Documents: 20

Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, AF A1
Parchment · 148 ff. · 26.5 x 35.5 cm · second half-end of the 9th century
Piae conciones in Evangelii lectiones

This manuscript lacks a beginning, has much-trimmed margins, and was written by a variety of hands, is datable to the second half through the end of the 9th century. It contains readings from the Gospel texts for the feasts from Christmas through Pentacost as well as those of a few saints. The first words of the Gospel texts were augmented later (12th century) in the outer margin. The text for the feast celebrating the birth of the Archangel Michael (129v-131v) is specially highlighted with a pen sketch of the saint in the margin and a marker in the lower corner. The flyleaf is a notarial document dated 1373 in favour of Isabelle von Neuenburg. (ber)

Online Since: 03/22/2012

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, AF A2, Vol. 1
Parchment · 181 ff. · 30.3 x 20.4 cm · 13th century
Lectiones evangeliorum, cum orationibus, hymnis et homeliis beati Gregorii papae

A manuscript without beginning. The titel was added later (18th century?). The parchment used is very uneven in quality. In the late Middle Ages, probably towards the end of the 15th century, the manuscript was carefully restored, with parts of the text re-copied. This is a choir book in several volumes, which was used for daily Mass by a community of clerics. Numerous additions from the 14th and 15th century attest to its use at Notre-Dame Abbey in Neuchâtel. Two (of four?) volumes have survived. It can be deduced that they follow the calendar in use at St. Jean Cathedral in Besançon. The first volume contains the sanctoral cycle from May 6th until November 30th. In 1813, the governing council donated the volume to the library of Neuchâtel. (beg)

Online Since: 12/17/2015

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, AF A2, Vol. 2
Parchment · 147 ff. · 30.8 x 21 cm · 13th century
Lectiones evangeliorum, cum orationibus, hymnis et homeliis beati Gregorii papae

A manuscript without beginning. The titel was added later (18th century?). The parchment used is very uneven in quality. In the late Middle Ages, probably towards the end of the 15th century, the manuscript was carefully restored, with parts of the text re-copied. This is a choir book in several volumes, which was used for daily Mass by a community of clerics. Numerous additions from the 14th and 15th century attest to its use at Notre-Dame Abbey in Neuchâtel. Two (of four?) volumes have survived. It can be deduced that they follow the calendar in use at St. Jean Cathedral in Besançon. Volume II contains the temporal cycle from Holy Saturday until the last Sunday after Pentecost as well as the sanctoral cycle from April 14th until May 3rd. In 1813, the governing council donated the volume to the library of Neuchâtel. (beg)

Online Since: 12/17/2015

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, AF A3
Paper · 372 pp. · 20 x 29.5 cm · 14th century
Fables and legends from the Vitae Patrum

A paper manuscript with two columns of text, missing its beginning, datable to the 14th century, written by various hands in turn, using Textura and Cursive. It contains a collection of what was originally 74 fables and legends in verse in Old French, following the model of the Vitae Patrum, which was originally written during the 12th century by a variety of authors. The manuscript is in its original binding of white leather; the flyleaves consist of notarial documents from the 13th/14th centuries, which have left traces of transferred text on the inner gace of the cover. On f. 186v the Exlibris Iste liber est de Joni de Densseuto is written twice, and on f. 92v is an announcement of the birth of the son of Pierre de Vatravers in the year 1465. (ber)

Online Since: 03/22/2012

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, AF A8
Parchment · 135 ff. · 32 x 22 cm · 14th century
Lancelot du lac [Arthurian Romance]

Old French prose manuscript, missing the beginning. It was probably written on sheep parchment, which was processed roughly. The initials are rubricated in red. Space was left for decorated letters, which were not executed. The text at the end is damaged. The 135 leaves are separated into 19 quires. The first and last leaves are missing. The manuscript probably is from the library of the Counts of Neuchâtel since it is mentioned in an inventory from the library of Jean de Fribourg and Rudolf von Hochberg, which was prepared at the end of the 15th century. In 1813 the governing council gave the manuscript, along with 16 other pieces, to the library of Neuchâtel. (beg)

Online Since: 03/17/2016

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, AF A20
Paper · 164 pp. · 22 x 16.5 cm · 1572-1595
Hory Blaise, Poetry in French, Latin and German

This manuscript on paper, bound in parchment, is composed of 82 leaves, separated into 12 quires that are sewn together, some of them incomplete. Blaise Hory, pastor from Gléresse, wrote the religiously inspired texts in French, Latin and German. They include prayers, expressions of thanks and poems. The manuscript was owned by the Marval family, who donated it to the Neuchâtel library in May 1842. (beg)

