Psalter (in Greek), 1100 - 1199

Signatures marked in Greek notation in lower right margin recto.

Parchment support (brittle and yellowed), ff. iv (contemporary paper, i=front pastedown) + 65 + i (paper) + iv (contemporary paper, iv=back pastedown)

Graeco-Venetian 17th Century, dark brown leather over boards, blind-stamped with ornamental borders and corner pieces; a crucifixion scene is stamped in the center of the front cover, Madonna on the crescent moon on the back. Remains of two leather clasps on back with small plain brass strip fasteners, remains of one brass fastener on front. Rebacked; Gordan MS number taped to spine.

192 x 145 (144 x 96) mm.

Written in 32 ruled lines with double vertical and horizontal bounding lines in hardpoint, each outer margin contains a third bounding line about halfway between the double lines and the outer edge of the page. No visible signs of pricking.

Written by a single scribe in a neat and very clear, but tiny Greek minuscule that hangs from the top line.

The first Psalm and Psalm 77 on f. 28r begin with 4-line red penwork initials, the first badly rubbed. The remaining psalms and odes begin with plain 2-line red initials with modest penwork decoration. Titles in red. Psalms numbered in outer margin in red, as are Cathismata (kaqa), and Staseis (doxa). The many blank pages, in conjunction with the several other pages in which the top third or half of the page is left empty (e. g., ff. 1r, 28r, 57r, 58r, 59v, etc.) suggest that perhaps illustrations were intended for this Psalter.