1482. Euclid’s The white Case X. 5 19 Geometry. branch, on parti-coloured background. ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1484. Breviary Border and Case IX. 1 16 of the initials. Camaldolese Monks. ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1501. Martial— Border and Case X. 7 19 Epigrammata. picture. ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1513. Aulus Border. Do. 19 20 Gellius— Noctes Atticæ. ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1514. Plautus— Border, &c. Do. 20 20 Comedies. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
1494. Ludovico The ornamental Miscellaneous MS. Maria Sforza work which Autographs, 19, 20. Visconti, occupies the &c. Duke of Milan, whole upper to his wife. part of this specimen is worthy of minute and careful study. It is magnificent. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
[12] All these specimens are in the King’s Library.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── PAGE IN DATE. NAME OF POINTS TO WHERE TO GUIDE SPECIMEN. BE NOTED. BE FOUND. BOOK.[A] ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The Sri Miniature Central Bhagavat pictures, table Case, MS. Purana. set in 1st 22 borders— compartment illuminated 4 framework- gilding. ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The Do. Do. 5 22 Durga-patha. 3rd 23 A Bhuddistic compartment work and 23 and 24 Hindoo miniatures. ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1305. A volume Illuminated Side Case, 31 containing borders—use IV. (D.) the Koran. of gold. ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 16th Khizr Khan. Miniature Central table 24 cent. scenes and Case, border. 4th compartment 32 ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 17th The Diwan Do. Do. 33 24 cent. (Háfiz). ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── There are also some beautiful specimens to be seen at the Museum of the East India House. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Several obvious reasons combined in mediæval days to make vellum the almost exclusive vehicle for illuminated writing. It was the substance on which most manuscript books were written: it was durable, and it took both ink and colour well. It is still largely in use for the purposes of illumination, and may be had properly prepared at almost any stationer’s, as well as at all artists’ colour shops. Any drawing paper with a smooth surface may also be used; but the best substance of all is the ordinary Bristol board, not too thick, for there should be some little elasticity—three sheets thick is about the most useful.