It does not, however, contain the majority of the historical
chapters forming our Book IV.
At the f. 39 v., is "Esplizzit Liber Milionis Ziuis
Veneziani Questo libro scrissi Saluador Paxuti(?) del=1457 a viazo di
Baruti [Patron Misser Cabual Volanesso, chapit. Misser Polo
Barbarigo]." (The latter words [in part. - H.C.] from Marsden; being to
me illegible).
-
7
British Museum Library
Egerton, 2176
French.
Translated from the Latin version of Pipino.
Parchment, 103 folio, 4to. Illuminated Capital Letters. Purchased of R.
Townley Nordman, 22nd June, 1872.
Yule, 2nd ed., II p. 517.
8
OXFORD.
Bodleian, No. 264.
French.
This is bound up with the celebrated Alexander MS. It is a beautiful
work, embellished with thirty-eight miniatures, some of which are
exquisite, e.g., the Frontispiece, a large piece of about 9-1/2
in., forming a sort of condensed view of the Field of Travel; a large
part of it occupied by VENICE, of which our cut (The Piazzetta)
in vol. i., p. 18, Introduction, is an extract. Another fine work
(f. 220) represents the three Polos presenting the Pope's Letter to the
Khan. The embroidered hands on the Khan's robe form an inscription, in
which is legible "Johannes me facit." This Mr. Coxe attributes
to John of Cologne, a known artist of the 14th century. He considers
the MS. to be of about 1380. The Alexander is dated 1338, and its
illuminations as finished in 1344 by Jehan de Gruse.