Online Since: 03/17/2016

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, AF A21
Paper · 142 ff. · 21.5 x 16 cm · 17th century, first half
Les Preceptes de Manuel empereur de Constantinople touchant l’éducation Royalle mis en françois par le Roy treschretien Louis XIIIe

Autograph of the lessons of the young King Louis XIII (1601-1643) by his Praeceptors, the philosopher and Humanist Nicholas Le Fèvre (1544-1612) and Monsier Fleurence. Each translation of selected excerpts from the works of King Manuel Palaiologos for his son John, Praecepta educationis regiae, from Latin into French, written by the hand of the young prince, is followed by a dictum in the form of a Latin sentence by the Praeceptor, continuing the lesson. The library received the manuscript in 1796 as a gift from Samuel von Chambrier, a politician and historial from Neuenburg. (ber)

Online Since: 03/22/2012

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, AF A25
Parchment · 160 ff. · 21 x 13.5 cm · second half of the 12th century
Adhortationes sanctorum patrum sive verba seniorum; Petrus Venerabilis, De miraculis

This manuscript contains the Adhortaciones sanctorum patrum (ff. 13-96v) and the De miraculis (ff. 97r-158r), a collection of miracles assembled by Peter the Venerable, reformer and last of the great abbots of Cluny. The front flyleaves contain a notarial document from the 14th century, while the rear ones contain assorted notes, possibly notices of ownership, which seem to have been obliterated. (ber)

Online Since: 03/22/2012

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, AF A28
Parchment · 229 ff. · 14.2 x 10.4 cm · Flanders, probably Bruges · around 1500
Book of Hours

A book of hours following the liturgical usage of Rome, richly illustrated with full-page miniatures, borders, and initials, written in cursive script (bastarda) which can be dated to about 1500, with texts in Latin, French, and Flemish. The style of the miniatures, especially that of the naturalistic borders with flowers and insects, but also with complete scenes, seems typical of the Ghent-Bruges school. (ber)

Online Since: 03/22/2012

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, Ms. A 40
Paper · 129 + 79 pp. · 20.5 x 16.5 cm · between 1654 and 1687
„Faits et gestes“ of the Counts of Neuchâtel

At the beginning of the manuscript, one reads (adapted in modern French): Faits et gestes des Comtés de Neuchâtel, depuis Conrad dixième et dernier roi de la Haute et Basse Bourgogne jusqu’au siècle courant. Description des villes et principales contrées de la Principauté de Neuchâtel en Suisse et Haute Allemagne, anciennement dite Helvétie. Description du Mont Jura. In 1687 this single-volume, anonymous paper manuscript with a parchment binding belonged to someone named François Gallandre. The manuscript is composed of two distinct parts, numbered separately. It contains historical accounts about the Counts of Neuchâtel between the 10th and the 17th century. (beg)

Online Since: 03/17/2016

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, Ms. A 45 Vol. 1
Paper · 92 pp. · 22 x 17.8 cm · [1672]
Bariller Frédéric, Neuchâtel-Chronicle from 1476-1664

This manuscript of historical content in French, with some Latin texts, was left to the library in 1822 by the Merveilleux family. It consists of four separate booklets sewn together, of which one is ‬‬‬‬bound‬ in parchment. They are of irregular formats and some pages are cut. Several pages, written in another hand, were integrated into the pagination and were incorporated. The fourth booklet contains a list of coats of arms and emblems with sketches. (beg)

Online Since: 03/17/2016

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, Ms. A 45 Vol. 2
Paper · 178 pp. · 22 x 17.8 cm · [1672]
Bariller Frédéric, Neuchâtel-Chronicle from 1476-1664

This manuscript of historical content in French, with some Latin texts, was left to the library in 1822 by the Merveilleux family. It consists of four separate booklets sewn together, of which one is ‬‬‬‬bound‬ in parchment. They are of irregular formats and some pages are cut.Several pages, written in another hand, were integrated into the pagination and were incorporated. The ‬fourth booklet‬‬‬‬‬ contains a list of coats of arms and emblems with sketches. (beg)

Online Since: 03/17/2016

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, Ms. A 45 Vol. 3
Paper · 40 pp. · 34.5 x 11. 5 cm · [1672]
Bariller Frédéric, Neuchâtel-Chronicle from 1476-1664

This manuscript of historical content in French, with some Latin texts, was left to the library in 1822 by the Merveilleux family. It consists of four separate booklets sewn together, of which one is bound in parchment. They are of irregular formats and some pages are cut. Several pages, written in another hand, were integrated into the pagination and were incorporated. The ‬fourth booklet‬‬‬ contains a list of coats of arms and emblems with sketches. (beg)

Online Since: 03/17/2016

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, Ms. A 45 Vol. 4
Paper · 92 pp. · 34.5 x 11cm · [1672]
Bariller Frédéric, Neuchâtel-Chronicle from 1476-1664

