Manuscript Leaf. Messine Neumes, 11th century

Manuscript missal bifolium. A manuscript bifolium on vellum from an early missal, Lorraine (possibly Metz), probably 11th century, vellum bifolium, 29 lines to each page, written in Carolingian minuscule, with abbreviations in double column brown ink, large capitals and section titles in red ink, text from the Book of Propers, first page with added Messine neumes in superscript to nine lines of text, first leaf close-trimmed to fore margin, affecting some letters, some overall soiling and staining, the two inside pages with some loss of legibility, several small holes to inner margin, 30 x 24 cm, with 20th century painted wood frame, glazed, with pencil note at foot of paper mount 'Part of a Sacramentary or Missal written in Lorraine, c. A. D. 950. The music of the mass is noted and the page belongs to the third and fourth weeks of Advent' (Quantity: 1) Provenance: Downside Abbey, Somerset, UK. A translation of most of the Latin text is available on request.