Psalter, known as the 'Kinloss', 'Boswell' or 'Auchinleck' psalter thumbnail 1
Psalter, known as the 'Kinloss', 'Boswell' or 'Auchinleck' psalter thumbnail 2
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Psalter, known as the 'Kinloss', 'Boswell' or 'Auchinleck' psalter

Manuscript
ca. 1500-1530 (published)
Artist/Maker
Catholic Church
Place of origin
Scotland (made)

Psalter, with Canticles, Litany and Prayers, in Latin
[Scotland, ca. 1500-1530], 149 leaves, parchment

Collation: ff. ii + 149 + iii (paper).
Script: Textura.
Decoration: 1 miniature and 9 large floriated initials.
Binding: 16th or early 17th century calf with a gilt fleuron ornament inside a blind tooled rectangle in the centre of upper and lower covers. Two brass clasps with catches. Rebacked and corners repaired.


Object details

Categories
National Art Library
Medieval and Renaissance
Manuscripts
Object type
manuscript
Titles
  • Psalter, known as the 'Kinloss', 'Boswell' or 'Auchinleck' psalter (generic title)
  • 'Kinloss', 'Boswell' or 'Auchinleck' psalter. (alternative title)
Materials and techniques
Full leather tightback sewn on five raised bands. Two fore-edge clasps. Headbands worked in two coloured silks. Previously re-backed. Coloured made endpapers tipped to laid flyleaves.
Parchment
Brief description
Psalter, with Canticles, Litany and Prayers, in Latin [ca. 1500-1530].
Physical description
Psalter, with Canticles, Litany and Prayers, in Latin
[Scotland, ca. 1500-1530], 149 leaves, parchment

Collation: ff. ii + 149 + iii (paper).
Script: Textura.
Decoration: 1 miniature and 9 large floriated initials.
Binding: 16th or early 17th century calf with a gilt fleuron ornament inside a blind tooled rectangle in the centre of upper and lower covers. Two brass clasps with catches. Rebacked and corners repaired.
Dimensions
  • Closed book length: 308mm (closed) (Note: Measured in BKC measuring box)
  • Closed book width: 235mm (closed book) (Note: Measured in BKC measuring box)
  • Closed book depth: 64mm (closed book) (Note: Measured in BKC measuring box)
Open dimensions approx: D: 308 x W:440 x H:160mm - no upstand
Object history
Additions in 17th century hands indicate that the manuscript. passed into the possession of members of the Chalmers and Cuming families, both well known in the county of Moray. James Chalmers seems to have added Hebrew numeration in the margin at the beginning of each psalm, and commentary on ff. 105-6. James Chalmers probably received the manuscript from John Forbes, possibly the great Aberdeen doctor. Inscription on flyleaf indicates the manuscript belonged to Alexander Boswell of Auchinleck in 1745. Bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum by George Reid in 1902.
Bibliographic references
  • Ker, N.R., Medieval manuscripts in British libraries (Oxford, 1969), I, p. 383.
  • Watson, R. Western Illuminated Manuscripts.Victoria and Albert Museum. A catalogue of works in the National Art Library from the eleventh to the early twentieth century, with a complete account of the George Reid Collection. London, 2011. II, no. 147
Other numbers
  • MSL/1902/1693 - NAL accession number
  • KRP.F.1 - NAL Pressmark
  • Reid 52
  • 402843 - Horizon bib. number
Collection
National Art Library
Library number
MSL/1902/1693 (Reid 52)

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Record createdOctober 24, 2016
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1370986/psalter-known-as-the-kinloss-manuscript-catholic-church/
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