This manuscript of historical content in French, with some Latin texts, was left to the library in 1822 by the Merveilleux family. It consists of four separate booklets sewn together, of which one is ‬‬‬‬bound‬ in parchment. They are of irregular formats and some pages are cut.Several pages, written in another hand, were integrated into the pagination and were incorporated. The fourth booklet contains a list of coats of arms and emblems with sketches. (beg)

Online Since: 03/17/2016

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, Ms. A 558
Paper · 24 + 18 + 662 pp. · 35 x 22 cm · [1750-1790]
Summary of the history of the county of Neuchâtel and its territories

This manuscript contains an Abrégé de l'histoire du Comté de Neuchatel et de ses dépendances, an Abrégé de l’histoire de la Souveraineté de Neuchatel et Valengin and a  Sommaire description des Comtés de Neufchatel et Vallangin. This manuscript, which had been owned by the von Dardel family, describes the historical period from 1035 until 1707. It comes as a single volume, accompanied by two separate booklets, with marginal notes. The author is anonymous and there is no date. The manuscript is one of numerous copies of a text attributed to Daniel Droz and D. Quartier-dit-Maire, written in 1749 and published in 1786 under the title « Abrégé chronologique de l’histoire du Comté de Neuchatel et Valengin depuis l’an 1035 jusqu’en 1787 » [sic]. On page 661, 3 printed pages, taken from the Journal hélvétique of October 1750, have been glued in. They recount the flooding of the town of Neuchâtel on 8 October 1579, also described on page 439 of the same manuscript. (beg)

Online Since: 03/17/2016

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, Ms. R 17
Paper · 182 + 48 pp. · 25 x 20 cm · 1764-1767
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Confessions

Manuscript of the first three books of the Confessions and part of the fourth. In comparison with the other two recorded copies, this one contains numerous corrections and variations. Parchment half-binding (spine and corners); the shelfmark 23 is handwritten on the cover, which has a permanent protective covering of acid-free paper. The introductory text was omitted from the published version. (beg)

Online Since: 12/17/2015

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, Ms. R 55
Paper · 432 ff. · 24 x 18-18.5 cm · Paris · 1753-1764
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Dictionnaire de musique

First complete handwritten edition, with a number of deletions and cross-references. Each booklet consists of 12 bifolia. The pages were numbered by Rousseau. The recto of the pages contain the text, the verso corrections and additions. In his Dictionnaire de musique, Rousseau takes up again the approximately four hundred articles he had written in 1749 for the Encyclopédie. Starting in 1753, in answer to attacks and criticism brought on by his articles, he begins to revise and rewrite them. Because he strives for lexicographic completeness in the field of music, the author composes more and more new entries, reaching close to nine hundred terms. In 1794 the manuscript is donated to the Neuchâtel Library by Pierre-Alexandre DuPeyrou (1729-1794) from Neuchâtel, Rousseau’s friend and publisher. (beg)

Online Since: 04/09/2014

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, Ms. R 78
Paper · 140 pp. · 16.8 x 10.7-10.9 cm · Paris · 1776-1778
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Les Rêveries du promeneur solitaire

Carefully handwritten copy of the first seven Promenades (of the ten that make up the published text), with several crossed out and deleted passages. Each booklet consists of 12 bifolia. From page 1 to 83, the pages were numbered by Rousseau, from page 84 by Th. Dufour. In Les Rêveries, Rousseau performs one last introspection in the form of philosphical thoughts and reflections, which he himself characterizes as an appendix to his Confessions. In the fifth Promenade, he describes with nostalgia the moments of solitary happiness he experienced on St. Peter's Island in Lake Biel. The Rêveries are Rousseau’s last text; after the philosopher’s death, they were retained by his friend and publisher Pierre-Alexandre DuPeyrou (1729-1794) from Neuchâtel, who in his testament bequeathed the manuscript to the Neuchâtel Library. (beg)

Online Since: 04/09/2014

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, Ms. R 79
Paper · 25 + 33 ff. · 15.5 x 10.3 cm · 1777-1778
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Draft of the “Promenades”

Small notebook with an 18th century cardboard binding that was covered in parchment. Double numbering by Théophile Dufour. Ink and pencil. The heavily corrected manuscript contains the draft of walks eight through ten of the Rêveries du Promeneur solitaire as well as parts of the Dialogues. It also contains references to botany. (beg)

Online Since: 12/17/2015

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Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, Ms. R 79bis
Paper · 1 f. · 7.8 x 23 cm · [1776-1778?]
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Note in pencil, added to the draft of the „Rêveries“

Pencilled note in the margin of a printed page, which was found in the binding of a draft of the Rêveries (Promenades 8 -10). (beg)

Online Since: 12/17/2015

Documents: 20