Rare Carolingian Manuscript Fragment – ca. early 11th Century Liturgical Missal

A genuine medieval manuscript fragment on vellum, written in a fine Carolingian minuscule hand, dating from the 10th to very early 11th century A.D.

This narrow strip of parchment comes from a large liturgical manuscript (Missal or Sacramentary) produced in a monastic scriptorium during the Carolingian or early Romanesque era. The fragment was later recycled as part of the binding structure of a ca. 1485 Basel incunable, where it remained hidden for centuries before being recovered.

• Script: Classic Carolingian minuscule, open and rounded, with tall ascenders and clear spacing. This was the script that revolutionized medieval Europe and laid the foundation for modern handwriting.
• Text: Latin liturgical text, most likely part of a Mass prayer or chant.
• Size: Approx. see photos.
• Condition: Trimmed narrow as binding waste; some age-toning and wear consistent with age and re-use. Script remains sharp and fully legible.
Fragments of this early date are extremely scarce on the market. While Gothic manuscript waste (14th–15th century) is relatively common, true Carolingian fragments are over 1,000 years old and seldom available for private ownership.

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Provenance
• Written in a monastic scriptorium in Switzerland or southern Germany, ca. 900–1050 A.D.
• Recovered from a Basel incunable binding (c. 1485).

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