Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], The Golden Legend Folio Leaves, Ms2009-109, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Golden Legend Folio Leaves were acquired by Special Collections prior to 2009.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the The Golden Legend Folio Leaves commenced and was completed in July 2009.

Biographical Note

Jacobus de Voragine was born in Viraggio–a city near Genoa–around 1230. He entered the Order of St. Dominic at a young age and quickly earned a reputation for his piety and zeal for learning. In 1292, de Voragine was elected Archbishop of Genoa and served until his death around 1298.

Jacobus de Voragine wrote The Golden Legend as a dedication to the lives of the saints around 1260. Originally, the work was named "Legenda Sanctorum," but soon became known as the "Legenda Aurea," or "Golden Legend," by the people of the day who believed the work to be worth its weight in gold. While this work is not valued as much for the accuracy with which it deals with the "real" lives of the saints as it is for its value as a cultural icon, the work stands as one of the most important hagiographical texts from the Middle Ages.

Scope and Content

The Golden Legend Folio Leaves come from two separate printings of the text–one leaf from 1498(?) and the other four from 1527. These folio leaves were printed during a time when The Golden Legend was the most frequently printed book in all of Europe (1470-1530). In fact, there are about 900 surviving Golden Legend manuscripts.

The leaves contained in this collection discuss the lives of Saints Rocke, Bernarde, Hugh, Edmonde, and Ypolyte (Hippolytus), as well as the resurrection of Christ and the assumption of the Blessed Virgin.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Christian saints -- Legends -- Early works to 1800
• Jacobus, de Voragine, approximately 1229-1298
• Worde, Wynkyn de, -1534?

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the The Golden Legend Folio Leaves by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).