Antique 15th/16thC Illuminated Antiphonal Vellum Manuscript Leaf Framed For Sale

Genuine antique manuscript leaf on vellum (animal-skin parchment), written by hand in Latin in a Gothic textura book hand, circa 15th-16th century. This is a leaf from a large antiphonal (or antiphoner) — a communal choir book used to sing the Divine Office, written oversized so an entire choir could read it from a lectern at a distance.

The leaf carries Gregorian plainchant notation in square/quadratic neumes on 4-line red staves, with the Latin text underneath. Several decorated initials appear across the leaf in red and blue with fine pen-flourished (filigree) decoration extending into the margins — a hallmark of quality liturgical manuscript production of the period. The leaf is double-sided (recto and verso), and the frame has been set up so both sides are visible.

The text includes a portion of a responsory verse used liturgically for the Third Sunday of Advent — "Paries quidem filium et virginitatis non patieris detrimentum, efficieris gravida et eris mater semper intacta" — part of the Annunciation-themed chant tradition (the angel's message to Mary that she will conceive and bear a son while remaining ever virgin). This text is documented in the Cantus liturgical chant database, used broadly across medieval Latin-rite Advent liturgies.

Leaves like this were separated from dismembered choir books generations ago and are avidly collected individually today — pieces of genuine, hand-executed medieval/renaissance book art and liturgical history, each leaf unique.

From a Los Angeles collection. Housed in a black wood frame. Please review all photos closely, as they form part of the description — vellum is a natural material and will show cockling, creasing, and toning consistent with genuine age; this is normal and expected for a piece of this age, not a defect.

A striking and historically rich piece for collectors of medieval manuscripts, liturgical music, calligraphy, or ecclesiastical art.