[Grammatica latina]. Italy, late 15th century.

Manuscript on vellum. 129 (of 130) leaves. 229 x 146 mm. Humanistic cursive script, 25 lines. Gatherings of five sheets. Original stamped calf binding.

This simple and elegant manuscript served as a Latin grammer for fortunate Italian students. The unidentified author borrows examples, but not explanations, from the influential grammer of Priscan composed around the year 500. The chapter shown here is devoted to pronouns. The eminently readable script of this manuscript was a hallmark of the Italian Renaissance and inspired the Italic typeface developed by Aldus Manutius in 1501. Early owners of this book (three youths named Marco, Giuseppe, and Giovanni di Fasano) added their own maxims and commentary in the margins; there is even a bit of arithmetic scribbled on one page. Marco seems to have had a difficult time learning Latin; he writes in his rather crude hand, "Marco di Fasana is an ignorant beast." Saint John's Rare Book Collection ML Lat. 4, accessioned in 1950.