there are initials stretching over several lines executed in minium with blue, green and light yellow, in part with figurative elements (p. 83 and 145: animal head and animal mask; p. 126: quadruped; p. 143: billy goat; p. 154: dragon). In the margin on p. 99, there is a depiction of the Apostle Peter with the keys.
Online Since: 03/22/2018
The earliest complete extant pandect of Alcuin from the abbey of St. Martin at Tours.
Online Since: 12/31/2005
Complete Bible in large-format, only the Psalms and the Book of Baruch are not included. The individual books are introduced by initials in red ink over several lines (e.g., p. 3). The inside of the back cover shows imprints of pages in uncial script, probably a 5th century version of a Vetus Latina.
Online Since: 03/17/2016
Bible manuscript from the time of Hartmut, Vice-abbot ca. 850-872 and Abbot 872-883, containing books of the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges and Ruth). The first volume of the so-called "Grosse Hartmut-Bibel".
Online Since: 12/12/2006
Bible manuscript from the time of Hartmut, Vice-abbot ca. 850-872 and Abbot 872-883, containing books of the Old Testament (Samuel I and II and Kings III and IV).The second volume of the so-called "Grosse Hartmut-Bibel".
Online Since: 12/12/2006
Bible manuscript from the time of Hartmut, Vice-abbot ca. 850-872 and Abbot 872-883, containing books of the Old Testament (Paralipomenon I and II, Judith, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah and Maccabees I and II).
Online Since: 12/12/2006
A copy of the first five books of Moses (the Pentateuch), the books of Joshua and Judges from the Old Testament as well as the Epistles of Paul and the Acts of the Apostles from the New Testament, produced in about 1100 in the cloister of All Saints (Allerheiligen) in Schaffhausen, already recorded in the 12th century as held in St. Gall.
Online Since: 04/15/2010
Bible manuscript from the time of Hartmut, Vice-abbot ca. 850-872 and Abbot 872-883, containing books of the Old Testament (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus - also called Sirach, Job, Tobit). A volume of the so-called "Grosse Hartmut-Bibel".
Online Since: 06/12/2006
Bible manuscript from the time of Hartmut, Vice-abbot ca. 850-872 and Abbot 872-883, containing the Pauline Epistles, the Acts and Revelations. The last volume (6) of the so-called "Grosse Hartmut-Bibel".
Online Since: 12/12/2006
The Pseudo-Clementines in a copy produced at the Cloister of Einsiedeln in the period around 950/970, with a title illustration showing the conflict between Peter the Apostle and Simon Magus. The 10-book "Pseudo-Klementinen" is written from the point of view of Peter's follower Clement and tells about Peter's travels, his conflict with Simon Magus, and the conversion of his pupil, Clement of Rome.
Online Since: 12/09/2008
A summary presentation of Christian ethics by the early church father Ambrose (about 339 - 397), De officiis ministrorum. This copy is from around 900, probably not produced in the monastery of St. Gall. A short Psalter, a litany, and prayers precede the work by Ambrose.
Online Since: 12/09/2008
A collection of the dogmatic works De spiritu sancto libri tres ad Gratianum and Libri tres de incarnatione contra Apollinaristes, both originally written by the early church father Ambrose († 397) together with De laude sanctorum by Bishop Victricius of Rouen († before 409). A northern French copy from the middle of the 9th century, probably not produced at the monastery of St. Gall, but rather in the area of Metz. The manuscript opens with six dedicatory verses by the priest Regimarus to King Ludwig the German (833-876) in Latin hexameter.
Online Since: 12/09/2008
A copy of the exegesis of the Gospel of Luke by Ambrosius, set down by several St. Gall monks in the 9th century.
Online Since: 07/31/2009
Jerome's commentary on the Psalms Tractatus super psalmos , produced in an unknown location (not at the Abbey of St. Gall), probably during the 10th century.
Online Since: 12/21/2009
This manuscript contains one of the few copies of the Scarpsum de dictis sancti Effrem prope fine mundi, here rendered as Sermo sancti Ysidori, ascribed to Isidor of Seville, and the psalm commentaries of Jerome (or a Pseudo-Jerome?), produced in northern Italy (possibly Monza) about the end of the 8th century.
Online Since: 12/21/2009