Work

Codex Usserianus Primus

Abstract

• IE TCD MS 55, Codex Usserianus Primus, is one of the earliest surviving examples of a Gospel book thought to have been made in Ireland. While it has generally been dated to the seventh century, a controversial assessment has identified the manuscript as the product of the fifth century, an extraordinarily early date for a Christian book to exist in Ireland. The manuscript contains parts of the four Gospels with pre-Vulgate readings (Old Latin text). Later additions include dry-point glosses in Latin and in Old Irish. Usserianus Primus was given its name by the nineteenth-century Trinity Librarian, T.K. Abbott. It was assumed that the great collector of ancient manuscripts and Archbishop of Armagh, James Ussher, had owned the codex, as he had so many others in the library collection. Thus, the book was called ‘The first book of Ussher’ in Latin. This is now thought to have been unlikely. There is very little decoration in Usserianus Primus. Other than red dots to emphasize a few initials within the text, the only surviving ornament is found on folio 149v between the end of Luke’s Gospel and the beginning of Mark’s. In this location was placed a cross that takes the form of Christ’s initials in Greek. The image is further elaborated with the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, a standard designation for Christ as the beginning and end of all things. The ensemble is enclosed with three red and black frames. The ornamentation suggests that this early Irish Gospel book was inspired by an example from the Mediterranean. Extent: 182 folios. In Latin; Old Irish (added glosses); Irish half-uncial script, with uncial elements. https://manuscripts.catalogue.tcd.ie/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=IE+TCD+MS+55&pos=1

Alternative title

• Gospel book
• Book of Ussher

Creator

• Unattributed

Date Created

• circa 400-620

Medium

• ink

Support

• vellum (parchment)

Language

• Latin
• Irish, Old (to 1100)

Culture

• Irish

Provenance

• Named, though unconvincingly, after James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh (d. 1656)

Subject

• Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland). Library. Manuscript. 55
• Manuscripts, Medieval--Ireland
• Illumination of books and manuscripts, Irish
• Bible. Gospels--Manuscripts, Latin (Old Latin)

Keyword

• Unassigned

Format

• Illuminated manuscripts
• Manuscripts

Shelf Mark/Reference Number

• IE TCD MS 55 ; former shelfmarks: Lyon: A.4.15 ; Bernard: 412 ; Foley: G.14

Location

• Manuscripts & Archives Research Library, Trinity College Dublin

Rights statement

• Copyright The Board of Trinity College Dublin. Images are available for single-use academic application only. Publication, transmission or display is prohibited without formal written approval of the Library of Trinity College, Dublin.

Last modified

• 24/08/2020

Contributors

• Ussher, James, 1581-1656, Associated Name

Resource type

• text

Source

• 0129413

Digital Object Id

• MS55_001

Sponsor

• Bank of America Merryl Lynch: conservation sponsor

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Relationships

Parent works and subseries:

This object has no parent works or subseries.

In Collection:

• Medieval Latin Manuscripts

Items

Thumbnail	Title	Shelf Mark/Reference Number	Visibility	Actions
	Codex Usserianus Primus. Folios 1-33v: Gospel of Matthew	IE TCD MS 55 ; former shelfmarks: Lyon: A.4.15 ; Bernard: 412 ; Foley: G.14	Public
	Codex Usserianus Primus. Folios 34r-78r: Gospel of John; Gospel of Luke	IE TCD MS 55 ; former shelfmarks: Lyon: A.4.15 ; Bernard: 412 ; Foley: G.14	Public
	Codex Usserianus Primus. Folios 78v-149v: Gospel of Luke; Hebrew names in Luke	IE TCD MS 55 ; former shelfmarks: Lyon: A.4.15 ; Bernard: 412 ; Foley: G.14	Public
	Codex Usserianus Primus. Folios 150r-183v: Gospel of Mark; index; end leaves	IE TCD MS 55 ; former shelfmarks: Lyon: A.4.15 ; Bernard: 412 ; Foley: G.14	Public