Two leaves from a Psalter, with a lion and a griffon in the initials, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on parchment [France, early thirteenth century (probably before 1230)]

Two leaves, each with single column of 18 lines of an angular early gothic bookhand, with biting curves, lateral compression, and wedged clubbing to ascenders, written above topline, red rubrics, one-line initials in gold on pink and blue grounds, 2-line initials in orange-red or blue on burnished gold grounds, each leaf with one such initial enclosing an exquisitely painted lion or a blue winged griffon who looks back over his shoulder at the text, small scuffs and spots in places, paper adhering in places from last mounting, else in excellent condition, each 165 by 125mm.

From the collection of Roger Martin (1939-2020) of Grimsby.

Other leaves from the same parent manuscript can be found in Quaritch, cat. 1270, Bookhands of the Middle Ages VI (2000), no. 33; our rooms, 27 October 2011, lot 4; and Pirages, cat. 47, nos. 20 and 49.