[MANUSCRIPTS]
Group of six historiated initials from an antiphonal. Likely Italian, 15th century. Each roughly 3 x 3 inches (7.5 cm square), each with a laid gold ground on vellum with traces of pneums and staves around the initials, which are rendered in blue, salmon and peach, delicately shaded in white, with vinework, acanthus or floral motifs within the initial. Fine condition, tipped to mount with hinges, framed; Together with a fine example of a vellum leaf from an Italian antiphonal. Italian, 15th century. 28 1/2 x 21 inches (72 x 54 cm); recto five lines of text and staves with pneums, acanthus form border on inner margin (with a small grotesquerie, a capped head at the foot), a single very large historiated initial, 4 x 4 3/4 inches (10 x 12 cm), laid gold and colors with a sheaf in peach; the verso without illumination. Some creasing and soiling but overall in a good state of preservation.