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B. B. B, Manuscript of Keble's morning hymn, 1860
- Title(s):
- Manuscript of Keble's morning hymn.
- Published/Created:
- England, 1860.
- Physical Description:
- [13] leaves ; 18 x 23 cm
- Holdings:
- Rare Books and ManuscriptsPR4839.K15 M66 1860Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon FundView by request in the Study Room [Request]
Note: The Study Room is open by appointment. Please visit the Study Room page on our website for more details. - Copyright Status:
- Copyright Information
- Full Orbis Record:
- http://hdl.handle.net/10079/bibid/12786707
- Classification:
- Archives & Manuscripts
- Notes:
- With the ex-libris label of John Gadd.
Manuscript version, finely illuminated, of Keble's morning hymn, the printed version of which was published by Day & Son, London. The publication was undated, but a description of it in the Publishers' Circular of Dec. 1, 1860, notes that it "will be ready in December." The introduction to the present manuscript is also dated 1860. It appears likely that the manuscript served as the original source for the published version (for a record of the Day & Son publication, see the link provided herewith).
The primary content of the manuscript (and the published version) consists of eight leaves of verse selected from Keble's Christian year (first published in 1827). Text is written in a Gothic script, with large ornamental initials. Borders are richly and skillfully illustrated with miniatures or vignettes, floral and leafy sprays, flowers, Christian symbols, arabesques, and other designs, intricately interwoven and painted in numerous colors, with liberal use of gold. Many of the decorations and initials are built up to give a raised or embossed effect. The text and illustrations are on sheets of vellum which are mounted on card leaves of the album. The manuscript leaves closely match the chromolithographic content of the published version, but with finer details and more brilliant colors in the manuscript.
The other significant difference is the order of the eight leaves. An introductory text, identical in manuscript and published versions, describes and enumerates each of the eight illustrations. This enumeration correctly describes the order of leaves in the manuscript but not in the published version, where the order of leaves has been rearranged.
The title page of the published version indicates that it was "illuminated by B.B.B. [and] chromo-lithographed by W.R. Tymms." The manuscript lacks this title page, but includes the half-title present in the publication, in which the initials "B.B.B." are repeated. In the manuscript (but not in the publication) the introduction is dated (1860) and signed with the intials "G. [?] M.D." An earlier custodian has thus attributed the manuscript to one Georgiana May Dallas, but no information can be found to substantiate this claim. The introduction is written in a hand that may be masculine. On another preliminary leaf the ornamental monogram "I.W." (or "W.I.") is written in gold, red, and blue.
The binding also suggests a close relationship between the manuscript and the published version. Both covers of the manuscript has been stamped in gold and blind with precisely the same pattern as that used on the front cover of the publisher's binding issued by Day & Son. The stamping on the spine is also identical ("Keble's Morning hymn"). Whereas the published version is covered in brown pebbled cloth, the manuscript is in full calf. The manuscript volume has gilt edges, and dentelle tooling on the turn-ins. - Subject Terms:
- Day & Son.Gadd, John -- Bookplate.Illumination of books and manuscripts -- Specimens.Keble, John, 1792-1866. Keble's morning hymn.
- Form/Genre:
- Watercolors.
Illuminations.
Illuminated manuscripts.
Miniatures (paintings)
Botanical illustrations. - Export:
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